Brad Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 (edited) I've had this kit in the stash for nearly 10 years and I've been saying I'd build more of my nice models, so here goes. The only addition will be the Eagle Strike decals for VNAF aircraft. I'll be building the third one down in the green and brown camo. It was from the 83rd Special Operations Squadron, commanded by General Nguyen Cao Ky, flown out of Tan Son Nhut during 1965. Edited December 28, 2015 by Brad 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Was this one of the FLAMING DART aircraft? Man, the early operation names in Vietnam weren't very good, were they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share Posted September 3, 2015 No idea sorry mate, I just bought the decals because I liked the markings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 I did a little looking, and indeed it was! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Love the Spad. I have the same kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadbear Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Only of my favourite aircraft of all time. And a fan of the VNAF even if their operations were a bit dubious at times. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 A small start tonight with a little gluing of cockpit parts and I cleaned up the fuselage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 (edited) A little more work tonight. I haven't put any paint on things yet, there's still several models on the painting table that aren't mine which I really have to finish! Thus far, it's typical Tamiya quality which is just what I was after as I've been building less than great kits, including resin ones of late, so it's nice to park the brain in neutral for a while while building. Edited September 10, 2015 by Brad 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpc7676 Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Brad, I am contemplating the exact same aircraft at the moment. What paint colours will you be using? I have found the following if of any assistance: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10048289 In the instructions it gives some colours. Are you going with these combos or something else? They say field green and propellor colour for the fuse. Thoughts? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 Not sure, I haven't got that far yet. I think the contrast between the two upper colours is greater than what the instructions indicate, if these pictures are anything to go from. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted October 9, 2015 Author Share Posted October 9, 2015 So the last week have turned up some interesting revelations. I was looking for more information on the 83rd SOG and turned up a picture of the aircraft I intend on building, only to notice that the characters on the nose are incorrect and the dragon in the fuselage markings is a poor representation in the decal sheet. There also seems to be two variations of the nose markings and the above pictures seem to be a slightly different working of one of the two characters. However, the good news is I got a message today from a BM member mention exactly these things and offering some assistance, so my enthusiasm is renewed. I decided to glue together the bomb load tonight. I'm still kinda ticked off about the inaccuracy of the decal sheet. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luft46 Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 So the last week have turned up some interesting revelations. I was looking for more information on the 83rd SOG and turned up a picture of the aircraft I intend on building, only to notice that the characters on the nose are incorrect and the dragon in the fuselage markings is a poor representation in the decal sheet. There also seems to be two variations of the nose markings and the above pictures seem to be a slightly different working of one of the two characters. However, the good news is I got a message today from a BM member mention exactly these things and offering some assistance, so my enthusiasm is renewed. I decided to glue together the bomb load tonight. I'm still kinda ticked off about the inaccuracy of the decal sheet. [url="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/_Exocet_/media/83rd_photos_zpszumwraho.jpg.h%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa242/_Exocet_/83rd_photos_zpszumwraho.j %5Burl="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/_Exocet_/media/Models%20In%20Progress/P1010008_zpseiwrw5ba.jpghttp://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa242/_Exocet_/Models%20In%20Progress/P101000url] The different markings could be because they are two entirely different aircraft... check the numbers on the tails! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted October 10, 2015 Author Share Posted October 10, 2015 The different markings could be because they are two entirely different aircraft... check the numbers on the tails! You can see I have the decals for 35223 and the picture at the bottom is of this aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted October 14, 2015 Author Share Posted October 14, 2015 A little more work on the interior and the engine. Just have to wait for the paint to dry now so I can dry brush and decal the instrument panel and I'll use the kit supplied decals for seat belts.. So far, it's been the usual Tamiya kinda build; hassle free. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 She will soon be closed up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted October 16, 2015 Author Share Posted October 16, 2015 All closed up and the wings are on. Fit is very nice. As you can see I've been cleaning up the joins and working on some more bombs. I've been informed that the early VNAF Skyraiders weren't equipped with the Mk 80 series weapons, so those have gone to the spares box and the older demolition bombs will be used. I've also been told the seat is wrong as they probably used the bucket seat, but that doesn't worry me too much as you're not going to notice unless you really know what you're looking at and you look close. I might just close up the canopy in the end anyway. I also must publicly thank BM member Flyingdragons75 for his help with this build. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infofrog Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Taken shape nicely Rick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Wrong seat or not. The office is looking great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingdragons75 Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Thanx, Brad! YOu're not installing any rocket pods along w/ those 250lbs bombs? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 Thanx, Brad! YOu're not installing any rocket pods along w/ those 250lbs bombs? Ah, probably not, I like the bombs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyC Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Nice stuff on one of my favourite all-time kits 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted November 4, 2015 Author Share Posted November 4, 2015 A little more work tonight as it's been way too humid to do much painting on some other kits awaiting paint. I cut off some of the antenna and the formation light on top of the tail which this aircraft didn't have. Horizontal stabilizers are glued on and I've cleaned up the wing leading and trailing edges. I do need to build another antenna that was located closer to the tail on the fuselage, but that can wait. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 Flaps and bomb racks are now on. All of the seams have been rescribed and cleaned up, so they just need a little paint to check for faults. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share Posted December 7, 2015 Hmmm, 20 days left. I can do it so long as it isn't as humid as it was today! Knocked up something that looks like the antenna tonight, before that I sanded down all the joins with 2000 grit paper and put the power plant together. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted December 15, 2015 Author Share Posted December 15, 2015 Cockpit almost finished. I'll close up the canopy after I install the gun sight and do a little dry brushing. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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