Croco 1/72 T-28C Trojan, previewed by Scott Van Aken

ThThe North American Aviation T-28 Trojan is a radial-engine military trainer aircraft manufactured by North American Aviation and used by the United States Air Force and United States Navy beginning in the 1950s. Besides its use as a trainer, the T-28 was successfully employed as a counter-insurgency aircraft, primarily during the Vietnam War. It has continued in civilian use as an aerobatics and warbird performer.

Originally developed for the U.S. Air Force, the T-28B/C were U.S. Navy versions The B model was strictly land-based a 1,425 hp (1,063 kW) Wright R-1820-86 radial engine driving a three-bladed propeller and fitted with a belly-mounted speed brake; 489 built from new. The T-28C had shortened propeller blades and had a tail hook for carrier landing training. 299 were built. Those used in Vietnam as AT-28C light attack aircraft often had the larger nose wheel/tire from the USAF version along with the larger prop and the tail hook removed.

THE KIT

This is one of Croco's recent releases. They have worked hard on this one to provide a quality short run resin kit. Though there is a 1/72 T-28 of sort on the market, it is the Heller Fennec which is a T-28A with an upgraded engine. As such it has the taller canopy of that version and requires a bit of work to produce any other version.

This kit builds an AT-28C as operated by several nations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. Those planes were operated in the light attack/COIN role with a number of different hardpoints added under the wing for various weapons. Though most had the tail hook removed, that item is included in case you wish to build a USN version. For that role, Croco has also included the smaller nose wheel as well as the non-armored seats used in those aircraft. Note that the image only shows one of each seat and also that many of the small parts are not shown

You get a full cockpit along with separate rudder pedals, control sticks, seats, throttles and instrument panels Once trapped in the fuselage halves the instrument panel anti glare shields can be added. The kit provides two clear canopy transparencies so you have a spare if needed. Rudder and elevators are separate items. The wing is a single casting and it appears there is some room forward for nose weight as this model will be a tail sitter without it.

On the underside is an insert for the aft fuselage. A separate speed brake is provided as well. The landing gear are all reinforced with wire. Engine is very nicely done and fits into a cowling that has separate cowl flaps. Prop consists of a hub with separate blades. For weapons you have gun pods, two sizes of bombs, one with an MER, and a set of rocket tubes. There are metal barrels for the gun pods.

Instructions are well done, consisting of exploded views on either side of a sheet of paper. Included are a number of detail drawings to help with installation and alignment. My kit did not have decals, but markings are provided for several aircraft from Laos and South Vietnam. The box art shows one scheme and an Internet search will show others.

CONCLUSIONS

This is not a kit for beginners, however, Croco has provided a very nicely molded kit with all the parts you will need to produce a very nice model.

KIT #:
PRICE:
DECALS:	Two options
REVIEWER:	Scott Van Aken
NOTES:	Resin with metal gun barrels and vacuform canopy.