AD-6 Skyraider ‘VA-65 Tigers’ - 1:72 Hasegawa

[Paul A H]

AD-6 Skyraider ‘VA-65 Tigers’

1:72 Hasegawa

The Douglas AD-1 Skyraider was a single seat, carrier-borne attack aircraft, designed as a successor to earlier naval torpedo/dive bombers such as the Grumman Avenger. It was designed by Ed Heinemann of the Douglas Aircraft Company, who also penned the A-20 Havoc and A-26 Invader and who later oversaw the development of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Powered by the huge Cyclone R-3350 radial engine, the Skyraider was powerful enough to carry a whopping 8,000lb load on its 15 external hardpoints for up to 1,300 miles.

Although the prototype Skyraider made its first flight in March 1945, front line US Navy squadrons did not start to equip with the type until late 1946. Although the piston engined Skyraider was something of an anachronism in a world in which the jet engine was beginning to dominate, it enjoyed an extraordinarily long service life. This was, in part, due to its ability to absorb a considerable amount of battle damage, a feature which made it the ideal platform for the close air support role. It’s swansong with the US Navy was the Vietnam War, during which it performed outstandingly well. It was eventually retired in 1972, to be replaced by the A-7 Corsair II.

Hasegawa’s Skyraider isn’t new to the modelling scene, having been around since the mid-1990s. Since it was released however, it has earned a reputation as the best kit of the type available in 1:72 scale. In usual Hasegawa fashion, it has been re-released many times with different markings. This edition contains decals for an aircraft belonging to the US Navy attack Squadron VA-65, the ‘Fighting Tigers’, one of the last squadrons to use the type in combat. Inside the box are 92 parts moulded in grey and clear plastic. The sprues show all the hallmarks of a relatively modern Hasegawa kit. The mouldings are immaculately clean and details such as the panel lines are refined and pin-sharp. Initial impressions are therefore very favourable.

In keeping with other Hasegawa kits of this vintage and scale, the cockpit is fairly spartan. The cockpit tub has side consoles moulded in place, to which the instrument panel, control column and seat have to be added. There are no moulded details to represent the instruments and controls. Decals are provided instead. The canopy is moulded in two pieces though, so it you want to display it in the open position then you may want to spruce up the cockpit with scratch building or photo etched parts, or even go for a resin replacement. A quick search of Hannants’ website indicates that a wealth of such items are available.

Once the cockpit has been completed, the fuselage halves can be joined. The exhausts for the massive Wright engine are moulded in place, but separate cowling flaps are provided which will help to add a sense of realism. The lower wing is moulded in one piece, with the landing gear bays moulded in place. The main gear bays are nice and deep, and feature a respectable amount of detail. The flaps and ailerons are moulded in place, as are the elevators on the one-piece tail planes.

The two rows of cylinders that make up the engine are moulded as a single piece, but virtually nothing will be seen behind the radiator and cowling anyway. The undercarriage is nicely detailed and the main gear wheels have separate outer hubs. The blades of the huge airscrew are nice and thin and a set of decals for it are included too. Hasegawa tend to be a bit hit-and-miss with their ordnance. Sadly this one is a miss. Three drop tanks are included, along with four sets of rockets. That still leaves eight pylons (which are included) that you’ll have to fill yourself. As mentioned above, the canopy is thin and clear and is moulded in two parts, so it can be finished in the open position.

Two marking options are provided:
• AE 406, VA-65 Tigers, USS Enterprise; and
• AH 500, VA-165, USS Oriskany, 1962-3.
The decals look pretty good. They seem to be thinner than the deals usually provided with Hasegawa kits, and are a little more matt too. The colours are nice and bold though and the details are sharp.

Conclusion

Hasegawa’s Skyraider has always been a nice kit, and it remains the best 1:72 scale Spad by some distance. The cockpit and the lack or ordnance are weak points, but the superb surface detail and the fit of parts help to make up for it. This edition of the kit is expensive though, so you may want to shop around or seek out an older boxing if you aren’t too hung up on the marking options.

Review sample courtesy of UK distributors for

[Julien]

Great to see this kit back out.

Julien

[Tailspin Turtle]

I bought the kit, although I have several Hasegawa Skyraiders (and at least one each of the other 1/72 scale ADs), because of the Enterprise markings. They were from the first cruise with the F4H Phantom and the A3J-1 Vigilante being deployed for the first time. The air group also included the latest models of the F8U and A4D as well as the replacement for the HUP, the Kaman HU2K. In other words, it was the most modern air group possible and still the heavy lifting was being accomplished by the AD Skyraider. It finally had to be replaced by two airplanes, the A-7 for day attack as noted above and the A-6 for night attack.