1/72 Heller - North American / Sud Aviation T-28 Fennec

[VG 33]

Hello

 

During the "special operation" in Algeria, the Amée de l'air needed a lot of planes to support the ground armed forces against the FLN rebels.

From 1956 to 1959 they used the N.A. T-6G but this one had a very noisy and underpowered engine for close air support in the mountains.
The Air Force HQ was therefore looking for another two-seater aircraft and chose the N.A T-28B as it was used in the US Navy at the time. But these were not being available, France bought 146 T-28A airframes from the US Air Force, 1300HP P&W R1820-56S engines (excess of B-17) and three-bladed propellers like the T-28B. The Fennec as it was called was assembled by Sud Aviation and equipped 4 units in Algeria from 1959 to 1962. These units were sister squadrons of units in France and the pilots were temporarily assigned to Algeria.
The four points under the wings enabled to carry any combination of 2 elements among the following :
- containers of 2 machine guns of 12.7 mm;
- T10 shaped charge rockets;
- a 7 x 68 mm rocket launcher;
- a 36 x 37 mm rocket launcher;
- 120 kg bombs.

Here is one with this Heller kit of T-28 with some parts in resin given by a friend of mine (machine guns, rockets and cockpit parts).

This is Fennec N°7 from EALA 3/9 Numidie in 1961. (Escadron d'Aviation Légère d'Appui)

Patrick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 19, 2022 by VG 33

[TEMPESTMK5]

Good morning Patrick

Very good job

Best Regards

Patrice

[cpoud117]

That's one crisp T-28! The details are really impressive given the diminutive size of that machine.

Well done!

[Fred piket]

Very nice, great weathering.  Thank you for the info, didn't know that surplus B-17 engines were used..

[Epeeman]

7 minutes ago, cpoud117 said:

That's one crisp T-28! The details are really impressive given the diminutive size of that machine.

Well done!

 

I agree!

 

Wonderful workmaship

 

Regards

 

Dave

[TheyJammedKenny!]

That is beautifully done!  The bare-metal finish looks spectacular.  I understand a lot of the pilots came from F-100 squadrons, and were kind of dismayed at the change in mount.  Love the "special operation" reference, too.  

[stevehnz]

That is a beauty, a most impressive result from an older but still worthy kit.

Steve.

[JWM]

Very nice result indeed!

Regards

J-W

[Roberto]

Super.

[Val_Ukraine]

WOW! Perfect job on such a small and quite venerable kit! You had to deal with all that raised panel lines and rivets. And the result is stanning! Smart small silver Fennec here. 

[jean]

Bonjour Patrick,

 

stunning model!

The lack of meaningful under-wing armament is the real drawback of the Heller kit. Otherwise, it is a lovely kit.

 

Congratulations!

 

JR

[Wulfman]

Fabulous Fennec, a beautiful build !

 

Wulfman

[corsaircorp]

Waow !! Congrats Patrick !!

Given the basis !! THIS is a fine Fennec !!

Bravo that man !!

One of my project is the T-6 of a friend of mine in Algeria....

Now getting my T-6 on the bench is just more itchy.....

Thanks for the tip about sister Sqdn, That will help me in my researches !!

CC

[Konrad]

Looks really really nice!

[BerndM]

Superb work. Especially in this small scale.

[Pete in a shed]

Cracking job with the Heller kit. such an attractive aircraft and you've produced a liitle beauty.

Pete

[Alpha Delta 210]

That's a beauty!

[RidgeRunner]

That is very nice, Patrick. I have a couple in the store somewhere and will one day apply cement to them  

[MACALAIN]

On 19/08/2022 at 09:32, VG 33 said:

Hello

 

During the "special operation" in Algeria, the Amée de l'air needed a lot of planes to support the ground armed forces against the FLN rebels.

From 1956 to 1959 they used the N.A. T-6G but this one had a very noisy and underpowered engine for close air support in the mountains.
The Air Force HQ was therefore looking for another two-seater aircraft and chose the N.A T-28B as it was used in the US Navy at the time. But these were not being available, France bought 146 T-28A airframes from the US Air Force, 1300HP P&W R1820-56S engines (excess of B-17) and three-bladed propellers like the T-28B. The Fennec as it was called was assembled by Sud Aviation and equipped 4 units in Algeria from 1959 to 1962. These units were sister squadrons of units in France and the pilots were temporarily assigned to Algeria.
The four points under the wings enabled to carry any combination of 2 elements among the following :
- containers of 2 machine guns of 12.7 mm;
- T10 shaped charge rockets;
- a 7 x 68 mm rocket launcher;
- a 36 x 37 mm rocket launcher;
- 120 kg bombs.

Here is one with this Heller kit of T-28 with some parts in resin given by a friend of mine (machine guns, rockets and cockpit parts).

This is Fennec N°7 from EALA 3/9 Numidie in 1961. (Escadron d'Aviation Légère d'Appui)

Patrick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C'est bien joli cela.

 

Alain

[VG 33]

On 8/19/2022 at 11:50 AM, cpoud117 said:

That's one crisp T-28! The details are really impressive given the diminutive size of that machine.

Well done!

 

Thank you

This kit is a good one but old.

I have just added some bits.

Patrick

[VG 33]

On 8/19/2022 at 2:10 PM, TheyJammedKenny! said:

That is beautifully done!  The bare-metal finish looks spectacular.  I understand a lot of the pilots came from F-100 squadrons, and were kind of dismayed at the change in mount.  Love the "special operation" reference, too.  

 

Thank you.

Bare metal came from Alclad Duraluminium.

There were four EALA : 3/4, 3/5, 3/9 and 3/10.

In the early 60s

EC4 flew Republic F-84F at Bremgarten and Luxeuil AB,

EC5 flew Mystère IV and SMB2 at Orange AB,

EC9 flew Republic F-84F at Metz AB,

EC10 flew Mystère IV and SMB2 at Creil AB.

Cheers.

Patrick

 

[VG 33]

On 8/20/2022 at 9:00 AM, Val_Ukraine said:

WOW! Perfect job on such a small and quite venerable kit! You had to deal with all that raised panel lines and rivets. And the result is stanning! Smart small silver Fennec here. 

 

Hi Valerii

Yes I had to make hollow panel lines and as some rivets disappeared during the sanding process I chose to make them with Rosie. I know this is not true but with some wash the rivets are coming in the light.

Patrick

[corsaircorp]

14 hours ago, VG 33 said:

 

Thank you.

Bare metal came from Alclad Duraluminium.

There were four EALA : 3/4, 3/5, 3/9 and 3/10.

In the early 60s

EC4 flew Republic F-84F at Bremgarten and Luxeuil AB,

EC5 flew Mystère IV and SMB2 at Orange AB,

EC9 flew Republic F-84F at Metz AB,

EC10 flew Mystère IV and SMB2 at Creil AB.

Cheers.

Patrick

 

Merci Patrick !!

Now, I suppose, the same stand for th T-6 Sqdn??

May I PM you about T-6 Escadron please ?

I'm looking for a particular T-6 flown by a friend of mine in Algeria...

Sincerely.

CC

[VG 33]

3 hours ago, corsaircorp said:

Merci Patrick !!

Now, I suppose, the same stand for th T-6 Sqdn??

May I PM you about T-6 Escadron please ?

I'm looking for a particular T-6 flown by a friend of mine in Algeria...

Sincerely.

CC

Yes, for sure I have big books about aircraft in Algeria.

 

Patrick

[Lightningboy2000]

That is a stunning Fennec.

Very impressive work applied to this old kit. Must be one of the finest 1/72 Fennecs I've seen completed.

 

Martin