I just published 4 new galleries from my collection of scale model aircraft. The new pictures have been taken in new diorama setups. These models are all in scale 1:72 and include:
Messerschmitt BF-109K in scale 1:72 (Germany)
North American T-6G Texan in scale 1:72 (US)
North American P-51 Mustang in scale 1:72 (US)
Dassault Mirage 2000DP in scale 1:72 (Peru)
On this post you can see a sample from these galleries. A P-51 Mustang long-range, single seat fighter aircraft used during World War II by the allied Air Forces. Go to the “Examples” section to view the complete galleries.
I just began building a Revell kit of the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN65), the first Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier. The kit is in scale 1:400. I am making a major modification to the kit: Opening the hangar doors which come in the close configuration and adding a hangar deck.
I will post more details and pictures as I build the model kit.
The U.S.S. Enterprise is the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth US naval vessel to bear the name “Enterprise”. She is nicknamed the “Big E” like her predecessor of World War II. The current Enterprise has been in commission since November 25, 1961.
As a reference book I purchased “The USS Enterprise, in detail & scale” written by Bert Kinzey and published by Squadron/Signal Publications. D&S VOL.39 ISBN: 1-888974-23-0. This book is a great resource, it has many pictures, provides great detail and history about the CVN-65.
More information is available on the internet about the U.S.S. Enterprise. Here is an example: http://www.enterprise.navy.mil/
I began adding the hangar deck and I also made the openings of the hangar doors using a Dremel tool. For the hangar floor I used a resin diorama base of a U.S. Navy Flight Deck. I got this high quality resin base from “Just Plane Stuff” (2021 Carmel Ave. Racine WI 53405).
I used posts made out of resin scrap and plastic spruces to support the hangar floor deck to the model. I then used model putty to seal the edges. I will then properly sand any imperfections prior to painting.
The floor deck is very well secure to the model. Resin warps, that is why it is very important to properly secure it to avoid this inherent problem with resin.
Creating the hangar openings (Which come by default in the close configuration) was a time consuming task. A Dreamel tool makes this process easier.
Work from the inside to the outside of the walls, cutting the plastic and then sanding the edges of the hangar frames.
In front of the opening of the hangar deck doors I will install the elevator platforms.
I also got from “Tom’s Model Works” two sets of Photo Edge BrassRail in 1/400 scale (set#4001) (www.tomsmodelworks.com) and a set of photo edge figures in 1/400 scale (set#4003).
I also got 3 sets of “ARII Plastic Models” of U.S. Navy Aircraft. Each set has a total of 19 aircraft which include:
A-6 Intruder (3)
E-2 Hawkeye (1)
F-14 Tomcat (1)
RA-5C Vigilante (1)
F-4 Phantom II (3)
EA-6B Prowler (1)
SH-3 Seaking Helicopter (1)
A-7 Corsair II (6)
S-3 Viking (1)
FA-18 Hornet (1)
plus: a crane and a maintenance car
This airplanes are in addition to the 41 airplanes included in the Revell kit:
Skyhawk (15)
F-4 Pantom II (14)
Crusader (10)
SH-3 Seaking Helicopter (2)
That is a total of 98 aircraft. According to the reference book I got, the U.S.S. Enterprise can carry a total of 85 aircraft. I have an extra 13 that I can rotate.
The AT-6 Texan was a single engine training aircraft. Its first flight took place on april 1st, 1935. There was a total of 15,495 units built. The AT-6 was used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy and other air forces prior, during and after World War II. The AT-6 Texan originated from the North American NA-16 prototype. Thanks to its stability and control at low speeds, the T-6G was used in light attack or counter insurgency role by the French Air Force.
Some of its major operators were: The United States Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces, United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, Royal Air Force, French Air Force, Spanish Air Force, Peruvian Air Force, Argentine Naval Aviation, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, Colombian Air Force, Portuguese Air Force and Portuguese Navy.
The Model Kit
1:72 Encore Kit
Chosen Configuration
AT-6 Texan in service with the Peruvian Air Force, extended landing gear, standard training colors: blue and yellow.
Markings:
Peruvian Flag (Red and white) on the rudder. Peruvian Air Force insignia on the sides of the plane and over the left wing and under the right wing. Airplane Identification number on the sides of the fuselage and behind the insignia and on top of the right wing and under the left wing.
The Reference Material
Diagrams
The following diagram was obtained from the archives of the Peruvian Air Force and it shows in detail how the insignias and numbering scheme had to be applied to the airplanes. The diagram also shows the Federal Standard reference colors.
Photos
The black & white picture obtained from the Aero-Photography Service of the Peruvian Air Force, shows a North American AT-6 at the Air Force base of “Las Palmas” in Lima, Peru.
North American Aviation AT-6 “Texan” – General Specifications
Crew: two (student and instructor)
Length: 29 ft (8.84 m)
Wingspan: 42 ft (12.81 m)
Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.57 m)
Wing area: 253.7 ft² (23.6 m²)
Empty weight: 4,158 lb (1,886 kg)
Loaded weight: 5,617 lb (2,548 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp radial engine, 600 hp (450 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 208 mph at 5,000 ft (335 km/h at 1,500 m)
Cruise speed: 145 mph (233 km/h)
Range: 730 miles (1,175 km)
Service ceiling: 24,200 ft (7,400 m)
Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)
Armament
Provision for up to 3× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun
Only 7 NA-50 were ever produced and they were sold to Perú. The P-68 was a variant of the NA-50. The 7 North American NA-50 were delivered to Perú in 1939. In 1941 four of them participated in the war against the Republic of Ecuador. One of these planes was used by Captain José Quiñones to destroy a group of anti-aircraft guns by crashing his plane against the enemy installations.
One original NA-50 stills survives in Perú and it stands next to the Mausoleum of Captain José Quiñones.
Serial Numbers: 50-948 to 50-954. The registry numbers assigned by the Cuerpo Aeronáutico of Perú: XXI-41-1 to XXI-41-7. The NA-50 were in operation in Perú until 1950.
The picture to the right shows the last survivor of the NA-50 on display at the Air Force base of “Las Palmas” in Lima, Peru. Photo courtesy of Sergio de la Puente.
The Model Kit
Chosen Configuration
The North American NA-50 in service with the “Cuerpo Aeronautico del Peru” – Peruvian Air Force, extended landing gear, metallic finish.
Markings:
Peruvian Flag (Red and white) on the rudder. Airplane serial number followed by the Aerial Group Number in black text over a red triangle. Peruvian Air Force insignia on top of the right wing and under the left wing. Drawing of an archer on the left and right side of the cowling.
The Reference Material
Diagrams
The diagram below shows three views of the NA-50. One of the first fighters with retractible landing gear.
Photos
The black & white picture shown below was obtained from the Aero-Photography Service of the Peruvian Air Force, shows a North American AT-6 at the Air Force base of “Las Palmas” in Lima, Peru. The airplane shows its full metallic finish and the insignias of the Peruvian Air Force.
The North American NA-50 – General Specifications
Crew: One
Length: 27 ft (8.23 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 3 in (11.35 m)
Height: 19 ft 8 in (5.99 m)
Wing area: 227 ft² (21.1 m²)
Empty weight: 4,660 lb (2,114 kg)
Loaded weight: 5,990 lb (2,717 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 6,800 lb (3,080 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Wright R-1820-77 radial engine, 870 hp (649 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 270 mph (435 km/h) at 8,700 ft (2,650 m)
Range: 965 mi (1,550 km)
Service ceiling: 27,500 ft (8,400 m)
Wing loading: 26 lb/ft² (129 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.13 hp/lb (0.21 kW/kg)
Armament
2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns
2 × 20 mm cannons
Up to 400 lb (180 kg) of bombs
Blog Post Articles | Oscar Jr. | 
June 6, 2011 7:36 am | 
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The North American AT-6 Texan
The Model Kit
The North American NA-50
The North American NA-50 – General Specifications
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