David Lengyel

I've wanted to build the famous close air support workhorse for the long time but didn't want to go the usual way as most of the fellows around here, so I picked this peculiar camouflage and started to research the story behind it. I found out that US were transferring their surplus A-1H airframes to the Republic of Vietnam in early 60s. Some of these Spads found its way to the elite 83rd Special Air Group "Thần Phong" (Divine Wind). This unit was established in 1965 and drafted only the best pilots of VNAF. Nguyễn Cao Kỳ who later became a prime minster and vice president of Democratic Republic of Vietnam personally handpicked unit's elite members. 83rd SAG personnel wore all-black flight suits which became a trademark of the unit. Skyraiders used dark green/dark brown camouflage. Only the bottom plane surface, serial number and eventually some spare parts wore original light gull grey paint in which it was delivered from the USA. Due to the nature of its missions unit didn't use any of the VNAF insignia except of the Flag of South Vietnam on the tail, which was also dropped later. 83rd SAG emblem depicting white dragon under five white stars was used instead. Most of the airframes used a yellow Chinese symbols as a nose art. According to unit's members, there was at least four different symbols used, all originating from the traditional Vietnamese card game called BAT. The symbol on my model reads "Cửu Sừng" which means The Best of the Best. Missions were flown over Laos and Cambodia where Vietcong insurgents were on the move. Usual ordnance loadout was up to 8 Mk. 82 bombs, 6 rocket pods or 6 napalm canisters and 4x 20 mm cannons. VNAF Spads had some interesting quirks in comparison of its American counterparts. Most of the antennas and aerials were repositioned or changed completely, Yankee Extractor seat was removed and replaced with the original bucket seat while Yankee Extractor mechanism was kept intact, tailhook was removed and main gear was equipped with taxi lights. All VNAF Skyraiders had their airbrakes deactivated, so they couldn't be used in flight but could be opened manually on the ground. I've used good old Tamiya kit as a base for this project along with a bunch of aftermarket detail sets from Master, Reskit, Aires, ANYZ, HGW and Brengun. Handful of decals came from AOA and the rest was a spray mask designed by Vietnamese fellow modeller and cut by Miryoku. I also used some 3D printing and scratch building in order to bring the model as close to its real life counterpart as possible. All painted with Mr. Paint colors and weathered with Rembrandt oil paints.

I've built this Czechoslovak-made trainer jet for my friend's dad who used to be an instructor pilot at the Karaganda Educational Fighter Aviation Center in Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) in 1988-1989. AMK kit is full of sink marks, which is unfortunate if you want to go for metallic finish. I have added Eduard PE for interior and exterior, Master pitot-static tubes and some minor scratch-built parts. Sprayed metallics with Kustom Service (ex-Kcolor) acrylic paints. Markings and stencils done with Mr. Paint with Eduard TFace and Omask masks + HGW wet transfers. Oils and pencils for weathering and I'm glad it's gone from my bench.

I suck at estimates, I'm also really slow when it comes to progress, so I'd say 100 hours give or take. Thanks for the kind comments, gents. I appreciate it.

Hey everyone, here's a dual build of recently finished Scooters that I have built for my friends who used to fly these jets back in the 80s out of Cubi Point, Philippines in order to provide dissimilar air combat training to carrier air wing fighter jets passing by aboard US aircraft carrier. One of them, Lt. Pagenkopf, almost paid the highest price when he was forced to eject from his Skyhawk at high speed, which resulted in a severe legs injury. Facing almost certain amputation, he was rushed to naval hospital in San Diego, where he spent another year recovering from his wounds. His naval aviator career was over, but he learned to walk again, picked up on medical studies and became a renowned orthopedic trauma surgeon which enabled him to save hundreds of lives in Afghanistan and Iraq. The build itself consists of the classic Hasegawa kit where I removed the leading edge step, which doesn't exist on the real airplane. I have added Aires seats, Eduard wheels and instrument panels. Mr. Paint provided all the paint, most of the markings were done via custom masks from Miryoku and Eduard retail. I have used Furball and AOA decals for small stencils too. Refuelling probe by Master was just a cherry on top along with the oils and pencils for wear and tear. Lt. Eric “Pagan” Pagenkopf, Modex 04, BuNo 150056 Lt. Bill “Sly” Seidel, Modex 10, BuNo 151096

Hmm, interesting. I'm very much interested in this kit, but I'll wait for the Clear Prop for comparison. You want to steer clear of this kit. Ask me how I know.

Many thanks chaps

Many thanks gentlemen! I'll try to keep up with the next build.

Thank you very much BMers! I really appreciate your kind words. Thank you mate. I think they're ready for inspection too. You just need to dig deeper in this part of BM.

Thank you very much gentlemen! Haha, yeah! It never occurred to me though. I have used the Attack Squadron resin indeed. But given the fact I have scratch building the whole surroundings, it was kind of worthless because all the panel lines were lost and I had to rescribe the whole thing.

Thanks chaps! I forgot to mention it's 1/72 kit.

Thank you! I am using Mr. Paint and Gunze (GSI) lacquers. The display base is not a work of mine, but my dear friend slava_trudu.

Hello, I have finished this little bird from the Trumpeter kit with some aftermarket from Eduard, Master and my own design. The real bird flew for 18 months in East Germany Air Force service until reunion of Germany. It was the only airframe ever pictured with missiles during the service in LSK-NVA. Red 661 was then borrowed to US Air Force for comprehensive tests and returned back to Germany two years later. Aircraft was sold to Poland for 1 Euro in 2003. I hope you like the result, and I also welcome your feedback. The first and the last fighter jets in service of LSK-NVA: MiG-15bis (1956) and MiG-29A (1990). My collection of LSK-NVA jets so far.

How about no? PAK FA is a niche subject with no future. I'd like to see Su-25.

Thanks mate! I've used Gunze Mr. Color C317 for the cockpit. Feel free to check Ready for Inspection album here

Thanks mate, I appreciate that. The base is home made from high density polyethylene used as padding on conveyor belts. I've drilled holes and scribed the planks. Infini model tie-down points makes a nice detail. The rest is just painted with lacquer and oils as usual.