1/48 T-6 Texan

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hey guys - Since I am new here I wanted to show you a kit I finished almost a couple years ago now. We have here a Revell 1/48 T-6 Texan done up as a replica of the real world aircraft that is owned and flown locally. I have done some work on this aircraft and actually flown it a couple of times. While I am an actual pilot, I wasn’t allowed to take this beauty up myself but instead I was allowed to fly everything except the aerobatics and the takeoffs/landings. What a blast flying this thing was… a blast enough that I, of course, just had to make a scale model of her!

Video of some of the flying we did with the T-6.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJQEqLpv71E

The kit was built straight from the box with no modificiations or detailing other than custom decals. The only decals that came from the kit were the stars and stripes - everything else is home-made. The only error in the decals was the number “7” on the “087” ident number on the fuselage - the real aircraft’s 7 is pointed on the back side and the kit has an angled backside to the 7… other than that everything came out real nice! Some TINY decals though!! Smallest was the “SNJ-5” down under the tail.

The kit itself was very nice. A bit sparse in some areas but I would definitely recommend it as it would be a very good baseline for lots of extra detailing and/or modifications. Pretty accurate too as far as the little stuff goes - that is, little stuff that someone like me who worked hands-on with the aircraft would notice (scoops, gear, engine, etc).

My skill level wasnt (and still isnt) quite that high so it definitely can be done better, and I do plan on re-doing it someday to a higher standard, but I thought it came out pretty good considering it was only the third kit I had completed in at least a decade. Besides the overall build quality, there are a couple of inaccuracies on my part: The spinner is highly polished and not dull aluminum, but this was just before I got myself my first bottle of Alclad; and while it was being built, the wheels had orange covers as the kit shows, but towards the end of the build, the owner had the covers taken off, the wheels polished out, and new clear covers put on.

A couple of firsts with this kit - this was my very first airbushing project. I bought an Iwata Neo CN and gave it a go with this kit. Very fun stuff! The other first would be the use of Future. I had never tried the stuff before this one. Glad I did!

Anyway here it is!

Hope y’all liked it!

2

Looks nice. I particularly like the shots of the model and the prototype together. I am interested in your homemade decals. Were these inkjet-printed decals?

3

Yes sir, using Testors decal paper and Testors Decal Bonder.

The blacks were easy enough, but the white lettering was done by printing on white decal paper with a gray that, after MANY test prints on standard and then photo paper, matched closely the gray that I painted the fuselage with. Cut out the decals close to the letters/numbers, and after application, I painted around them to feather in the slight color difference.

If you look closely at the 4th photo, the closeup of the tail, you can see the “box” around the decals (probably due to using too much decal bonder) and the color is very slightly different but it looks really good. I think the trick is to take your time in matching the color as well as remembering that the background color will have an effect on the decal itself.

4

Hi Todd, like the build :slight_smile:

You say you did some work on the T-6’s, are you an airframe/powerplant tech?

I have a mate here in SA that owns 7 T-6’s or “Spammies” as we know them. I do his fabric and paint work.

Nice to see the kit has raised rivets as pre full size and not the pannels like on the Italeri kits.

Theuns

5

Well done, Todd!

6

Shes a beauty! And the pics of your kit with the real thing in the background is just priceless!

7

A really nice one, [Y][Y]

8

Thanks guys! Appreciate the comments.

Theuns - I am not an A&P, although I have taken some schooling for it. I was a manager for a large aircraft detailing company and this T-6 was one of our regulars at our headquarters. The Stang Evil (See my other post) was another regular, as well.