Tamiya Skyraider as a Korean war era machine?

[Col.]

My local model shop (so glad I can use that phrase ) has a couple of the Tamiya 48th scale Skyraider kits in and I'm wondering if they are able to represent the AD-4 or 6s used by the US NAVY and Marines during the 1950s in the overall blue scheme? Any advice appreciated by the uninitiated.

[JasonC]

Firstly, Tamiya have produced a couple of Skyraiders in 1/48: the Navy version (A-1H, aka AD-6) and the Air Force version (A-1J). The A-1H is the better starting point; the A-1J has a different ejection/extraction seat.

The Korean era Skyraider was the AD-4. So the Tamiya kits needs backdating from AD-6 to AD-4 standard. As far as I can tell, this involves deleting the ventral airbrake, some antenna, and the external armour. There is a variant list here: http://www.airvectors.net/ava1spad.html

MDC also do a conversion set, though it appears to consist mainly of a new pair of drop tanks and pylons:

http://www.modeldesignconstruction.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/ModelDesignConstruction/_MDA48015/-/Skyraider%20%20Early%20Conversion

regards,

Jason

EDIT: Seems the AD-6 was also used in Korea, so that might let you keep the airbrake. Since the Tamiya kit is a Vietnam era machine, I think you'd still need to check the antenna fit, and maybe the armour.

Edited October 22, 2013 by JasonC

[Col.]

Thank you Jason that's great advice and a quick reply as well.

From what I've seen the Tamiya 48th scale kit is less money than the Hasegawa 72nd scale one hence my choice of kit.

Edited October 22, 2013 by Col.

[JasonC]

No worries Col. I've got one of the A-1H in the stash; one of those aircraft with bags of 'character'!

[Col.]

Always feel aircraft such as the Skyraider and Sea Fury carry a certain brutal elegance about them. Lots of character and interest as you say.