The SAAF Forum

Started this kit December 2011 and completed it the other day. It was boxed as a Modelcraft Harvard Mk.IV in Canadian markings, the plastic & instructions say it's origins are from Ocidental Replicas. The Heller & Italeri Harvards also use Ocidental moulds.
My kit had the wrong exhaust, it had the cold climate exhaust that was about a meter long, running down the side of the fuselage, transferring heat into the cockpit. Decals used are from Kits At War.
I like to thank AT6C for all the input on SAAF Harvard history and the correct colours which helped my build. Wingman's build also gave me some guidance, thanks.
Like Wingman, I also had painted my wheel wells and inner flaps green.
I had to fashion an exhaust pipe, and looked closely at Wingman's exhaust position in his build.
Eventually I realised that my cowling had a notch in it for the cold climate exhaust that had to be filled in, so I filled it in with super glue. The only real bad fit was my landing lights, there was a huge gap. I glued them into place with Future, then filled the voids with more Future. Just before I was going to do the clear coat, I asked AT6C about a probe protruding from the yellow wing band in the decal sheets instructions, it's a machinegun. So I went into my spares box.
The decals were on the thick side, and tended to peel off when dry, so I used future. The clear coat is 50/50 Future & Windex.



Kits At Wat instuctions








I was going to have it as closed canopy, did not worry about cockpit detail. Changed my mind when I was in the process of mounting the canopies.

Wow! Beautiful spammy jeffreynic! I like the dropped flaps.

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VERY sharp looking Spammy! Great job JN!! The decals behave themselves when you stuck them on...?

Superb Harvard, that looks beautiful. great little changes you made to have it as close to reality as possible.

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EX ALTO VINCIMUS

Thanks guys
I lost my camera which had some build pictures on it.

Interesting you call me JN. No, I'm not offended.
The decals from Kits At War were quite thick, they did not want to conform to the panel lines. I also found they did not stick well when dry, so I applied a layer of Future/Windex to the area I was placing the decal. When I was ready to apply the clear coat to the final product, I removed the excess future by brushing the area with Windex, give it half a minute to dissolve the Future, then flush the area with warm water. Sometimes I have to repeat this step on inspection. I do this so that I have a constant appearance with the clear coat.