Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1527 T-6G Texan 51-14337, 75th FIS, Presque Isle AFB, 1952

Die-cast metal. Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Pre-painted with pad applied markings. Fully assembled. Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Minimum use of plastic. Very collectable

“The Pilot Maker” was the name the North American T-6 Texan earned over the years. With over 17,000 produced in several versions these planes trained countless thousands of would-be pilots from every corner of the world. This little plane had a 58- year career in military service from 1938 until 1996 when the South African Air Force became the last air force in the world to retire their T-6. Even after most military retired the plane hundreds if not thousands of them found a new life in civilian service.

On January 12, 1951 the 75th FIS was re- activated at Presque Isle Maine. Part of the 75th FIS was a basic training facility with one of the aircraft being T-6G 51-14337 MSN 182-24 delivered to the 75th FIS on December 11, 1951. Damaged when it ground looped on April 25, 1952 it was put in storage in Arizona. In January 1956 the aircraft was delivered to France where it was modified for counter insurgency operations for the French Air Force in North Africa. In 1965 the aircraft was SOC.

Specifications North American Harvard T-6 Type: two-advanced trainer/dive bomber.

Powerplant: 1 X Pratt-&-Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp engine.

Performance: Maximum speed - 209 mph (337 kph) (182 knots) Cruising speed - 145 mph (233 kph) (126 knots) Operational range - 630 miles (1,014 km) Service ceiling - 24,000 ft (7.3 km)

Weights: Empty - 4,860 lb (1814kg) Maximum takeoff - 5,249 lb (2381kg)

Dimensions: Wing span - 41.99 ft (12.80 m) Length - 29.49 ft (8.99 m) Height - 11.68 ft (3.56 m)

Armament: 2 X 0.5 cm machine guns with 8 X 50 kg bombs under the wings or 1 X 0.303 machine gun with 16 X 80 mm rockets and 4 X 50 kg bombs under the wings