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USN Reserve SNJ-5 (AT-6 Texan) 1956

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  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
USN Reserve SNJ-5 (AT-6 Texan) 1956
Posted by gregbale on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 4:59 PM

This is the venerable Revell (ex-Monogram) kit, still holding up quite well after all these years, and with surprisingly clean moldings for as many times as it has been re-released. This particular version contained kit markings for a USNR SNJ-5 based at NAS Glenview---located in the suburban Chicago area---in 1956. Since I was born that year...and since for many years I lived fewer than 5 miles from Glenview (and had the chance to watch a lot of interesting a/c zipping overhead)...this markings option was the only possible choice.

Kit was built OOB with only tissue harnesses and EZ-Line rigging added. I also added RR lettering decals---sliced to look like stencils---to the seat cushions; oddly, these are shown in the kit instructions, but not provided on the decal sheet...which I seem to recall being the same as in the very first one of these I built back in the '60s or '70s!

Enjoy the pics.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 6:21 PM

Great color variation!  The build looks fantastic.

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
Posted by rangerj on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 8:32 PM

Super job. Glenview Navel Air Station is just North of Chicago and has been closed for some time now. There used to be an A-4 Skyhawk that was damaged on a landing sitting at one end of one of the runways as a reminder to pilots. An F-16 had a flameout over Chicago a number of years back and the pilot made a dead stick landing at Glenview. The recording of the radio communications may be on the internet.

Again the T-6 or SNJ is a beauty and that is a great paint scheme.

  • Member since
    June 2017
Posted by Chemteacher on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 8:34 PM
Wow! Great color. Custom mix? If so, what was your brand/ratio? It came out awesome.

On the bench: Revell-USS Arizona; Airfix P-51D in 1/72

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Posted by Hodakamax on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 8:38 PM

Cool! A fun old kit, you did it justice! I kinda modified mine like it would be if I actually owned one. LOL. I actually got to fly our Navy model (only silver) as a potential recruit for  a Naval Aviator. Fun memories and again, good job. I hate to admit it but yours looks better than mine but only slightly, lol.

Max

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by PFJN on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 8:52 PM

Hi,

That looks great.

Pat

1st Group BuildSP

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 9:08 PM

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

I lived in Northbrook in the mid-'60s and went to school with a good number of kids whose fathers were stationed at Glenview. Best of all, my older brother had a best friend whose father was a Lt.Cdr at the NAS; every once and a while we'd get to go over on Saturday mornings and watch the pilots doing touch-and-goes.

I knew the station had been closed down some years back; apparently they were able to preserve the tower as a museum. Would love to see it one of these days.

Chemteacher
Wow! Great color. Custom mix? If so, what was your brand/ratio? It came out awesome.

Thanks. Paints are Tamiya acrylics, my own 'chrome yellow' mix of plain flat yellow with a drop or two of red thrown in until it's just short of actual orange. Mostly use it for 'between the wars' a/c; I think this is actually the first trainer I've done up in the color.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
Posted by mississippivol on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 9:43 PM
Well done!
  • Member since
    November 2016
Posted by StephenL on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 11:29 PM

Really like the paint work. Excellent job.

 

200 kits was my limit...

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: providence ,r.i.
Posted by templar1099 on Thursday, June 29, 2017 4:13 AM

Yea, a really fantastic job.

"le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile"

  • Member since
    June 2017
Posted by Chemteacher on Thursday, June 29, 2017 1:44 PM
The stenciling on the seat backs are a neat touch. Looks great.

On the bench: Revell-USS Arizona; Airfix P-51D in 1/72

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Tumwater, WA.
Posted by M. Brindos on Saturday, July 1, 2017 12:08 AM

This is inspirational to me. I think this is the example I will use for my Monogram Dauntless. Just a good, clean, and beautiful build 99% out of the box!

Beautiful workmanship all around, Greg.

- Mike Brindos "Lost Boy"

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Saturday, July 1, 2017 9:15 AM

M. Brindos

This is inspirational to me. I think this is the example I will use for my Monogram Dauntless. Just a good, clean, and beautiful build 99% out of the box!

Beautiful workmanship all around, Greg.

Too kind, Mike. In fact I should probably have 'scuffed it up' a bit more---these were post-WW2, post-Korea hand-me-down reserve aircraft, after all---but I told myself the bored reservist groundcrews would have had little to do other than keeping everything in sparkling condition. Wink (Actually, period photos do show them pretty well cared for.)

Anyway, on a lot of these nostalgic (for me) old Monogram builds---especially the nice kits like this---I enjoy building mostly OOB. It does bring back memories of cruder but more carefree earlier builds, back in the day.

Look forward to seeing your SBD!

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by 7474 on Monday, July 3, 2017 11:00 AM
Great job on this
  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Monday, July 3, 2017 11:44 AM

Looks fabulous to me.

On a side note - sort of - I just can't figure out how you and others keep the clear parts of the canopy so absolutely devoid of smudges etc. I guess I'm a bull in a china shop when it comes to handling clear parts - I just don't seem to be able to finish an aircraft kit without some "dirtying" of the canopy lites of glass/plexiglass.

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Tumwater, WA.
Posted by M. Brindos on Monday, July 3, 2017 12:09 PM

Um, yeah, those clear parts can be a bear. I just keep wiping off my fingerprints with a cotton bud and some clean water. But none of mine are perfect either. Hard to do when half of my builds needed fillers around the glass. I have nver had any luck clear coating them before I work on them either. That always leads to more complications for me.

I just keep them as clean as I can.

- Mike Brindos "Lost Boy"

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Monday, July 3, 2017 5:01 PM

1943Mike

On a side note - sort of - I just can't figure out how you and others keep the clear parts of the canopy so absolutely devoid of smudges etc. I guess I'm a bull in a china shop when it comes to handling clear parts - I just don't seem to be able to finish an aircraft kit without some "dirtying" of the canopy lites of glass/plexiglass.

Like Mike Brindos, I've gotten in the habit of Q-Tipping regularly, inside and out. The other thing I've started doing just recently is giving the interior a good 'blow-out' with the airbrush---just air---to get rid of any loose shavings or sanding dust before sealing the canopy part(s) on for good. Really cuts down on all those tiny annoyances that love to appear out of nowhere to grab onto the static cling of canopy interiors!

Thanks to all for taking the time to comment.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Tumwater, WA.
Posted by M. Brindos on Monday, July 3, 2017 8:53 PM

Oh, glad you mentioned the AB blowout, Greg. I forgot to mention that. 

- Mike Brindos "Lost Boy"

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 4:43 AM

Thats a great looking build. I do like the look of the pit and its a really nicely finished.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 8:44 AM

Thanks, Bish.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 9:07 AM

Beautiful!  Love the photography, too!

Love trainers, too.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 10:02 AM

Don Stauffer

Beautiful!  Love the photography, too!

Love trainers, too.

Thanks, Don.

I obviously should have 'ironed' the backdrop first...but I was racing to get the pics while the light was still decent. Confused

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    February 2015
Posted by skyraider0609 on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 10:10 AM

Greg,

That's a great looking T-6. Really well done. I have a newbie question. How did you apply the "978" to the nose, especially the left side, where it has to conform to the air scoop? Do you cut the decal and apply it? I'm just curious and would have zero idea how to attempt something like that.

Thanks

Pete

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 10:24 AM

skyraider0609

Greg,

That's a great looking T-6. Really well done. I have a newbie question. How did you apply the "978" to the nose, especially the left side, where it has to conform to the air scoop? Do you cut the decal and apply it? I'm just curious and would have zero idea how to attempt something like that.

Thanks

Pete

Thanks, Pete.

Actually, it's all down to Revell on the side decal. It's supplied on the kit sheet in (3) parts, with the instructions clearly directing the builder to apply the 'wraparound' part (surrounding the scoop) first...and only then apply the separate parts of the '7' and '8'---which are both supplied suitably 'stretched' to fit the scoop. It's actually one of the neater decal design jobs I've seen...certainly for a non-high-end kit! Kudos to Revell for having taken the trouble to work it all out.

Cheers

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    February 2015
Posted by skyraider0609 on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 3:22 PM

Thanks for the reply Greg. Sounds like it's so easy a caveman, or a newbie, can do it

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