Unlike some other models we know, this
one's very stable on its feet!
one's very stable on its feet!
Here we have yet ANOTHER first from Hobby Master -- the first Texan "Pilot Maker" in 1:72. While maybe not the sexiest aircraft you're
going to see, its historical significance is much more grand than its profile might suggest. This airframe is responsible for training more
than 100,000 U.S. Military pilots between the late 1930 and 1960. There are many surviving examples that you can expect to see at just
about any local air show.
The livery for this particularly model is obviously quite colorful, which makes this bird stand out on the shelf. The paint, as usual, is
very well applied and the fit/finish are quite good -- next to no "fiddly bits" with this model. Two canopy configurations are supplied for
open/closed display. The closed version is a bit off as the front canopy frame is a tad too tall, and the sliding canopy frame tends to
keep on a sliding all the way to the rear of the canopy, which you can see happened in the above mouseover pic, and elsewhere in this
review -- I left them to show how easily it happens just moving the model slightly for a different photo angle.
This model also features a pretty heavy black wash that really highlights the panel lines, particularly on the yellow paint areas, which I
don't care too much for myself. I would prefer a much more subtle wash. Hobby Master is looking into different levels for future models,
but has apparently scrapped plans to release models with no wash at all.
The model doesn't come with much in the way of extras, which are usually a hallmark of HM releases. There is no external ordnance,
no pilot figures, and no moving parts (other than the prop). I also thought HM's choices for the initial liveries for this mold were a bit
bizarre: I would have gone with a WW II scheme for the first Texan myself. I'm all for schemes that are more off the beaten path, but for
sales reasons I'd think you'd like to start with the "low hanging fruit".
As Randy Jackson might say, "I'm not jumping out of my seat, but this model is alright". Texan and Harvard fans will be pleased to
finally have this bird as an option in 1:72, but you might want to wait until the Eagles 1:48 "Pilot Maker" comes out before snapping this
one up. Note: This was a challenging model to photograph, due to the color scheme -- the reds and yellows are a tad over-saturated.
The red is a flat red that looks brighter in direct light, and the yellow is a deep yellow with a soft tinge of orange to it. The pictures are
close, but not perfect.
Recommended.
going to see, its historical significance is much more grand than its profile might suggest. This airframe is responsible for training more
than 100,000 U.S. Military pilots between the late 1930 and 1960. There are many surviving examples that you can expect to see at just
about any local air show.
The livery for this particularly model is obviously quite colorful, which makes this bird stand out on the shelf. The paint, as usual, is
very well applied and the fit/finish are quite good -- next to no "fiddly bits" with this model. Two canopy configurations are supplied for
open/closed display. The closed version is a bit off as the front canopy frame is a tad too tall, and the sliding canopy frame tends to
keep on a sliding all the way to the rear of the canopy, which you can see happened in the above mouseover pic, and elsewhere in this
review -- I left them to show how easily it happens just moving the model slightly for a different photo angle.
This model also features a pretty heavy black wash that really highlights the panel lines, particularly on the yellow paint areas, which I
don't care too much for myself. I would prefer a much more subtle wash. Hobby Master is looking into different levels for future models,
but has apparently scrapped plans to release models with no wash at all.
The model doesn't come with much in the way of extras, which are usually a hallmark of HM releases. There is no external ordnance,
no pilot figures, and no moving parts (other than the prop). I also thought HM's choices for the initial liveries for this mold were a bit
bizarre: I would have gone with a WW II scheme for the first Texan myself. I'm all for schemes that are more off the beaten path, but for
sales reasons I'd think you'd like to start with the "low hanging fruit".
As Randy Jackson might say, "I'm not jumping out of my seat, but this model is alright". Texan and Harvard fans will be pleased to
finally have this bird as an option in 1:72, but you might want to wait until the Eagles 1:48 "Pilot Maker" comes out before snapping this
one up. Note: This was a challenging model to photograph, due to the color scheme -- the reds and yellows are a tad over-saturated.
The red is a flat red that looks brighter in direct light, and the yellow is a deep yellow with a soft tinge of orange to it. The pictures are
close, but not perfect.
Recommended.
Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series
HA1501: SNJ-5 US Navy, NAS Guantanamo (Cuba), 1956 Released: June, 2007
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