I recently went on my honeymoon were my lovely wife surprised me with an awesome gift. a 30 minute flight on a T6 Texan. Actually, it was an SNJ but you get my drift. This being the first time I was able to actually pilot a plane let me tell you it was awesome. I flew 30 minutes and did 10 minutes of aerobatcis. Upon landing and being slightly sick from the aerobatics I purchased a video of the flight, pictures of me flying and a few T6 patches. Thinking ahead, I thought the patches and pictues my make a nice framed picture on my wall. Now that I am back I think I would like to model the plane I flew. Anyone know what the best and worst options are available in kits out there???
Jonathan[8D]
Hi Jonathan. I built the monogram 1/48th SNJ some years ago and it was a realy nice build
and went together with very little filler, the interior was nicely detailed too…Greg[8D]
The Monogram kit is really nice for it’s age, matter of fact it’s still an excellent kit.
Another nice kit is the Ocidental offering. Haven’t built it yet, but it’s very tempting. Heller and Modelcraft also have T-6’s in 48th, but I think they may be one or another of the above kits. Not sure…
Anyhoo, I’d suggest you try and find a Monogram kit, they’re usually fairly inexpensive. I did a search on evilBay for Texans in 48th:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.aol.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&query=1%2F48+texan&categoryid=&ht=2&st=2&category1=1188&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&BasicSearch=&from=R2&catref=C3
Here’s the results for a search on Squadron:
http://squadron.com/SearchResults.asp?ScaleList=48&TypeList=everything&ManuList=everything&Key=texan&Submit=Go
There’s only one kit listed here, the Heller kit, but the bids on a couple of the kits on evilBay are still fairly low.
You say it was an SNJ, did it have the rounded rudder? Just curious!
Fade to Black…
I did the same thing last year, it was great. I really really loved the acrobatics. When I watch that video I have to laugh, you couldn’t have wiped the smile off my face with a ball peen hammer. I really wanted to dogfight them, but the other texan wasn’t there that day, alas.
madda
Yeah, that was one of the great experiences of my life, right up to the middle of an inverted cuban 8 at which point I realized I ate breakfast a little to close to the flight time. Oh well, live and learn, I did hold my cookies though!!!
Thanks for all the info. it is very helpful
Jonathan,
small world! my buddy and i just flew Texans w/ North American TopGun Saturday. i kept my aero on the mild side, as it was my first single engine plane ride. aileron roll, barrel roll, loop, immelman, split-s and a few more aileron rolls, the last w/ me on the stick. cockpit cam footage shows nothing but teeth! 
in preparation, i picked up a pair of the Monogram 1/48th’s w/ the same plan in mind as you. i think the kit is OOP, but still common on ebay. both of mine were $8 or less. (not including shipping, of course) i have not started kits yet, but they look good in the box. i am not one to ask abt accuracy of panel lines etc, i usually build what they give me and maybe add one or two small details. we made sure that there were cameras around to get good exterior shots of both planes. i guess i will have to scratchbuild the cameras.
good luck w/ your kit, and congratulations on you wedding. by the sounds of the surprise gift, you picked a good girl!
ed.
try to find the Revell ‘Reno Racer Set’. it contains two 1/48th models, a so so P51 Mustang & A T6 which should be the Monogram/Occidental T6, all the reviews I’ve read praise it. I have the set though I still haven’t gotten around to opening the box yet. The best news is, the two kits in one box only cost around the same as a single kit! Even in ripoff UK mine cost around 8 pounds, thats what? 12 dollars? Bargain!!
August 29th baby-- I am due to fly the 30-minute flight!
jgaertner73-- How much flying did they actually let you do?? I am just curious as I really am looking forward to it! I just might purchase the flight manual as an extra gift to myself LOL…
I saw a 1/48 Texan/Harvard in Revell Germany boxing very recently, I’m not sure if its the old Monogram kit thats been spoken of here, but its a fair guess that it might be.
Just though I’d let you know that its out there in RG packaging too.
wow it is a small world! I got to fly in the snj at franklin airport in VA last year jgaertner73 and everybody else you know that was the best money i ever spent–I plan on doing it again when top gun comes back! Jeeves I did the hour flight but as soon as we got of the ground it was all mine for the hour! enjoy it and tape it! and the model i have is the t-6 reno racer looks pretty good,i havent put it together yet --got other planes in line first!
Jonathan,
No info on a Texan, sorry, but congrats on the wedding.