AT-6/SNJ Texan 1:48 Scale Revell Model Kit #85-5251 Review

RoR Step-by-Step Review 20130816*  
AT-6/SNJ Texan 1:48 Scale Revell Model Kit #85-5251 Review

Review and Photos by Kevin Lawton

The North American Aviation AT-6 was an advanced trainer used by the United States Army, U.S Navy, Britain, and other British Commonwealth countries from WWII into the 1950’s. The AT-6 family was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp radial engine developing 600 hp.  It had a top speed of 208 mph at 5,000 feet (335kn/h at 1.500 meters) while its cruising speed was 145 mph (233 km/h).  It had a range of 730 miles (1,175 km) and could operate at altitudes up to 24,200 ft (7,400 m).  There was a provision to carry up to three .30 caliber (7.62mm) machine guns.  Before production ceased a total of 15,495 T-6s of all variants were built. AT-6s also served the United States in both the Korean and Vietnamese wars as forward air observers known as ‘Mosquitos’.  In total, 61 different countries have used the AT-6, SNJ, Harvard family of trainers.

For the Modeler: This is the Revell AT-6/SNJ Texan 1:48 Scale skill level 2 Model Kit #85-5251. It is molded in light grey plastic and contains 51 grey parts and 10 parts molded in clear plastic.  The molds for this kit are copyright 1979 and despite its age there was very little flash on any of the parts.  Extra parts are included on the parts trees that I believe allow for the building of a Navy SNJ, RAF Harvard, or other AT-6 versions.  There is no indication in the instructions what these extra parts are for.  I imagine other versions of the kit come with different box art and different instructions.  The only option available in this kit is the position of the canopy allowing either the front or rear canopy to be displayed in the open position.  The canopy parts are thick enough that posing both cockpits open is not possible. Decals are provided for 2 aircraft; a U.S. Navy SNJ-5, serial #51978 based at Naval Air Station Glenview, Glenview Illinois 1956, and a U.S. Army Air Corp AT-6A serial #41-524 from Luke Field, Phoenix AZ in 1942.  Living a short distance north of Phoenix, it was an easy choice to build the AT-6A. The kit also includes 2 figures; a student pilot sitting in the front seat and an instructor climbing into the rear cockpit. Finished dimensions are: Length: 7-1/4″, Wingspan: 10-7/16″.

Covered in this Review:  If you want to perfect your build; basic construction; preparing parts for better finishing; version option considerations; alternate assembly sequence suggestions for fit and ease of finishing; paint and adhesive selections and application; identifying and repairing seam lines; cockpit  detailing; an extensive tutorial on canopy masking; the importance of test fitting; expanded 1:1 history of the aircraft; instrument panel modification suggestions; using secondary photo etch parts to add realism; scratch building to replace details; masking the airframe for painting; metalizer techniques; decal preparation, application and special handling; detailing the landing gear; sealing decals with floor polish; considerations and methods for posing the crew members; canopy clean-up;  and radio aerial considerations; are all fully examined in this pictorial 12 page, full-color Step-by-Step review.

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