Dennis_C Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Hi, all This is my last completion for 2014 - a "Scooter" from Airfix in Vietnam war markings. I liked the construction process a lot - Airfix offering is really well engineered and requires minimum dry fitting and putty. Major modifications made to the kit: - Eduard PE set used wherever appropriate - cockpit, wheel bays, interior surfaces of dropped slats, released flaps, etc. - I armed Scooter with LAU-10 launchers from Hasegawa weapons set. I went for this option as I came across a photo of the prototype with LAU-10 being recharged on board of Intrepid - Bobtail fuel tank supplied by Airfix has a very slim rear part. Kit's standard fuel tanks with stabilisers have better shape. So I did some surgery by cutting standard tank and reshaping its fin to resemble what's seen on photos and drawings. - I added some extra panel lines on underside as Airfix omitted many of them. Not bad actually if you don't like Airfix's engravings.. Markings are for VA-15 'Valions' on board of USS Intrepid in 1966 from Xtradecal set for A-4B. Actually that is the only alternative if you do not like kit's 'Green Lizards' but want a Vietnam A-4B. From what I was able to find on the Web, no other squadrons were equipped with A-4B's in Vietnam. Should I wait for another couple of months - I would definitely buy a resin mod to get an A-4C which allows much wider choice of Vietnam war options. A warning note! Please do not even attempt to apply Airfix red stripes for intake! These decals should be longer and have curved shape to get into place smoothly. I failed to read about this issue in other posts of completed Scooters... So I ended up brush-painting red edges on my intakes trying to match with "danger" arrow color... Stupid oversight from myself and ridiculous error from Airfix The only suspicious thing about kit parts fit was attachment of speed brakes in extended position. Initially I wanted to make them fully extended. But if attached as is, they are visibly sloped down. I decided to avoid surgery and attach them in just slightly opened position as can be seen on many photos of Skyhawk standing still on the deck or airfield. Finally here are the photos: Happy New Year to everyone! Dennis 26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Moore Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Excellent work!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Sir, That is HELLUVA BEAUTY. Your SKYHAWK is EXQUISITE.. Well I LOVED it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Very nice! Got one for Christnas and looking forward to building it. Dermot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis_C Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 Thanks everyone for comments and likes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAG058 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Lovely model. As you say, it is as great kit, I completed one a few weeks back as a side project and it was a dream to do. I will probably buy another in the future. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 very nice scooter, looks great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Great work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Lovely little Scooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dergrunepunkt Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Those Airfixes scooters are awesome, great fun, what I call a "shampoo build" You did a beautful job mate! congrats 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 That,s a cracking little "scooter" Dennis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Van Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Really nice model!-why Airfix did not follow up with other variants I do not know. Strangely the Airfix wings have flashed over holes for outer hard points introduced on the A-4E. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 An all time favourite of mine and you have ended up with a fantastic build! Superb!!! There is only one detail I am not sure about this kit: on the starboard side, just in front of the small exhaust (APU?) there is a raised detail I cannot find on any photo. Instead there are 4 vortex generators visible on th epix I have. Is Airfix correct in that area? Just a silly question, but I may as well ask! You've done a great job, no matter what. JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis_C Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 Hi,Jean. I think these two raised panels is Airfix error. I was neither able to find these on pix of real things, but realised this only in the mid of painting stage... Could be easy fix - but too late. Can it be a feature of Intrepid museum's Skyhawk that served as a prototype for Airfix kit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somtec Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Nice looking scooter planning to do the Argentine version sometime. Peter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Van Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Dennis can I just ask where you got the mounts for the LAU-10s? (the things that attach the ordnance to the pylon) Thanks Van Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis_C Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Dennis can I just ask where you got the mounts for the LAU-10s? (the things that attach the ordnance to the pylon) Thanks Van Hi, VanMounts are included into Eduard PE set. Enough to attach 5 items of ordnance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbpruitt Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Looks so real- I swear I can smell the JP-4! Very nice- I will have to get the Airfix kit and give it a go myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudge Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Always love a Scooter. Nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempestwulf Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Superb little Squak Dennis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HL-10 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 That is a cracking A-4! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tailspin Turtle Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 An all time favourite of mine and you have ended up with a fantastic build! Superb!!! There is only one detail I am not sure about this kit: on the starboard side, just in front of the small exhaust (APU?) there is a raised detail I cannot find on any photo. Instead there are 4 vortex generators visible on th epix I have. Is Airfix correct in that area? Just a silly question, but I may as well ask! You've done a great job, no matter what. JR See http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2012/07/new-airfix-172-4b4p-modeling-notes.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis_C Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 See http://tailspintopic...ling-notes.html Yeah. A very useful research... Why haven't I came across it before... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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