Wez Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 This is a placeholder for the first of my two builds. I'll be using the excellent Academy 1/72nd scale kit with the Berna Decals for the EALA3/1 option. I've got the LF resin bits and bobs to arm the beastie with but I'm in two minds about using them. Kit and gubbins References The eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted there's two kits in that box, well I haven't settled on my 2nd subject yet (and to be fair, I'm hoping Special Hobby get a wriggle on and release their Harvard kits). 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 A nice choice, Wez :). I fear that I will be lurking at the back of the queue but I’ll be watching Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share Posted March 30, 2021 Change of plan, I've decided to do one of the yellow finished Texans, this is using Model Art Decals 72-029 which I suddenly remembered I had, the actual aircraft can be seen here 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 This'll be fun @Wez. And you're not the only modeller building 2 aircraft! I think I might have to build 2 (because I have 2), @Corsairfoxfouruncle has the same Encore Fun Box that I have and @Foxbat has his duet. Those books looks like good references to get too. I might have to search them out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 Wez...is your Academy kit the same as the Encore moulds? It looks like it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 A very nice choice Wez. I have been pondering a French Tomcat for my build too, but in 1/48 scale. Great selection of references, I have them except for Tome 2 of the Armee De L'Air in North Africa and regularly kick myself for not getting it when I had the chance. I shall be following along with interest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 1 hour ago, John Masters said: Wez...is your Academy kit the same as the Encore moulds? It looks like it... Should be mine are moulded as Academy but in the Encore box. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share Posted March 30, 2021 1 hour ago, John Masters said: Wez...is your Academy kit the same as the Encore moulds? It looks like it... Yes John, Encore, like the forthcoming Special Hobby and Wolfpack kits all used the Academy plastic - fortunately, it's a very good kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 10, 2021 Author Share Posted April 10, 2021 So there he is, he proposes this GB and then nothing happens... ...well, truth told I've been in a bit of a modelling fug but I think I've come out of it now The French used a number of Harvards and Texans in North Africa, the Harvards were used for training whilst the Texans, though originally intended for training, got used for light attack. The version used by these light attack units (L'Aviation Légère D'Appui), was the T-6G. When the French armed them they initially had a single MAC34/39 7.5mm machine gun bolted under the wing with ammunition fed from tanks in the wings, the guns were exposed to the elements not least of which was dust and dirt and the guns were unsurprisingly, prone to jamming, the French referred to this version as the T-6G1. To overcome this a gun pod was developed, this housed two MAC52 7.5mm machine guns, doubling up firepower and eliminating the jams, the French refer to this version as the T-6G2. Most T-6G's were fitted with a spinner, most but not all! Typically, my subject didn't have a spinner and the propeller hub was exposed (as seen on most Harvards and earlier Texans), this is a bit of a problem because the kits hub is plain and lacks detail which is fine if you use the spinner but as I'm not, I had to do something about it. First of all, I needed to find a decent picture of the spinnerless prop hub, fortunately, there's plenty out there, this one in particular proving very, very useful. So I set to work and hopefully, it was quite easy really and hopefully, my step by step guide will help you if you decide you need to go down this route... Next on the agenda is the ignition harness for the engine... ...see the next episode! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 That is fantastic detailing Wez, especially in 1/72 scale. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 10, 2021 Author Share Posted April 10, 2021 8 minutes ago, modelling minion said: That is fantastic detailing Wez, especially in 1/72 scale. It's the curse of being an aircraft engineer, you see something wrong, you want to fix it. Thanks for the compliment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 36 minutes ago, Wez said: It's the curse of being an aircraft engineer, you see something wrong, you want to fix it. Actually the curse of being a GOOD aircraft engineer, I have worked with quite a few that when faced with something wrong would rather walk away and let someone else fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 10, 2021 Author Share Posted April 10, 2021 3 hours ago, modelling minion said: Actually the curse of being a GOOD aircraft engineer, I have worked with quite a few that when faced with something wrong would rather walk away and let someone else fix it. Too stubborn to do that, people like that don't work with me for very long 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 5 hours ago, Wez said: So there he is, he proposes this GB and then nothing happens... ...well, truth told I've been in a bit of a modelling fug but I think I've come out of it now The French used a number of Harvards and Texans in North Africa, the Harvards were used for training whilst the Texans, though originally intended for training, got used for light attack. The version used by these light attack units (L'Aviation Légère D'Appui), was the T-6G. When the French armed them they initially had a single MAC34/39 7.5mm machine gun bolted under the wing with ammunition fed from tanks in the wings, the guns were exposed to the elements not least of which was dust and dirt and the guns were unsurprisingly, prone to jamming, the French referred to this version as the T-6G1. To overcome this a gun pod was developed, this housed two MAC52 7.5mm machine guns, doubling up firepower and eliminating the jams, the French refer to this version as the T-6G2. Most T-6G's were fitted with a spinner, most but not all! Typically, my subject didn't have a spinner and the propeller hub was exposed (as seen on most Harvards and earlier Texans), this is a bit of a problem because the kits hub is plain and lacks detail which is fine if you use the spinner but as I'm not, I had to do something about it. First of all, I needed to find a decent picture of the spinnerless prop hub, fortunately, there's plenty out there, this one in particular proving very, very useful. So I set to work and hopefully, it was quite easy really and hopefully, my step by step guide will help you if you decide you need to go down this route... Next on the agenda is the ignition harness for the engine... ...see the next episode! That is nice work, Wez. I recall your very useful guidance in that regard when I was building my Gabonese Harvard :). It’s great to see you back at it, mate!! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 It's nice to see this one underway Wez. With all that detailing on the prop hub, I'm guessing that you're probably now about 25% complete . 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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