Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'Italeri EA-18G'.
-
I beg a little forgiveness; I need to tell this tale to explain how in the world this build got out of control. It all began innocently enough when a good friend (Let's call him TM, not to be confused with PIF my Project Instigator Friend ), mentioned that he had in his closet, a kit of an aircraft he had worked on when he started his service with the Navy Reserves. He had heard from a mutual friend (here enters my infamous Project Instigator Friend) that I occasionally build models for friends. Could I build a model of one of the EA-6As that he worked on while serving with VAQ-209? Since I was looking for something a bit less challenging than the recently completed CASA movie star series, I agreed. As I already had a kit of an A-6E in my stash, I would even waive my usual fee of supplying me with a second kit for my collection. Two models to build, no problem. A couple weeks later we were out for dinner with our wives, and the conversation turned naturally enough to airplanes. Here is where things began to go awry. TM thanked me for agreeing to build the EA-6A but wished that there was a kit of the aircraft he worked on for the majority of his career, the EA-6B Prowler. I told him that such a kit did exist, but was relatively expensive. Never underestimate the connection between a maintainer and HIS aircraft! Soon the call came, 'I found two of those Kinetic Prowlers, if I get them both, will you build one for me? Oh sure, I'll probably never buy one of those for myself, it's a deal and thank you! So now I have 4 models to build of very similar types, should be fairly easy. VAQ-209 Star Warriors is based at Andrews Air Force Base just outside Washington DC, not far from where TM and I work. He thought that with both of us working for the FAA and he being a former Star Warrior we should be able to arrange a visit to obtain reference pictures. Would I be interested? Uhhh yeah, I might at that! The Squadron showed us the utmost hospitality, the maintainers positioning scaffolding, one of the aircrew spending most of the morning with us, and the CO himself acting as our escort for a time! Perhaps the fact that we are both former air traffic controllers and worked the squadron in and out of ADW for many years helped. Skipper and I spent some time talking airplanes; turns out the Prowlers are due to be replaced soon by EA-18Gs. My comment that the departure of the big Grumman was notable in light of the type's long service history was the turning point between reason and this project. That's when Skipper appealed to the historian in me, would I be willing to be part of preserving the Star Warriors legacy by building a display for the Squadron? TM (who I think was trying to take over the role of Project Instigator ) offered to supply the kits, and wouldn't it be great if we could find some EA-18G kits, and if I was going to build one for the squadron, we could all have one. So this makes how many? How hard can it be? But how could I turn that down! The final line up, as seen below is: Three EA-6A (Revell), Four EA-6B (two Kinetic, two Italeri), Three EA-18A (Italeri), One A-6E (Revell). Note: two of the -6As have been combined in one box, two EA-18s yet to arrive Some aftermarket to spruce up some of the weak points. Let's get started! A motor tool and files were used to open up the engine bay cooling intakes on the Revell EA-6As . EA-6A and 6B cockpits parts prepared for assembly. Wish me luck, this project is gonna be a challenge! Eric aka The Yankymodeler
- 259 replies
-
- 8
-
- Revell Intruder
- Kinetic Prowler
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with: