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North American
T-28D "Nomad"



South Vietnamese Air Force
1st Air Commando
"Operation Farm Gate"
Bien Hoa Air Base,
South Vietnam 1963.

Heller

This model added to kgwings.com on January 28, 2000
In 1962, the USAF began a program to modify more than 200 T-28A "Trojan" trainers to T-28D "Nomad" tactical fighter-bombers for Vietnam counter-insurgency warfare.
Equipped with a larger 1,425 hp. engine and many other upgrades, the T-28Ds eventually proved to be an effective close air support weapon against enemy ground forces.
The T-28D's also served in combat ground support missions with the French Air Force in Algeria (1960-62) as T28D "Fennec".
The Nomad regularly carried two .50 cal. guns and 1,800 lbs. of bombs or rockets on external pods.
The Nomad appears to be pretty "hefty" for a single engine prop aircraft, until compared to it's replacement the AD-4 Skyraider.
My ground support vehicles consist of a GPV (Jeep) that came out of my Hasegawa MU-2 kit, and the tow tractor and carrier that came out of a Monogram F-16XL kit that was a gift from Brian Geiger. Thanks Brian!
The interior had a nice start and looked even better after the addition of throttle levers and seatbelts. You can take a better look on the Nomad Construction Page.
Although this kit was molded with very outdated technology, I thought it to be a pretty descent kit when all was said and done. It's also possibly the only choice on the subject in 72nd scale making it all the more worth the effort.



Heller N.A. T-28 Trojan Fennec 80279
Heller
Kit: Heller #80279
1:72 scale
Scale: 1/72
Decals: Stock.
Optional markings were provided for a French "Fennec", Algeria, 1960. Kit decals were done nicely.
Paint: Model Master Light Ghost Gray FS 36375.
After Market Parts: None at all.
Customizations: Cut open canopy, rebuilt engine vents, removed hardpoint fairings, drilled rocket tubes. Added: brake runs, static dischargers, gunsight, throttles, seat harnesses, and wheel bay detail. See the Nomad Construction Page.
Cost: This is readily available in the U.S. for around $6.00, a very reasonable price:quality ratio.
Comments: The kit goes together fairly easy, although with a bit of tricky filling and sanding on the wing-to-fuselage and engine cowling-to-fuselage joints is required. Panel lines and rivets are raised, but molded very crisp so as not to detract much.
Although thick, the canopy is very clear and turned out nice. The interior is not bad at all, and looks great with a few added details.
Warning: Do NOT underestimate how much nose weight to add! I crammed all that would fit into the engine area, and it still just takes a gust of wind to knock it on it's tail.
Research: The World Encyclopedia of World Air Power and various websites.



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