1/48 - Slingsby T.31 Tandem Tutor by Rush Model Kits - 3D renders+parts+test build - release in 2025

[Homebee]

Rush (for Ruslan Shilov!) Model Kits from Cherkasy in Ukraine 💪 (Facebook & Instagram) is to release a 1/48th Slingsby T.31 Tandem Tutor kit. 

Source: https://www.facebook.com/rushmodelkits/posts/pfbid02GB9tahsdgkggxcaJQF3H8mAyPgnUbPyvvX5S5bsA2CTRosmveJ1ZQdNojuLShd9Ml

 

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Hi friends

I apologize for my extended silence, but I'm back with inspiring news!

I'm delighted to introduce our new model of the Slingsby Type 31 Tandem Tutor in 48th scale.

This British military training glider, designed and built by Slingsby, was extensively used by the Air Training Corps between 1951 and 1986.

The ATC, a division of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC), is proudly sponsored by both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the wider Ministry of Defence.

The model will include:

• Plastic sprues
• Photo-etched parts
• 3D printed details
• Silkscreen decals

Decals will offer options for recreating one of the following schemes:

• Air Cadets (Red + White color scheme)
• Air Cadets (Metallic + Yellow color scheme)
• Possibly one or two private liveries

Stay with us to see the assembly process in our posts and be the first to find out about the release of this model.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V.P.

 

Edited January 8 by Homebee

[viscount806x]

Be still my beating heart.....

[stringbag]

The only obvious error I can see is the position of the instructors rudder pedals which should be mounted outboard against the fuselage skin and further forward in recessed tunnels that protrude into the front cockpit either side of the pupil's seat.  Apart from that, I'm really pleased to see this glider kit announced.

 

Chris.

[viscount806x]

As well as the slight error on the rudder pedals, that tyre looks like the one off my garden chipper. I would expect a smooth treadless tyre with a narrower profile. Instrument layout is definitely incorrect for an ATC machine, should just be, from left to right, ASi, Variometer, Altimeter and that is it. Unclear what the launching hooks represent but should be one on the extreme nose for aerotows, underneath and further back, left of the keel, a similar (ottfur) release for winchlaunching. Seats in reality are very basic plywood segments, not overplush as in the images.

Altogether, minor issues indeed. Bring it on....

 

[Adam Poultney]

Excellent. I'll be having one. Hope they do a T21 to go with it

[cmatthewbacon]

It’s missing the bit of red string!

I’ll definitely have one, even if this is the GLX trim level… still the only aircraft I’ve ever flown solo…

best,

M.

[Paul J]

Very interested in this. As with many others here, it's a type I  soloed in back in 1970.

[Homebee]

Source: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?id=61550861145593&story_fbid=122181362306028704

"The day before yesterday I received the printed parts of the model and started building it immediately in order to find modeling errors and make model assembly even easier. 

A bit later I'll show you the improvements I’ve made.
Some small details like struts or small photo etched parts haven’t been printed yet. But all of them will be included in the final kit.
Well, the building test is passed. Even being a perfectionist, I am satisfied with the result and share it with you in the photos."

 

 

V.P.

 

[RuSH[UA]]

Hi, guys. I'm here.
Thank you for your interest in my first kit. I hope you have a pleasant time during the assembly.

@Homebee thanks for announce before I've reached here 😊

 

What about test 3D printing. Do not pay attention to the quality of the surfaces.
Man who printed it forgot enable smoothing. 😁 
Because of that this is test print I decide do not reprint.
After I fix everything, the set will be cast from plastiс.

 

 

Well let's go fix errors.

 

@cmatthewbacon could you explain pls about red string, what you mean?

 

@stringbag  unfortunately I didn't find photos of instructor's cabin and I supposed position of pedals should be like on cadet's cabin.
But I didn't understand the purpose of a pair of rounded covers.
If I understand correctly, the pedals should be in there somewhere?  ( Of course rounded covers will be changed)
Now I see, this pedal covers is too short

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@viscount806x  I made a wheel based on this photo. If you can provide a photo of the other wheel, I will have no problem adding it to the printed parts.

 


reference for dashboard which I used from this Digest
https://rushmodelkits.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pages_from_RCSD-2014-03.pdf

 

 

 

Edited May 22, 2024 by RuSH[UA]

[stringbag]

Hopefully these will help.

 

Picture 1 shows the rear of the front cockpit with the instructors rudder pedals and control cables exposed.

 

Picture 2 again shows the rear of the front cockpit this time with the pedal covers in place.

 

Picture 3 shows the rear L/H pedal

 

I have a wheel from a T31 which I can photograph for you.  It is fitted with the standard smooth tread tyre.

 

Regards.

 

Chris.

[RuSH[UA]]

@stringbag definitely yes. A lot of tnx
2nd pic I've seen before.
Ok, when apply changes I'll show result

[Adam Poultney]

I will be flying at Saltby at the end of next month. There is a T31 there, if any pictures are needed I'll see if i can get them. I have plenty of contacts at other clubs which have T31s as well. 

[viscount806x]

On 5/23/2024 at 12:26 AM, RuSH[UA] said:

 

Nice mouldings so far by the looks of it. In the above photos, there are some small differences from ATC machines as prev. mentioned. The compass on the far r.h. side of the front cockpit and left of the ASI in the rear is non standard. The analogue rotary variometer in the rear is also non standard. I also think, although it was over 50 years now, someone has transposed the altimeter and asi from left to right, from standard 'T' layout as the service machines would have been. That tyre is definitely non standard too, would have been smooth as a babys bottom, not treaded. Small point also, the 'brakes/spoiler lever might have been yellow originally, like the cable release, it certainly was before they changed them from a cable release type knob to a lever. May have been red as a lever though, I forget. Electric intercom is also of course not as period. There would have been provision for Gosport tube comms between front and rear.  All else good though, minor minor as prev said. Nice one. 
 

edit: here is a link to a nice period image of a front cockpit. Note, asi left, altm right, spoiler lever knob red. Also, just a small section of the gosport tube showing, stowed at the stbd side.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/belvedere/3836350650

and another front cockpit, pre the rigid spoiler lever mod., showing the spoiler cable but no front cockpit control for the pupil.
https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000530192.html

The mk.3 could be quite dangerous for an inexperienced pilot using spoilers to increase rate of descent above the normal already very high rates. So they removed the control. Rear cockpit retained the aforementioned yellow spoiler knob on a cable, not unlike the cable release. (Actually, those senior cadets among us, flying solo would still be able to use the spoilers by simply pulling the control cable inwards towards the left leg). Why it was changed supposedly.

 

[general melchett]

A must have for me, like many here, as a spotty 15 year old cadet, back in 1974, I soloed and flew several T-31s at Henlow, great memories. All in the silver doped finish with Dayglo panels. Time to dig out the old log book...

 

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Small point also, the 'brakes/spoiler lever might have been yellow originally, like the cable release, it certainly was before they changed them from a cable release type knob to a lever. 

As far as I remember the spoiler lever was yellow like the cable release but it was a long time ago. The tyre was definitely smooth. 

[RuSH[UA]]

Hi guys.
I came back with some updates

 

1. Correct dashboard added (But I'm a bit confused. Do both dashboards have to be the same? )
2. Instructor pedals moved to the right place.
3. Cowls was changed according to pedals size.
4. Bald wheel added

 

 

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Previous times I forget show towing hook/lock. On the 4th pic.

 

Because the size is too small for casting, it will be printed as well as the stabilizer lock.

 

[viscount806x]

Both panels were almost identical in size and layout., asi-left, variometer-central, altimeter-right.

[RuSH[UA]]

@viscount806x ok tnx.

If all is correct, i prepare to cast and printing.

Next step is decals options.  I'll be back 😁

[Adam Poultney]

Worth noting that glider panel layouts vary a lot from airframe to airframe. At my club the two ASK21s have totally different instrument layouts 

[stringbag]

5 hours ago, Adam Poultney said:

Worth noting that glider panel layouts vary a lot from airframe to airframe. At my club the two ASK21s have totally different instrument layouts 

In ATC service, the instrument panels were standardised for obvious reasons however, once the airframes were sold off to private operators, many were fitted with more modern instrumentation.  The vario was the most obvious improvement although most retained the old Cosim type.  The addition of radio equipment was widely implemented.

 

Chris.

[RuSH[UA]]

I completely agree with both.
Anyway it isn't hard for me to add two types of dashboard.
And I'll do it most likely same as wheels

[Adam Poultney]

I've thoroughly photographed WT900 at Buckminster Gliding Club this week. I'll put all the photos in a Pinterest board soon

[PetePurdie]

There should be a ready market for a 1/48 T31 kit.  Many thousands of us flew our first glider solo, processed by the ATC 'sausage machine' system, designed to get any sentient 16 year old solo in about 20 launches. (Mine was in WT919 at Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire, in March 1960).  One of my gliding friends later was Ed Meddings, who as a CFS trained instructor on Transport Aircraft, did the acceptance trials at Deting in early 1951.

 

I agree that in RAF/ATC service the two instrument panels were identica (ASI, Cosim variometer and Altimeter from left to right) plus the vital slip indicator, a length of red wool tied to the pitot-static head. 

 

I look forward to assemling a kit and finishing it in the silver- yellow stripe 1950s standard finish.  When will it be in your shop?

    

Edited June 30, 2024 by PetePurdie

[viscount806x]

1 hour ago, PetePurdie said:

There should be a ready market for a 1/48 T31 kit.  Many thousands of us flew our first glider solo, processed by the ATC 'sausage machine' system, designed to get any sentient 16 year old solo in about 20 launches. (Mine was in WT919 at Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire, in March 1960).  One of my gliding friends later was Ed Meddings, who as a CFS trained instructor on Transport Aircraft, did the acceptance trials at Deting in early 1951.

 

I agree that in RAF/ATC service the two instrument panels were identica (ASI, Cosim variometer and Altimeter from left to right) plus the vital slip indicator, a length of red wool tied to the pitot-static head. 

 

I look forward to assemling a kit and finishing it in the silver- yellow stripe 1950s standard finish.  When will it be in your shop?

    

Many thousands of cadets indeed. Mine at Linton-on-Ouse, 22/5/1966, XA288. Later this became 'my' Mk.III being very worn with sloppy controls but flew beautifully. Later as a staff cadet, on one momentous occasion, I did just over 30minutes solo by thermalling. Some of the instructors kept their Slingsby Skylark 2 at the airfield, quite unauthorised, and hurriedly got airborne after me to take advantage of my luck but they didn't manage well at all. All he said after landing was along the lines of 'well, that must have been a good one...' but sour grapes probably. I later did thousands more launches in these and the other ATC fleet during my own instructor days.

Bring your kit on sir but be sure to let us know how, when and where we can take advantage of it when it is ready to go to the market.
 Now.... 'Take Up Slack !..'.

 

[Homebee]

Source: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?id=61550861145593&story_fbid=122190607274028704

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Hi friends,
Correction process has been successfully completed. The 3D-model of the glider is on its way to the casting specialists. 
I would like to express my great gratitude to the users of the Britmodeller forum for their invaluable help in fixing the errors.

Below, you can see exactly what was fixed.
In my defense, I would like to say that there were only two mistakes 🙂

What was fixed:

 

1. Dashboard.
I initially used photos of the late modernization of the dashboard ( pic 1)
Forum members kindly shared photos of the original dashboard and I made the necessary changes.

 

2. Instructor’s Pedals 

I haven’t found an exact photo of the instructor's cabin, so I assumed the instructor's cabin would be the same as the cadet's and copied all of what I considered necessary.

However, forum users noticed this and pointed out the error.
Since I had already made covers for the instructor's pedals located on the sides of the cadet's seat (pic. 2) I only needed to reposition the instructor's pedals.

 

Additionally, the next point wasn't an error, but I modeled the modern wheel with protectors.
Forum members noted that the original wheel must be bald (pic. 3).
So, I added a bald wheel too. Which one will be used - is the modeler's decision.

Stay tuned, I hope to show you the cast model asap."

 

 

V.P.

Edited January 8 by Homebee

[Adam Poultney]

Looking forward to the release of this! 

 

Here's the reference photos I took of WT900 at Buckminster Gliding Club last week:

https://pin.it/4uBrQU9Rx