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1/72 SAAF T-6 Harvard (old Hawk kit)


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Hi all, my first post here.

I have seen plenty SAAF Harvard kits painted bright orange, but not a lot of "sunfaded yellow" ones, so I gave it a go.

This was one of my main reference photos

Harvard%20ref_01_zps3vedfrar.jpg

It's a bit of a snap kit, with only 21 parts and no instructions on how to put it together. However no instructions was needed.
It all fit together pretty well considering the age of this kit, not a lot of filler was needed. But the level of detail isn't very good,
especially in the cockpit where there was absolutely no detail apart from two pilot figures with seats fixed onto them.
No instrument panels either.
T-6%20parts_zpswvznobvx.jpg

I basically cut out the seat from the pilots' behind and "shaped" it into 2 empty seats since I did not want pilots inside.
I also made instrument panels from pieces of unused plastic bits, and made seatbelts from masking tape. I painted bare minimum detail in the cockpit but didn't
put a lot of effort in here. The result is the cockpit is pretty sparse still and shorts a great amount of detail, but I wasn't up to making
everything myself and put in weeks of effort into this old kit's cockpit.

I had to further modify the kit as this is the SNJ Navy Texan. I cut off the "bubble" behind the cockpit as well as the arial and once again
made the white fin out of spare plastic. The wingtips had (what I assume to be) lights bulges which I sanded down. The propeller had a type of mini spinner
which I sanded flat to match the SAAF variant. This is lacking the variable pitch "arms", but I did not have any ideas on how to make it,
so I left it out. In hindsight I should also have sanded down the rivets on the wings, but that ship has sailed.

The worst part of this kit is there are US roundels shaped panel lines engraved on the model. I can't imagine why, even if one is
building the US version. So this had to go. I filled it with putty, sprayed, and then of course saw I didn't fill it properly. I had to fill
and spray another two times before this was smooth.

The only other change I made was to "deflate" the main gear tyres by heating it up and shaping it by pressing down on it, worked much better
than just sanding it flat.

Paint & clear coats
Tamiya AS-12 baremetal silver spray.
Varouis mixes of Humbrol for faded yellow and orange and the rest, all brush painted.
Tamiya TS-13 Clear spray
Tamiya TS-80 Flat Clear spray
Decals - TAS decals (VEGAS72001)

Although I could have done a lot of things better, I am satisfied with the end result.
I hope you enjoy looking at it too.
T-6%208h_zpshvqdjd8s.jpg
T-6%203h_zpslj0ffrpw.jpg
T-6%2010h1_zps9ejaujg1.jpg
T-6%20Underside1_zpsf4adwtli.jpg
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Ooooooh, nice one. In the late 60s, I lived in Springs ( still just a kid I hasten to add ). I think they were based at Dunnottar, but we always had Harvards overflying the house. Of course, only saw them from the bottom, so remember the orange, but that Transvaal sun sure would have faded the tops.

Great job done here recreating this. Full marks!

( And what an entry to forums - Welcome! )

Cheers,

Mike

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Jimmy, you're a brave sole to have tackled that very old Hawk kit and I like it you've, done a superb job. The sun down here at the bottom of Africa did really knock the Day-glo red but you've worked it very well. Congratulations.

Colin

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Fantastic results, that really looks like it's been on the highveld for a long time! I would never have guessed you'd used that kit to get such a good looking model, excellent work!

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She looks very good indeed, lovely finish! The only change I'd make would be to get rid of the nav lights on the rudder, RATG and SAAF Harvards didn't have them.

Max

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That's amazing what you have achieved from such an old kit. Really like how you replicated the sun bleaching of the dayglo.

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Thanks for the compliments everyone. It sure was an interesting project an I'm happy I attempted it. Though I will definitely use a better/newer kit on my next Harvard.

She looks very good indeed, lovely finish! The only change I'd make would be to get rid of the nav lights on the rudder, RATG and SAAF Harvards didn't have them.
Max

Thanks galgos, yeah I noticed that mistake when I was already done :banghead:. That and also the missing pitot tube on the starboard wing. I guess both could have been easily fixed, but I decided the Harvard was finished so left that as is :)

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