Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series HA1515
North American T-6 Texan Diecast Model
SAAF, South Africa, 1970s |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| North American T-6 Texan | | 5" | | 7" |
After the UK and Canada the South African Air Force (SAAF) was the largest user of the Harvard. Also the SAAF used these aircraft longer than any other country. Harvard 7072 belongs to the Air Force Museum and has been made airworthy and painted with the 1950s scheme. This aircraft started life in North American's Dallas plant on April 10 1941. Built as AT-6C-1-NT for USAAF as c/n 88-9868, serial 41-33308, re-allocated to RAF as a Harvard MkIIA EX335. On November 2, 1942 the aircraft arrived in Cape Town South Africa for use with the SAAF as part of the Joint Air Training Scheme (JATS). It was assigned the registration 7072. It flew for 2 months and went into storage for almost 29 months. In April 1948 the aircraft was re-activated until its military retirement in 1995 and finally in 1996 it went to the Air Force Museum. 7072 and a few other SAAF Harvards are used in memorial fly pasts to commemorate such events as the Battle of Britain. 7072 stands out from the other Harvards because of its mid-1950's paint scheme.
Designed as an entry for a 1937 USAAC "Basic Combat" aircraft competition, the T-6 was first flown on April 1, 1935. Several hundred T-6s were built before the advanced trainer designation, when it was modified for its role as a basic combat trainer. Nicknamed "the pilot maker," the Texan had low cantilever wings and a long two seat cockpit, with the engine mounted at the extreme forward. It trained thousands of USAF pilots through the 1950s and remained in service with some nations well into the 1990s. More than 15,000 T-6s were manufactured, and the aircraft remains a familiar air show presence, with 350+ airworthy examples still in existence. © Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Hobby Master's 1:72 scale T-6 Texan is constructed almost entirely from diecast metal, which gives the model a heavy feel. The large bird cage style canopy is removable for an unobstructed view of the pilot and co-pilot, pad printed instrument panels, control stick and seat. Engine details such as pushrod housing and cylinder head cooling fins can be seen inside the engine cowling. The solid metal wing features simulated landing lights, correctly replicated pitot tube and separately-applied aileron bell-crank levers. Releases in this series include an improved-visibility canopy with fewer frames and machine gun pods under each wing.
© Copyright 2003-2013 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" range presents detailed, ready-made diecast models of military aircraft.
Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.
© Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
