My latest build is Revell’s Stearman PT-17.
So here goes: this is a perfect kit. I truly mean, perfect, as in Tamiya-quality perfect. Fit is absolutely perfect. The detail level is very impressive given how little this jewel costs. I am not terribly familiar with the aircraft, but I’d guess that its interior is rather spartan. The kit matches that description. It comes with molded seatbelts on both seats that, if I was to knock it for anything, those belts are not terribly convincing. I left the lap belts but scraped away the shoulder belts. I replaced the shoulder belts with custom belts made of strips of grocery store brown paper bag.
The kit goes together with nary a problem. Seriously, did Tamiya actually produce this kit? (No, they did not; it features the characteristic manufactured by thing in embossed plastic on the exterior surface of one of the stabilizers, a typical thing from Monogram ).
I did spend a good bit of time researching exactly what paint to put on this one. I wanted to do an Army bird, which meant the classic yellow and blue look. But it turned out, there didn’t seem to be any particular blue to use. I ended up with Life Color Matt Light Blue, which best matched what I’ve seen on trainer aircraft at airshows and museuems. Now is this the best match for what would have actually been applied to Stearman trainers during the war, I have no idea. And neither did the various online sources I was able to find. The yellow is from AK Interactive.
Decals are from the kit. They went on smoothly.
Rigging is from two different sources: the wings are .015 music wire, whereas the stabilizers and the interplane struts are rigged with .008 guitar wire.
I have had my struggles with biplanes. This kit’s thoughtful molding allowed me to avoid all of the paint points that in the past have spelled doom for various biplane builds that I have attempted - Revell’s ancient Sopwith Camel, Rodan’s Gladiator, and Eduard’s Sopwith Camel, among a few others. The interplane struts are molded as a part of the fuselage pieces, which allow for proper setting of the upper wing. The cabanes are single pieces that slot in just fine once the upper wing is set into position.
This was such an enjoyable build that I may very well do another one some day. But next up is Revell’s ancient P-51B Mustang in 1/32.