goon Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 (edited) Hi all, I haven't done a WIP for ages, so thought I might do a small one for my Argentinian Skyhawk conversion. I'm going to build the Hasegawa A-4E/F converted to a Q with the Aconcagua conversion set and Aztec models decals. A fairly straight forward conversion, with no mucking about after my mammoth 1/32 Lynx project. I've also got an Aires seat and SAC metal gear (mostly for the better nose leg representation) to add. I'm doing 3-A-301 from 3rd Air Naval Attack Squadron as flown by Lt. Roberto Sylvester against HMS Ardent on 21st May 1982. It should look a bit like this: Kit and decals. Aconcagua resin. More soon. Edited April 29, 2014 by goon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 (edited) Interesting , Were did you get the conversion from? Direct or are there any UK suppliers? Shaun. Edited March 15, 2014 by Shaun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 Hi Shaun, Direct from http://www.aconcaguamodels.com.ar/ There isn't a UK supplier that I know of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) Hmm... A bit of a puzzle already. Not sure how that intake is supposed to fit the fuselage. There is no splitter plate on a Q, and if I sand off the flat area the intake will not fit correctly. And to think I chose this as a relatively quick and simple project after my protracted 1/32 Lynx build... Edited March 17, 2014 by goon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Excellent Ill be watching this one! I've been looking at that set for a while. How do the kit intakes fit? Is there back plate piece that you have to cut off and use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) Is there back plate piece that you have to cut off and use? I don't think so, but I found this very late on yesterday and didn't have time to go through the kit box. It would be weird because the Qs were remanufactured Bs, and as far as I can it was a very simple intake with no splitter plate at all. I have asked Juanca at Aconcagua for clarification. Edited March 17, 2014 by goon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 It is odd, as I thought the Has kits used the same fuselage just with different intake parts for the later marks.... I was reading over this build the other day http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/53933-a4c-argentina-148/ The chap seems to be friends with the producer so you could PM him, or hope he spots the build! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 The Hasegawa A-4B/C/P/Q/SU kits have different fuselage parts with the inner wall of the intake being moulded as part of the fuselage. If you go this route instead of finding one of the early ones you will probably have to remove the raised area and add the inner wall yourself. More work than finding the correct version I guess. Jens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 You might be able to make out the shape from the Hasegawa instructions here: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10034184z/70/1 Jens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) Thanks for the information Jens. I'll soldier on with the kit I have while I wait to hear from Juanca. I can make it fit, but it shouldn't be this difficult. Edited to add: I can't see how the intakes I have fit without surgery to the kit, and modification of the intakes. Dremelled off the locating point for the splitter plate of the E/F intake. Which means that the intakes are too 'shallow' and need moving away from the fuselage with some shims. The profile is spot on to match the styrene parts though. Getting closer. I don't think the short intake trunking will fit without major surgery, but that's what FOD guards were invented for isn't it? Edited March 17, 2014 by goon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted March 23, 2014 Author Share Posted March 23, 2014 (edited) Some good progress. I've solved the intake problem. The short trunking was hacked off the splitter plate and tacked in place, then filled from behind with super glue. A little filler to make the joins good and we're done. Doesn't have to be perfect as you can't see it, but the presence of the parts behind the cockpit in the intake stops any potential for odd shadows or light in the intake. I sprayed a little white and the job was done. After determining that the red intake stripe does in fact run all the way round on 301 I have put a stripe in before the intakes are attached. Dry fitted for now. The seat is done. And ready to go in the cockpit. Next up is correcting the step in the area the slats spring from. It should be a smooth transition, rather than as moulded. Not as simple as I thought it was going to be! Thanks for looking, Gareth Edited March 23, 2014 by goon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr B Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 nice subject and nice work thus far, always a treat to see scooters...like the cockpit and seat....looking very nice indeed rgds mr b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 Sorry about some of the pictures in this, I'm experimenting with doing it all from the phone camera. Anyway, here is the replacement nose section ready for fitting. Take a deep breath, and cut the nose off. Too much of it as it happens, despite sticking carefully to the panel line. Plums! Easily rectifiable, but unnecessary work. No pics of that as it was bed time. Thanks for looking, Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Good progress! Nice work on the intakes, did you hear back from the resin manufacturer or just go ahead and chop? Great pit by the way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 Hi Phil, I received a reply with a picture showing the contents of the set were correct, but looked like the same issues I had, so I just set to work making them fit. The nose problem is my own fault, I should have been more cautious with how much I chopped. I have two other Aconcagua A-4 sets to do, so I'll know for next time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I've never managed to cut a kit yet without taking too much off! Looking forward to the next update! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis pacheco Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Looking forward to see more! Nice tip the intake red stripe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 nice conversion! will follow it! Aconcagua resin is not the easiest to use.... but is nice and looks accurate... I did a Mirage III conversion once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted March 27, 2014 Author Share Posted March 27, 2014 I've got the replacement nose on now. I made a plasticard shim, and sanded until it (more or less) matched the profile of the end of the new part. It's not perfectly aligned, but I should be able to make it good without losing too much (if any) detail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted March 28, 2014 Author Share Posted March 28, 2014 Got the intakes in place, some easy tidying up needed. Over all shape is done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share Posted May 1, 2014 (edited) Still going on this one, doing a few of the peripherals as a way of putting off a bit of rescribing. Four Mk842 Snake Eyes and their TER (still only in primer) Edited May 8, 2014 by goon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dads203 Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Lovely work fella, it's looking great, looking forward to seeing more. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted May 5, 2014 Author Share Posted May 5, 2014 Pre-shade done this evening. I've experimented with a high contrast effect to try and break up the overall grey colour. We'll see how it comes out when the top coat goes on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted May 12, 2014 Author Share Posted May 12, 2014 Some good progress over the weekend. Masking and spraying the tail colours. Some touch ups needed, but essentially done. I've got the overall grey on too, but got a nasty sag under the port intake that I need to sand back. Thanks for looking, Gareth 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Looking good, is that home brew blue or did you find a match? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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