Collect-Aire Models

Kit Number 3205

1/32 T-28C

Reviewed By Rod Lees, #10821

Test question: What trainer can outturn and out climb a P-51 (at low level), and fly further on the same amount of fuel at almost the same cruise speed?  The T-28 is the answer and Collect-Aire is the only company out there with an accurate '28 out of the box in 1/32^nd scale!  Collect-Aire continues their record of producing what mainstream companies won't.  I've built ten Collect-Aire kits over the past few years, and this particular model was notable in the amount of effort expended (low) for a high-quality final result.

The basic kit is extremely accurate.  I only had to correct two items.  First, the rudder is too rounded in profile.  Use a sanding block, after the fuselage is assembled, to flatten the rudder tip to a more "P-51" profile.  (Two minutes of modeling skills required).  The second item: As provided in the box, the wing is almost flat, near zero dihedral.  An actual T-28 has seven degrees dihedral.  Since the wing comes as a solid, one-piece flat casting, I decided on a simple fix.  After solidly gluing the wing in place on the assembled fuselage, I razor sawed at the wing roots until both wings were off.  I then used a sander to "Mk 1 Eyeball" the dihedral angle.  Putty; sand; re-scribe; done.  I wasn't out for perfection; I like to enjoy the hobby and making a jig with digitally perfect loft points and laser alignment does nothing for me.  So I lost .0425 mm in wingspan... pttttth.  By the way, in corresponding with Lou, he says he's passed on these corrections to his manufacturer, so the next run should have these issues corrected.

The cockpit was basically assembled and painted "out of the box".  It could be a scratch builder's dream to improve, but I have other things to do.  I did add seat harness and buckles.  The engine is a good representation; if you build this kit, don't cut out the webs between the cylinders, they are supposed to be there.  (On the real thing they are air dams to ensure cooling air goes around the cylinder fins).  Separate pushrod tubes and an ignition distributor "hoop' are included in resin and provide a detail not often seen in kits of this scale.  The metal landing gear is appropriate for a model of this size; I removed approximately ¼ Inch from the top of the main struts to lower the tail.  The nose tire is the large, lower pressure version seen on the "A", some "C's" and all "D's".  The slender profile, high pressure nose wheel seen on many "C's" is not provided; you're on your own for that.  The kit comes with the "shortened" rudder base, to clear the arresting hook.  It would be easy to modify to a full rudder configuration with a bit of epoxy putty if you are building a "non-carrier qualified" Trojan.  The propeller has clamps on the base of the shank, and an acceptable hub assembly.  I have seen props with and without clamps, so I left it as is.

The speed brake can be constructed deployed or closed; I opted for closed.  Two vac-u-form canopies are provided, and are of the lower profile as seen on later T-28's.  The separate resin aft canopy frame interior fit extremely well.  I cut the canopy apart to display in the open position, and it fit extremely well.  (Scissors only required because the clear plastic is flexible, so cracking wasn't a problem.)  One thing I did not do was drop the flaps; most of the time the '28 is parked flaps down, as there are steps built into the flap to facilitate climbing on the wing for cockpit entry.  Next time, maybe.  The decals are excellent, and responded to Micro Set and Sol without silvering.  There are three marking options: All are Navy.  First is the standard white with International Orange, second is all yellow, and last is a gull gray over white scheme.  The stenciling is a highlight of the kit; all readable and appropriately sized!  It would be easy to turn this kit into a "D" by adding pylons, filling in the lower part of the rudder, and scratch building "Yankee" extractor seats.  Making an "A" would require a new cowl, engine, and prop, and (depending on if you wanted an early or late version) a new canopy with rollover bar.  The Collect-Aire T-28 is a great kit, yet another in the line of "rare" models from Lou and his associates!

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