FERESIN 1/144
T-6G Texan

Background

The North American AT-6 Texan was developed around 1938 to provide the US Army Air Corps with an advanced trainer aircraft. The AT-6 featured a constant speed propeller, retractable landing gear, and the basic cockpit layout that would be found in any US combat aircraft. The aircraft could perform the same combat maneuvers and, in most cases, to the same G-loading. The AT-6 was a forgiving aircraft that allowed many aviators to learn, sometimes the hard way, the operations and management of complex aircraft in routine flight conditions as well as under duress. The US Navy also employed the aircraft extensively as a trainer, designating their versions the SNJ Harvard.

The T-6G was a used extensively after the war as an advanced trainer aircraft, though some were modified for use as forward air controller/observation aircraft in Korea. The T-6 was also widely exported to air forces around the world, not only as a trainer, but as an effective counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft.

The Kit

FERESIN has released the T-6G in 1/144 scale - in resin! This kit is molded in tan resin and consists of 16 parts, plus two vacuformed canopies. The casting quality is exquisite.

The fuselage is hollow-cast so you can insert a separate resin engine as well as a cockpit floor w/seating. Decals are provided for the instrument panels but you'll need to cut some styrene sheet to apply them to as the kit doesn't include the panels.

Look at that one-piece wing. My example had no warpage and features nice depth main wheel wells. There are even mounting holes in the wheel wells for the main gear struts.

Like most of the better resin kits out there, this one has two vacuformed canopies - one to mess up and one for the finished model.

Markings are provided for two aircraft:

• T-6G, 44-82489, USAF Air Training Command
• T-6G, 20449, Royal Canadian Air Force

Conclusion

This is an impressive little kit that will go together quickly, though it should be attempted by modelers with some skills working with small resin parts and cyanoacrylate adhesives. By the way, did you notice the retail price (from Hobbyshop.cz)? Definitely recommended!

My sincere thanks to Hobbyshop.cz for this review sample!