mozart Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) I'm currently building KH's Texan as a Harvard IIa of the Rhodesian Air Training Group, specifically Harvard EX490 which was based at 20 SFTS Cranborne in 1943/4. My reasons for choosing this particular aircraft are very simple: a) it was flown by my father during his pilot training days: and there's an excellent colour photograph of it in the IWM collection: My intention is to show the detail that KH have put into the engine area by cutting off the nose panels and not fitting some of the cowling though the "plumbing" both electrical and hydraulic will be a best guess based on the sources that I currently have, so therefore not 100% accurate by any means! To try to make it as correct as I feel inclined to (and I know this is a potential minefield), I have the AlleyCat canopy (which I've reviewed on this site), AMS Resin's 9' prop blades, Scale Aircraft Conversions whitemetal landing gear (though I think KH's is OK (?), and Airscales WW2 RAF instrument dial decals ready for the corrected instrument panel that I'm making: When finished it'll be displayed as a small diorama with this chap sitting waiting for the repairs to be done: More later on the build Max Edited June 24, 2014 by mozart Sharkmouth, Kagemusha, Harold and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Cool! Looking forward to what you do with this one Max. I had no idea that SAC had a set of gear legs out for this kit. The figure looks great! Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wunwinglow Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 What better reason to build!? Great stuff.... Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozart Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) I started with the P&W engine, I found the whole assembly quite tricky to get my head around, with many senior moments happening but I knew from Kev's experience with his test build that it had to go together with everything orientated properly. The kit has been criticised rightly for the moulding marks and gates etc., those on the engine halves are especially horrible: A while cleaning up, including cutting off location pins (which I've done a lot of with this kit) and the halves fitted well enough. I had already decided that KH's moulding of the plugs and plug leads wasn't good enough: so those came off to be replaced by plugs of stretched sprue and wire leads: The backing plate for the engine only fits one way to allow for the oil tank sump to be at 6 o'clock, care also needs to be taken to ensure that the con rod guides align properly with the cylinder heads, it's easy to get them wrong!: Fitting the exhaust collector ring and its cover etc had me scratching my head, again correct orientation?! Another place where, once I'd decided what was where, to cut off location pins which I find helps me locate things more easily: Finally the engine assembly was completed but not without a lot of thought and dry fitting: Time to move on to the cockpit next. Max Edited June 25, 2014 by mozart Harold, Whitey and quang 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ron Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Nice work Max! The exhaust looks really good. Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr b Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Lovely idea ....I am planning the same sought of theme .....but an RNZAF bird which my dad learned to fly in.......great work thus far rgds mr b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozart Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 (edited) Thank you for your kind feedback chaps! The cockpit framework was another area that I took my time over, it needed careful thought because the instructions can be quite confusing, including the typo for item "E51" in step 3, half of a fire extinguisher which mates with B12 - the item is actually E15. I'm not sure about the curious semi-circular item behind the aft cockpit (item D31), I think it's related to the blind-flying hood so I'm probably going to add the hood at a later date. The whole structure I thought was well engineered and fitted together very well but it's worth checking that all the location holes on the side structures are drilled all the way through before final assembly: I added the Eduard seat belts since the KH ones were a little basic. Max Edited June 25, 2014 by mozart Pfuf, quang, jgrease and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaninaustria Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Very nice work.... everytime I see one of these birds I am reminded of my flight school days as the field I learned to fly at had a few of these Harvards sitting around.... I think there was even a chipmunk too... A classic trainer that was purposefully built!Cheers Alan .... might get this kit too!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozart Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 (edited) I've added the internal ribbing detail with micro-strip - with the canopy as open as I want it to be I think cockpit detail is essential. I must admit that I'm impressed with the precise fit of all the parts, so far very little fettling has been required. I'm starting to add some wiring etc on the firewall and added some brackets for the battery. This shot illustrates how the front compartment has been opened up by removal of the side and top panels and gives some idea of the space to be filled with cabling, hydraulic lines, engine support bearers etc. I'm certainly enjoying the build of my first LSP so far! Max Edited June 27, 2014 by mozart Harold, quang, jgrease and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 Really nice work Max! Looks like you're conquering this one nicely. Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ron Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wunwinglow Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Me too. My canopies from AlleyCat arrived this morning..... Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozart Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 Well done Tim, take care removing the residual resin! I've just received the small stores racks that you recommended from MDC, looking good! Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loic Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 That looks great ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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