1/48 Revell PT-17 Stearman Review/Preview

Ranger_Chris61

 

 

Don Stauffer

This is one of the all-time best kits ever.  In fact, there are two kits.  One is the original Stearman, as a military plane.  The second is a modified aerobatic show plane with 450 Wasp engine and cowling, and wheel pants.

I have built one of each, and bought two more kits, to build another of each.

 

 

 

 

Did not know that they had made a version with the larger engine. Does it also come with the wheel covers by chance?

 

Yep, that is what wheel pants are.

The Stearman is a great kit, well detailed and with fit and finish that rivals Tamiya. It’s easily the best fitting biplane I’ve ever built. As others have said, the molded in cabane struts make fitting the upper wing a breeze.

A word to the wise, you can pick this kit up at Michael‘s for about ten dollars using their 40% off coupon. Occasionally they offer 50% off, an absolute steal.

If Revell had focused on producing more kits like the Stearman (inexpensive, great fit and detail), they would have been in a better position to compete with manufacturers like Tamiya and the new Airfix. 

Don Stauffer

This is one of the all-time best kits ever.  In fact, there are two kits.  One is the original Stearman, as a military plane.  The second is a modified aerobatic show plane with 450 Wasp engine and cowling, and wheel pants.

I have built one of each, and bought two more kits, to build another of each.

This is one of the all-time best kits ever.  In fact, there are two kits.  One is the original Stearman, as a military plane.  The second is a modified aerobatic show plane with 450 Wasp engine and cowling, and wheel pants.

I have built one of each, and bought two more kits, to build another of each.

I'll follow you here. All the aces in WW2 flew this aircraft at one point.

This is one the first kits I built when I came back to the hobby. Two things that struck me as almost genius were the landing gear legs and the fuselage wing struts. Having those modled in made the build so much more accurate and easy. This Stearman kit was the easiest biplane I have ever built. I have another in my stash to be built some day. When I see one at a show, I might pick up the Stearman Acrobatic Biplane.