_frequentflyer_ Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 (edited) Hi modellers, few days ago I’ve started a new entry to my Vietnam War aircraft collection. It was the De Havilland RU-6A Beaver in VNAF colors. In the early 1960s, the Electronics Warfare Laboratory developed airborne radio direction finding (ARDF) electronic gear and installed it in three de Havilland U-6A Beavers, re-designating them RU-6As. Apparently no special code names were applied to those aircraft at the time. Assigned to the Vietnam Flight Detachment of the 3rd Radio Research Unit in March 1962, those three aircraft became the first Army reconnaissance airplanes in Vietnam. Time later a group of ARDF Beavers went to the Mekong Delta in 1964. Sometime before 1966, three RU-6A aircraft equipped with standard U.S. Army ARDF equipment were given to the South Vietnamese Air Force. Those systems worked so well that more Beavers and U-8Ds were converted under the ‘R’ version, incorporating AN/ARD-15 surveillance equipment for Vietnam service. Example 51-16862 /mM available on decal sheet was delivered to US Army on January 1953 as L-20A and re-designated U-6A in 1962. Later converted to RU-6A. Then this aircraft was given to VNAF, served with 33rd TW (tail code mM), 716th Rec. Sqn. AF. It had the earlier style airborne direction finding equipment (with Collins R-390 radios) instead the newer AN/ARD-15 system that the U.S. used for their RU-6As. (photo credit: http://www.dhc-2.com) Kit is the rather basic Hobbycraft in 1/48 scale but it is a good point to start, a sort of blank canvas… As my usual, I love to show my models fully opened, so that first step was to separate front/back doors from the clear fuselage and replace them by styrene. According a lot of pictures taken in http://www.dhc-2.com website, I was quite sure that cockpit floor was wrong. Much better to replace it by styrene too… Instrumental panel next to come… (photo credit: http://www.dhc-2.com) Ciao, Alex Rome Edited May 8, 2019 by _frequentflyer_ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_frequentflyer_ Posted May 9, 2019 Author Share Posted May 9, 2019 (edited) New IP by styrene and Airscale PE. Check the differences... Cockpit floor upgraded. Rudder pedals by Reheat PE They look quite close to real Alex Edited May 9, 2019 by _frequentflyer_ 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 I Like the approach with the cockpit. I have to add though, the rudder pedals are set in a deeper level than the floor from my recollections of flying in Beavers in Canada . They are in a sort of trough. Maybe too tricky to depict in a model. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davepb Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 On 5/8/2019 at 12:57 PM, _frequentflyer_ said: As my usual, I love to show my models fully opened, so that first step was to separate front/back doors from the clear fuselage and replace them by styrene. Modelling an open Beaver! Put it down to a juvenile sense of humour and misty memories! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matti64 Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 Can I suggest making the front doors bigger. I fought shy on doing this on my first Beaver and have regretted doing it since. Extennding the line of the forward edges f the front doors goes a lng way toward fixing what looks wrong with the model. I'll be doing so on my next one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_frequentflyer_ Posted May 13, 2019 Author Share Posted May 13, 2019 (edited) matti64, this is an interesting point of reflection.... Above all, dry fitting seems to be ok. Cockpit floor is at door level. According to you, which side of the front doors has to be widen? (photo credit: http://www.dhc-2.com) Edited May 13, 2019 by _frequentflyer_ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fubar57 Posted May 13, 2019 Share Posted May 13, 2019 Love the Beaver. Flew in them many times while logging on the West coast of Canada in the 70s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matti64 Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 front edge on the upper slope and the vertical. Your photo shows what it needs and that will also distract from the slightly too sloping windscreen angle. I wish I'd done it with my AAC Beaver . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_frequentflyer_ Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 12 hours ago, matti64 said: front edge on the upper slope and the vertical. Your photo shows what it needs and that will also distract from the slightly too sloping windscreen angle. I wish I'd done it with my AAC Beaver . That's true, I'll keep in mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_frequentflyer_ Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 (edited) Hi all, going ahead by Collins R-390 radio... photo credit: http://www.dhc-2.com More items ready to be painted. Ceiling panels, extinguisher, front/back seats... Stay tuned Alex Edited May 15, 2019 by _frequentflyer_ 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_frequentflyer_ Posted May 17, 2019 Author Share Posted May 17, 2019 (edited) Inner lining by Milliput & styrene Back and upper bulkheads Alex Edited May 17, 2019 by _frequentflyer_ 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_frequentflyer_ Posted June 2, 2019 Author Share Posted June 2, 2019 (edited) Slowly ahead.... Alex Edited June 2, 2019 by _frequentflyer_ 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_frequentflyer_ Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 (edited) Slowly ahead with this unusual aircraft.... Interior almost completed, now masking upper/front/side windows New front doors area according to @matti64 indications (thank you very much) I took the opportunity the get new doors by styrene 0,4mm as well Bye for now Alex Edited June 15, 2019 by _frequentflyer_ 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 Looks good, I admire a man who takes on a challenge! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_frequentflyer_ Posted July 5, 2019 Author Share Posted July 5, 2019 (edited) Start painting... Not easy to get the right tone of grey by pictures taken many years ago. I chose Testors Model Master #1740 Dark Gull Grey. To be continued with weathering... Alex Edited July 5, 2019 by _frequentflyer_ 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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