AIRCRAFT - Get Schooled! (Trainers) (2005 to 2006)

The SNJ-2 is done. This is SNJ-2, BuAer No. 2009, New York Naval Reserve Aviation Base, circa 1940. The kit is the 1/48 scale Modelcraft (old Occidental) T-6G kit. I used decals and the resin replacement rudder (note the rounded rudder not the triangular one) from Belcher Bits Product No. BD5 and for the SNJ-2 variants. This plane flew out of Floyd Bennett Field in New York in its day. The fuselage NYNRAB insignia right by the trainee pilot's position depicts Father Knickerbocker. At the time of publication of these decals this plane was currently being restored to flying condition by the Fighter Factory. Thanks to Mike Belcher for making a very nice scheme readily possible and allowing us the ability to convert back to the old pre-war SNJs and AT-6s with the replacement rudder.

Well... thought I'd provide a workbench update if no else will. Why do I have Billy Idol "Dancin' with Myself" going off in my ear.

The True Blue and Yellow markings are on the SNJ-2. I used Tamiya Flat Yellow as the base and Model Master Chrome Yellow to get the nice uniform yellow wings. Highly recomend this approach to get nice yellow wings for these golden age aircraft. Just the Black anti-glare panel and some Aluminum and True Blue touchup away from her getting her gear and a clearcoat seal and the decals will be applied.

Not that anyone is still involved in this GB.

But just for documentary sake, the SNJ-2 was assembled this weekend and the black primer was applied and is curing. It will be a week before I get the Alclad Aluminum on this plane and the XF5F-1 "Longnose" I'm currently building. Two yellow wings in a row. Good thing I have the Beaufighter coming up... getin' a little tired of these NMF planes.

Ding! Texan is done! The AT-6C Texan from Foster Field, TX. Some of you may recognize this plane from Squadron Signal Publications' "Air Force Colors: Volume 3". It was built from the 1/48 scale Monogram AT-6 kit, some borrowed insignia decals from other kits, yellow serials from Techmod, and some custom black decals created and printed using MS Publisher on my computer.

The SNJ-2 will likely be built after the Longnose XF5F-1 now on my bench.

Quagmyre -

Thanks for the extension, and thanks for the e-mail nudge.  I needed both.  As usual, I didn't get started on my kit(s), letting things slide til it was too close to deadline to bother.  You sure fixed that problem for me.  I've laid out the decals for the TV-2 on my computer and got them pretty well sized.  The toughest part looks like the trainer paint job, with lots of curved color boundaries.  The F4U-1 is very straightforward.  I've put together Hase's F4U-1D, and this is virtually identical, so I know about the few pitfalls.  I will kick myself daily until I dig out the kits and start on them.

Thanks again

Dick

Just a couple serial numbers (see starboard tail in second pic) away from putting on the seal coat (Future with a little Tamiya Flat Base), some weathering, and getting the rest of the canopy in place and she's done.

Pretty much playing the waiting game (again) for those numbers.

Very nice stenciling on those birds. Excellent job on the flight decks as well.

Looks like I'll be updating the chalkboard this weekend.

This is the 1/72 Revell/Monogram F-105F "Peach 91"

Darwin, O.F.

Darwin, O.F.

Your Texan is really looking great.  The two figures add tremendously to the model.

Darwin, O.F.

Update on the Texan!

She's comin' along. I'm waiting on some more yellow decal serial numbers to arrive in order to finish the numbers on the other side of the tail. Also waiting on a Squadron vacuform canopy to arrive before continuing. I need the Squadron vacuform canopy to have the canopy open look I want since the Monogram clear parts are too thick and do not overlay well at all. I will finish with the other decals (custom wing serial number and stencils from Monogram kit) in the meantime.

Wasn't sure if the serial was on the top of the right wing or not with this plane, but I think it'll look better with it. That's just a print-out (below) of the serial number for sizing on the right wing. I will print the actual decal next weekend.

...and here it is.

The Alclad II Aluminum is on. Once it cures enough the red rudder, instrument stripes on wings, and cowling will be painted, followed by the Bronze Green (equivalent to Marine Corps Green FS34052) and Flat Black (on the cowling) anti-glare paneling.

Also started on the figures primed with Grey Primer and pre-shaded flesh areas with Burnt Sienna. Remaining fleshtones next followed by preshading and painting of attire and equipment.

Plenty more else to do. Landing gear, wheels, etc.

Yes, I'm expanding this Group Build into 2006.

Hope this will increase participation and involvement; but mostly I'm doing this because due to a 9-month work assignment in Redmond, WA (can ya guess the client ?). I haven't been able to effectively support and evangelize this GB or just plane (pun intended) build anything myself. Travel between Chicago and Seattle is still weekly, but I'm getting my weekends back with the client permitting Thursday travel back home.

Looking forward to those trainers! I'll be posting an update on my AT-6C build shortly.

Alas the USAAF AT-6C Texan is starting to take form. Actually getting ready to closer her up after the wash on the interior dries. All OOB on the interior, will likely add seatbelts after I closer her up and before the canopy goes on. I plan on using both figures provided in the 1/48 scale Monogram kit. Trainee in the front and the Trainer climbing into the back. Acouple pics to show the progress. Apologies on the darkness of the pics. Seems the flash on my camera has expired.

Just to provide an idea of how she (hopefully) will look when all is said and done. Will need to make custom decals for this one and borrow some from other kits. Those of you who have Squadron’s “Air Force Colors, Volume 3" may recognize this plane.

Skarpotchi wrote:

And here she is with the back half of the decals done.  Now you get a good idea of the wood look they were going for on the wings.

a jet 'woodie', now that's different !!!! & cool !

keep up the great work, skarpotchi !

& welcome back, Quagmyre !!!

frosty

Thanks guys for the kind replies.

And on a side note.....YEAAAAA, Quagmyre is BACK.!!!.

Nice looking paint job skarpotchi.

Well, I finally got the client to let me go on Thursdays and my basement is back to normal so I'll be building again. Cracked open the box for my first Texan (Monogram) this past Sunday night. Still deciding on the paint theme for this one. Not gonna do it OOTB. Will likely create my own decals for this one once I decide on a good WWII theme.

And here she is with the back half of the decals done.  Now you get a good idea of the wood look they were going for on the wings. 

OK you talked me into it, here she is before the decals were added.  ATM I have about 1/2 the decals on.