Belcher Bits Decal BD-27: RCAF Beechcraft T-34A Mentor 1/48

Belcher Bits Decal BD-27: RCAF Beechcraft T-34A Mentor 1/48

The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor was a moderately successful two seat primary trainer, developed using many components of the Beech Bonanza light civil aircraft. Introduced in 1953, with over 1200 produced, it was also built under license in Japan and in Canada where 125 were produced by Canadian Car and Foundry. The majority of these were for the USAF but 25 were taken into the RCAF inventory as the T-34A Mentor. This aircraft was not well received by the RCAF and following a crash, the decision was made to dispose of these aircraft almost immediately. One went to Greece and the rest to Turkey, all within one year of entering RCAF service in 1954 (serial range 24201-24225). So why release a decal sheet for such a minor player in the RCAF? Well, a new kit of the T-34A has just been releasd, and it is in fact an attractive little aircraft. Uniquely, trainer yellow colours were limited to tail surfaces, wingtips and surprisingly, ailerons. It will look good sitting beside an RCAF Harvard, a more long-serving type which entered service during WWII and remained in use up to 1960.

References: 1. Royal Canadian Air Force: Aircraft Finish and Markings, Patrick Martin, 2003.

1. T-34A Mentor, RAF, 1954 Overall natural metal with black anti-glare panels front (and back!). Yellow (1-GP-12

505-102) vertical and horizontal tails, wingtips and ailerons. Fuselage roundels were 22", with 14" codes on the rear fuselage and 6" on the cowling. On the tail was a 18" x 12" flash, with full serial in 3" numbers above.

On the wing upper surfaces were 30" roundels, while underneath were similar 30" roundels with 18" last three of the serial. Note that both roundel and number faced forward under the port wing, and aft under the starboard. Ref: RCAF Aircraft Finiah and Markings, p.191

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