RidgeRunner Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 (edited) Hi all, Just rolling out, for the second time, my French AD-4N. This model was my first after returning to the hobby only 4.5 years ago following a break of nearly 35 years! I originally finished her as I would have done many years ago but more recently, after gaining more knowledge of new techniques, I’ve given her a make over. The main changes being the addition of aerials and weathering/panel lining. She is the excellent Hasegawa kit, originally an A-1J (I think – my memory!) and I converted her in my way to a French machine. She is depicted as 127888, coded 21-LE of Esc 1/21 based in North Africa. These machines were all dirty all of the time so a great subject for me! Nowadays she is (as far as I know) with the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum and flown as USN/127888/B. What did I do/use (if I can remember!): Hasegawa A-1J Skyraider kit (1/72) Rebuilt the aft cockpit with Plastruct rod Cut the side door, after filling panel lines, with a Tamiya template. Window drilled and plugged with Kristal Klear. Added modified wing pylons (out of the kit) Used Hobbyboss F4U under belly tanks plus a heavily modified Hobbyboss F-84 wing tip tank. Each had a seam line added in Plastruct square rod. Combination of Zotz and Berna decals Uschi aerials plus the top-fuselage vertical from a house broom! Top fuselage intake from a MIG Painted using Humbrol enamels – 11 Silver, 34 Black, 2 Green, and others. Glosscote and Mattcote to accentuate the stains. Dirtied with Tamiya Weathering powders and Flory dirt canopy finish by a wipe with meths. I forgot to add that any builders of a French Skyraider should get the "Les Skyraiders Francais" book by Sebastian Guillemin. Well, I hope you like her as much as I do! Martin added further images (11/01/19) Edited January 12, 2019 by RidgeRunner added more images 62 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Really like it. You did a great job on it. I wonder though if I've actually seen that very Spad fly over my house many years ago. Two French Skyraiders in formation thundered over at low level once, obviously on the way to Dublin airport during the ferry flight to the US. Not something you see every day or any day for that matter. Maybe that very aeroplane. Great job. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 I may well have ben Noel, although a few took that route at that time. Let's think it was ;). Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Excellent im looking to buy one of these. 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 43 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Excellent im looking to buy one of these. 👍 I'm sure I've seen that Hasegawa are about to re-release this kit. Expect the usual prices mind....... Edge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Yes i’ve actually created an account at HLJ. just for the kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
replicant Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Cool, this french Spad!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldone Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Now that looks really nice. Like what you have done to Skyraider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 (edited) Great work, nice & grubby. I'm doing the Tamiya 1/48 Spad with the MDC French update set at the moment. Pete Edited November 7, 2017 by Buzby061 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 4 hours ago, Buzby061 said: I'm doing the Tamiya 1/48 Spad with the MDC French update set at the moment. Excellent! So you'll definitely need the book! It is priced but invaluable as a reference. Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 5 hours ago, Buzby061 said: I'm doing the Tamiya 1/48 Spad with the MDC French update set at the moment. Looking at the MDC Set on line just now I can see that the line drawing, at least, is misleading. I shows the machine having the air brakes of the A-1J. It also does not show the intake on top of the fuselage. If if you get the book you will see that there were many aerial variations on French Skyraiders, too. Good luck! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winenut Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 Top notch Raider. Glad you got back into the hobby....very impressive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winenut Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 I just realized that was 1/72!!! I thought I was commenting on a 1/48. Even more impressive! Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romel Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 It looks good. Great job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airbus320 Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 Looks 1/48th! You’ve done a great job of capturing the brutishness of the spad! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted November 8, 2017 Author Share Posted November 8, 2017 It is certainly 1/72 and Mr Hasegawa has to take the credit for producing an excellent kit. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Excellent build! I have the Hasegawa 1/72 kit in my unbuilt stash as well. If I can get it to look as good as yours I will be really chuffed. The "trademark" exhaust staining looks like the tricky part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive_t Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Brilliant rendition of a brilliant aircraft. I have the old Airfix kit partially built, I think I will have to resurrect that soon. Nice job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive_t Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 On 07/11/2017 at 3:50 PM, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Yes i’ve actually created an account at HLJ. just for the kit. Sorry for O/T question, but I was wondering if you managed to order anything from them, as I was thinking of doing the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Not yet i had planned on it when i opened my account. Sadly i pulled a whoopsie and fell. Damaged my rotator cuff and have to use that money to go back & forth to doctors and Physical therapy. Oh well life getting in the way i guess. As for HLJ i plan on making my purchases when i get my christmas mad money to spend. Unfortunately thats how i have to do things. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 (edited) Hi Clive, i have found HLJ to be excellent. I ordered from them and it came swiftly and in what was the best packaging I've ever had from anyone. Martin Edited November 10, 2017 by RidgeRunner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Great result on that classy-looking French Spad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 Really good, I've always liked the French schemes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted November 26, 2017 Author Share Posted November 26, 2017 Thanks F-32. To me they have a character set apart from the A-1s of US ans SVN. They saw a lot of action in North Africa and, of course, flew in some great schemes in a few African air forces. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 I like this a lot. Love the heavy exhaust weathering. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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