T-6 Conversions and Replicas

[Dave Lindauer]

Spinning off the P-64 replica thread --

I'm curious as to just how many different types have been replicated (convincingly or not) with some degree of physical modification to Texan/Harvard/SNJ airframes. Not counting unmodified T-6s simply painted to represent something else, I can think of these:

A6M2 and A6M5 Zero (of course)
B4N Kate
Boomerang
Wirraway
FW 190
Typhoon
NA.50
P-47
P-64
F6F
Fokker D.XXI

(The "Bridge Too Far" one multi-purpose Thunderbolt / Typhoon / Focke Wulf conversions are perhaps the worst of the bunch!)

[Snake45]

Years ago in Air Classics magazine, I saw one that was converted to tri-gear and in some sort of Yak configuration. IIRC it had red stars on it, too.

A pair of T-6s played Sandy Skyraiders in the Clint Eastwood flick Firefox. They're not on screen long and you don't get much of a look at them so I don't know how modified they might have been (prolly not much if any). I've long thought of building a model T-6 painted like a USAF Skyraider, just for the hell of it.

[Snake45]

And didn't a modified T-6 play the Hughes H-1 in the made-for-TV movie about Howard Hughes that starred Tommy Lee Jones? Been a LOOOONG time since I saw that, but I seem to remember it....

[Roger Cain]

Years ago in Air Classics magazine, I saw one that was converted to tri-gear and in some sort of Yak configuration. IIRC it had red stars on it, too.

It was given a couple of names, the "Super-6" or the "Bacon Super T-6S".

[Jerry O'Neill]

The "T-6" that played the H-1 in TV's "The Amazing Howard Hughes" was one of the Tora Kates with the rear cockpit removed and faired over.

[Jerry O'Neill]

T-6's also played generic German fighters in "The Great Escape" and "Where Eagles Dare" and SBD's in "Swing Shift".

[Snake45]

...and SBD's in "Swing Shift".

I think they were also supposed to be playing SBDs in the TV movies The Winds of War and/or War and Remembrance. Again, been a long time and I don't remember which.

[JohnB]

How often were the "Zeros" yellow?

But my all time favorite stand-ins are the Cessna Bamboo Bombers (yellow) playing Japanese bombers in "PT-109".

[SaxMan]

How often were the "Zeros" yellow?

But my all time favorite stand-ins are the Cessna Bamboo Bombers (yellow) playing Japanese bombers in "PT-109".

+1 -- A Bamboo Bomber would have a hard enough time lugging itself into the air with a load of passengers, let alone a load of bombs, lol.

I seem to recall them as white with black engine cowlings.

[Mark_Pilkington]

A Harvard IV in Australia was painted as Kingsford Smiths Lockheed Altair for movie work.

While more recently one was painted as a Douglas Dauntless, again for movie work.

We also have some ex SAAF & RNZAF Harvards painted up to represent USAF T-6 and USN SNJ aircraft - smiles

Regards
Mark Pilkington

[Mark Allen M]

This one comes to mind ...


North American AT-6A 41-234 NX61269 modified with Ranger V-770 c 1947 (SDASM archives)

[Mark Allen M]

And a few wacky T6 racers and such here.

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=25653

[Jerry O'Neill]

In the "Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance" the Skytypers in LA played Zeros and T-6's and Tora Kates played SBD'S (along with two real SBD's) and TBD Devestators. Here's a clip of the T-6 SBD's and the TBD Devastator Kates from "War and Remembrance". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMbpQlBZleY

Last edited by Jerry O'Neill on Wed May 21, 2014 9:51 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[FastRacer5]

The only Harvard "super-six" I know of.

I saw it in person March 5th 2007 and Sherman was just having a rebuilt Wright engine installed as they blew the previous one up. The scary thing is, the plane is still listed as needing final engine installation done ? I guess it's been sitting that way since 2007 ?

http://www.shermanaircraft.com/harvard/ ... rettyPhoto

Also interestingly enough with 9 less feet of wing and 1000 hp, it climbed the same as a standard T-6. It's a cool setup with pretty neat modifications and no offense to the T-28 guys but Wright 1820 engines are notorious.

FEATURES OPTIONS:

FIGHTER PERFORMANCE
1000 HORSEPOWER ENGINE
33 FT. CLIPPED WINGS
LAST HARVARD EVER BUILT
PRE-OIL SYSTEM
T-28 WHEELS & BRAKES
RETRACTABLE TAIL WHEEL
LARGE SUPER CONSTELLATION SPINNER WITH AFTER BODY
3 BLADE HYDROMATIC PROP
T-6F REAR GLASS BUBBLE
125 GALS. OF FUEL
OXYGEN
EGT
ROTATING BEACON
50 AMP ALTERNATOR
ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP
EMPTY WEIGHT ONLY 4295 LBS.

[Stoney]

Just proves a T-6 can do everything