I have an itch to model another T-6, maybe a Korean War “G” model in the Mosquito mode. What modifications did this a/c have. I suppose the ability to fire smoke rockets would be up there, and did it have the gun? I know T-6 had a place for guns, but I never saw them mounted. More importantly, who makes the best kit now? I’ve haven’t built one since the old Monogram !/48. But then there’s the Heller kit and a new, expensive one and I haven’t see either of them. I’ve never seen any aftermarket parts for a T-6, and with that nice, framed cockpit, you’d think someone would accomodate us.
And, IMHO, that old Monogram holds its own even today. But I want to try another, more modern kit.
tom
I believe either Academy or Hobbycraft made a kit for it-- but I built the Heller Texan last summer after flying a Texan for real (see the pic in my profile!). If I recall correctly, I got the Heller kit from rollmodels.com.
The build wasn’t too bad but there was some mishapen parts like the wheel hubs. Luckily, there were some aftermarket wheels available for it. Past those, I haven’t seen much else for AM stuff…
I have a book on the Texan that mentions it can mount up to 4 100lb bombs under the wings…as for guns-- it had the option for up to 3X.30 calibers-- a fuselage gun that fired through the prop, a gun in the right outer wing panel, and one in the rear seat. The Heller kit also features underwing gun pods and rocket pods…although I am unsure how accurate that is…let me know if you need more from the book.
Thanks Jeeves, and what a gorgeous Texan you built. It too, BTW, was called the Yellow Peril by Navy flying students flying their SNJ’s. And, aach, you just reminded me: please, surely there is an AM canopy mask for the dreaded, multi-part, many-paned T-6 hood
And speaking of Yellow Peril, I found another of those priceless old National Geographrics. This one, from 1943, is almost entirely devoted to escort carriers, navy flight training, and all the planes that went with both subjects. There is a lot of color in this issue, including a beautiful full-page color shot of a yellow BT-17 Stearman, with wide red and blue bands around the nose and fuselage and a natural-wood prop. And, the mag’s chock full of pictures (color) of Avengers, Wildcats and Dauntlesses, both in the Atlantic (some shade of dark gray in a sort of “saddle” over white, and Pacific (in the tri-color scheme).
P.S. My first warbird flight was in a CAF T-6, and Jeeves will probably agree there is nothing like it. We flew way down low over the beach at South Padre Island with both canopies thrown back, hair blowing in the breeze (wait, that’s not true – we wore those silly-looking Snoopy caps for com purposes), waving to the girlies out sunning themselves. You just can’t do that in an F-18.
i have just bought the academy kit and it looks like a good one from looking at the bits n pieces in the box and it has decals for a R.O.Korean airforce, USAF (LT6G 6148thTACS, Korea 1953) and an Iseali air force aircraft.
hope this helps.
Greg
The Academy 1/72 kit is very nice, much better than the older Heller kit. In 1/48, you have the old Monogram kit, which is very good for it’s age, and the kit originally issued by Occidental and since reboxed under other labels. It has recessed panel lines & pretty good detail, but the plastic used has a somewhat rough texture. The Squadron/Signal publication, “T-6 Texan in action” is a good add to the library if you want to model one.
Regards, Rick
Occidental Replica has a 1/48th kit (#0201) that has both rocket and gun pods. Decals are for a Portuguese (SP) a/c, but that what spare are for.[2c]
Was reading the book a bit more…and other than the Mosquitoes you mentioned- the Texans were rarely if ever used in combat by the US… but other countries like Mexico and Brazil did use them after the war… there was even a case of a Mexican AT-6 that dive bombed and sunk a German U-Boat that was recharging its batteries on the surface.
Field modifications did allow for rockets to be used…and I have a pic of one used in Korea for spraying insects of all things.
sharkskin-- I agree [;)] Although not long after takeoff he surprised me with a barrel roll LOL-- having only flown flight sims and never experiencing anything more than 1 or 2 Gs, I took notice LOL
I have the Monogram kit and plan to paint it like the one that I flew last year. I managed to find a vac canopy for it, and I think there’s a photo etch set for it as well, though I won’t swear to that. I do have the canopy though, and think it’ll look great on the finished model.
This really dates me, but if you are fortunate enough to have the really old issues of FSM (and still have them, unlike me) , like '83 and '84, there is a build article in which the author takes a Monogram T-6 and completely, I mean Completely rebuilds it, including a soldered metal cockpit framework made in a jig of his construction. The result was absolutely startling. And the cockpit framework is a thing of beauty to any modeler. Look it up.
I only just found FSM last year, so I don’t have that. I’d sure love to see it though. I’d like to make my kit look as nice as possible. Now that I have the vac canopy, I’d sure like some pe to go along with it and shine though that thin glass.