Ryan PT-20 / STM-2
Primary Trainer

Fisher Model & Pattern, 1/32 scale

S u m m a r y
Item Number abd Description:	Fisher Model & Pattern Item No. A3213 - Ryan PT-20 / STM-2 Primary Trainer
Scale:	1/32
Price and Availability:	USD$149.95 plus shipping available online from Fisher Models' website
Contents and Media:	85 parts in light grey resin; two parts in clear resin; photo-etched fret; paper instrument dials; markings for four aircraft.
Review Type:	FirstLook
Advantages:	Perfect casting; excellent fit; high level of detail; simple parts breakdown; useful options including alterntive cowls, floats and spatted undercarriage.
Disadvantages:
Conclusion:	Highly Recommended for anyone who appreciates excellence in scale.

Reviewed by Brett Green

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron

The Ryan STM was one of a series of low wing two-seat monoplanes from the 1930s and early 1940s. They were used as civil sports aircraft as well as trainers by a number of air forces during the Second World War.

The STM was a military version with a wider cockpit and a four-cylinder Menasco in-line engine. The STM could be specified with either wheels or floats.

The specific version offered here by Fisher Model & Pattern is the STM-2 / PT-20. The STM-2 was built as an export order for the Netherlands East Indies Army and Navy. 34 of these would eventually evade capture by Japanese forces in 1942 and enter service with the Royal Australian Air Force as trainers and communication aircraft. Some of these aircraft are still flying today.

The PT-20 was the USAAC/USAAF designation for the same design.

Fisher Model & Pattern is a specialist manufacturer of resin kits and accessories. They have built an enviable reputation over the years thanks to their accurate shapes, excellent casting and straightforward engineering.

Fisher Model builds further on this reputation with their latest release, a 1:32 scale Ryan STM-2/PT-20 kit.

Fisher released a Ryan PT-22 Recruit kit during 2013, and it is nice to see the in-line version of this famous trainer join the 1:32 scale line-up.

Packed inside a stout cardboard box with large parts and bags of details lovingly wrapped in tissue paper, the kit comprises 85 parts in pale grey resin, two parts in clear resin, a photo-etched fret and markings for four aircraft.

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Thumbnail panels:

Parts are provided for both the wheeled and float version, and alternate cowls for either the Dutch/Australian STM-2 or the American PT-20.

Casting quality is perfect. The resin is smooth and the larger parts are almost ready to use straight from the box.

Surface detail features finely raised rivets and lovely subtle fabric rib texture.

The Ryan STM was a simple aircraft, but all the elements are faithfully reproduced in this kit. Frame and stringer detail is cast directly onto the interior of the fuselage halves, with smaller parts such as trim wheels and throttle quadrants supplied separately. The seats feature impressive pressed metal effect on the backrests, and photo-etched harness straps are included. The instrument panels are photo-etched parts with open holes, while the dials themselves are printed onto plain paper. This should be quite an effective sandwich.

The wings are full span, ensuring precise dihedral and simple installation. The assembled fuselage juts sits on the central wing saddle, and fit is perfect. All control surfaces are separate and may be posed to taste.

The most complex aspect of construction will be the impressive one-piece floats and their various struts, but Fisher’s instructions walk us through this process in detail with words and pictures, suggesting techniques along the way to ensure correct alignment.

If you are choosing the wheeled option, installation of the spatted undercarriage will be very fast and easy.

The photo-etched fret also includes the various flying wires and other rigging. The instructions suggest that these be installed after painting and decaling is complete. The instructions also recommend alternative rigging material – specifically E-Z Line – instead of the supplied photo-etch to avoid problems associated with change of temperature.

The windscreens are cast in clear resin and will benefit from a bath in Future floor polish.

Markings

Decals are supplied for four aircraft:

• A US yellow-wing PT-20 with bare metal fuselage

• RAAF Ryan STM-2, A50-12, finished in Foliage Green and Earth Brown upper surfaces and yellow below

• RAAF Ryan STM-2, A50-28, in overall Trainer Yellow, based at Temora

• Royal Netherland Naval Air Service floatplane in Aluminium lacquer and bare metal.

The decals look excellent, being in perfect register and with nice sharp printing.

Fisher Model & Pattern has delivered another stunning replica of a subject never before kitted in this scale.

The latest release features a high level of detail, perfect casting, excellent fit and thoughtful engineering.

Fisher’s 1:32 scale Ryan STM-2 / PT-20 would be an ideal candidate for someone wanting to try out a resin kit for the first time, or anyone who appreciates excellence in modelling.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Fisher Model and Pattern for the review sample.

Fisher Model & Pattern kits and accessories are available online from their website

Review Copyright © 2014 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 28 March, 2014
Last updated 28 March, 2014

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