Post by: rogallo on August 11, 2025, 17:23:53 PM
PSSA 40th Anniversary Mass Build
It was back in 1986 when Alan Hulme first founded our Association, helping to form our community as PSS first started to ‘take-off’ across the UK. With 2026 marking our 40th Anniversary, the Power Scale Soaring Association are planning to stage another ‘Mass Build’ flying event following the success of previous builds with the Jet Provost, A-4 Skyhawk, Hurricane and most recently the F-86 Sabre.
Once again the Association would like to invite you to take part to help celebrate our 40th year!
We hope to get as many participants building simultaneously from 1st February 2026 - with the aim of flying the new models at a ‘Fly for Fun’ event upon the Great Orme, Llandudno over the weekend 19th/20th September 2026.
Our latest chosen subject links back to Alan Hulme’s full-size flying training and sees us converting a well proven electric power kit by RBC Models, the North American AT-6 Texan or Harvard, an aircraft type Alan flew after the war. Spanning 49” and with a target flying weight of around 2lb, this 1/10th scale twin seat prop trainer is a conventionally built-up PSS model for 2 or 3 channel R/C.
The RBC kit is well proven and has been marketed as a conventionally built electric flight model for many years. It contains all the pre-shaped lite-ply and balsa parts needed to complete the model, all CNC cut in light material, and in addition there is the sheet and strip wood required to finish the airframe ready for covering. There’s an ABS formed cowling and a clear, vac-formed canopy all included, along with a comprehensive full-size plan and build instructions. There’s just a few simple modifications required to robustly convert it from electric power (as drawn) to a Power Scale Soarer.
The kit can be purchased through the RBC website for the list price of Euro 99.00 and orders can be placed from now, noting that all kits are made up to order. RBC have kindly agreed a 10% discount on all sales for PSSA members who can use the code PSSA-AT6 in the ‘Promotional code or gift card’ window on the RBC site. This is the best way to order and purchase your kit.
https://www.rbckits.com/shop/at6-texan.html
10% discount for PSSA members PSSA-AT6
Timing wise, we’d like building to commence from 1st February 2026 - so there’s plenty of time to purchase your kit and ready the workshop before the start! Of course, you can make a start anytime but we’re keen to get folk building simultaneously allowing the sharing of ideas, knacks and lessons learnt via build blogs in our dedicated www.modelflying.co.uk forum section, aiding other modellers whilst they are at a similar stage of the build. In that light, I’d invite all Mass Build participants to create their own blog to cover your individual Harvard/Texan build journeys and perhaps help others along the way.
Building from the kit is straight forward so starting in February will give even the slowest of builders plenty of time to be flight ready for the event in September 2026. For those new to PSS or building from plans we encourage you to have a go, this really is one of the main drivers of our Mass Build activity. There will be loads of help along the way from others taking part on the forum – this is a great opportunity to learn some new skills and create a scale model of your own to be proud of! We see it as an exciting and fun way for us to promote Power Scale Soaring, whilst getting more of our members building, learning or coaching.
At the PSSA Fly-in in September, the Harvards will be assembled on The Great Orme for the first time and flown in a number of type specific ‘display’ slots. As in previous years, we’ll offer prizes for the Best Finished model, Best PSSA newcomer, Best Scale/Innovative feature and so on… It should certainly deliver another spectacle to remember up on the Orme and produce a unique ‘Fly for Fun’ event helping us mark our 40th Anniversary season. Many thanks once again to PSSA member Bob Jennings for our fantastic Harvard Mass Build event logo which you will see branding event merchandise soon!
If you would like to take part in the PSSA Harvard Mass Build Project please do let me know, email me at webmaster@pssaonline.co.uk to register your participation and place your order with RBC in good time to allow your kit to be manufactured and despatched.
I hope you can join us and take an active part in this project – I’m sure it will be a memorable highlight of our 40th Anniversary season in 2026!
Post by: billscottni on August 11, 2025, 19:02:12 PM
We could still take part in the Mass Build, but run an event here?
What do people think?
Post by: kjblootens on August 11, 2025, 19:22:18 PM
Just checked the trip over and it's indeed steep enough but carpooling should make that a lot more affordable.
If we get a group together, I'm definitely up for it!!
Or a local event of course
Just need to book the dates... We've a bit of time yet
Post by: billscottni on January 10, 2026, 16:17:16 PM
Post by: billscottni on January 10, 2026, 19:56:43 PM
Post by: rogallo on January 11, 2026, 07:10:36 AM
I am happy to build and fly in Sept at Mount L, If there was 2 car loads traveling from the ISR I would have been more keen
Ralph
Post by: billscottni on January 11, 2026, 18:53:34 PM
Post by: Fred on January 11, 2026, 20:12:48 PM
Post by: RichardB on January 14, 2026, 11:20:24 AM
Presumably I will be ok just to turn up and fly ?
I now have worldwide DMO insurance so will be covered insurance wise.
I travel over to the UK by car every couple of months to visit my old mum so it will be very handy to tie this in with a visit.
Post by: Fred on January 15, 2026, 17:51:45 PM
That Vulcan would be a very beautiful sight over there alright!
I had a quick look at the ferries actually, that is not cheap for a short crossing, but looks like there is a discount for short stay (as of, weekend)... Anyway, we have a bit of time to plan :)
Post by: rogallo on January 15, 2026, 19:28:08 PM
Ralph
Post by: Spanner on January 17, 2026, 12:14:21 PM
Don't think that I can make it to Wales but happy to build one to fly at Mt Leinster.
If you are putting in an order please include me.
Joe
Post by: rogallo on February 08, 2026, 08:35:06 AM
I am about to order some kits, at the moment I have Kevin Barry, Joe Spaine and myself, anyone else for a kit, Placing the order in the morning.
Ralph
Post by: billscottni on February 08, 2026, 20:57:11 PM
Post by: Fred on February 09, 2026, 00:26:07 AM
Thanks Ralph.
Post by: dstevenson on February 22, 2026, 20:23:04 PM
Hope your all good.
Anyone started the Texan build yet?
I've had my kit a while now and hoping to start in the next week or so. I've a 1/6th scale 2.5m Slingsby T30 Prefect that was a free RCME plan last year on the bench, so I need to get that to a stage where its off the bench to allow me to start the Texan
Some really good guide builds on the BMFA PSSA forum to help too. Looks like there are a few wee issues wih bits in the kit so worth keeping an eye on the forum for those ahead of us.
David
Post by: Fred on February 23, 2026, 13:00:00 PM
Yeah, just checked some of the chats. Looks like there are a couple of issues alright. Anyway! Need to clear some space, and I can start mine.
All I'm thinking right now, is maybe do my own wings. Looks like everybody are going stock on them, so maybe not needed at all. We'll see! That takes time :( And waiting for someone to share proper 3D printing files for the engine, seats etc etc also, that would be a nice addition, but already looking at some files on Thingiverse :)
Post by: rogallo on February 23, 2026, 16:20:19 PM
R
Post by: Fred on February 23, 2026, 20:03:20 PM
Need to brush off the printer then :)
Post by: dstevenson on February 24, 2026, 21:01:23 PM
Yes, I also saw one of the guys had some great 3D models/prints of scale bits. I've never built anything remotely like this so its all new for me.
I don't have access to a 3D printer as I didn't want to go down that rabbit hole, 2D and the laser is enough already :-). Hopefully someone will kindly print some for me, for beer tokens, lol!
Hopefully we'll see each other at Mt Leinster, only a few weeks now.
David
Post by: rogallo on February 25, 2026, 06:20:05 AM
happy to print anything you might need.
Ralph