Jump to content

A-1E Skyraider - Maj. B. Fisher USAF MoH. - Completed


trickyrich

Recommended Posts

4 hours ago, JeroenS said:

What pain 🙂 

 

You know I'd be happy to order from the Koenig site and send it your way myself if we can work something out. 

Was about to offer the same myself, well done Jeroen.👍

 

Its great to see your Spad started Rich, and the work you have done looks very nice too.

I agree that there is no point in super detailing the gear bays, as like you say unless you pick it up and turn it over you will not be able to see the area anyway, much better to spend time on visible areas.

Whilst I understand your frustration in not being able to get hold of the weapons you need (yet) please don't stop building her as the even without the weapons she will be a great and very worthy addition to the GB.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, JeroenS said:

What pain 🙂 

 

You know I'd be happy to order from the Koenig site and send it your way myself if we can work something out. 

that would be awesome if you could, I'll drop you a PM with the details. :thumbsup:

 

I do want to continue with this one, my other 2 backups would be nice but this is the one that keeps grabbing back my attention! :wub:

 

So much so i nearly bought the full Zoukei-Mura A-1J version which includes this weapon set!!!  I'd rather not mention that price!

  • Haha 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, trickyrich said:

So much so i nearly bought the full Zoukei-Mura A-1J version which includes this weapon set!!!  I'd rather not mention that price!

It happens.  :whistle:

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, modelling minion said:

Only "nearly bought"? Can't want them that badly then. :) 

at the price they're going for......will I'd have to sacrifice some other plastic/resin goodie I have my eye on!  :D

 

But all is not lost, as my new super bestie @JeroenS has been so awesome as to acquire me the set I'm after!!!  :yahoo:

 

Plus my the fuselage of my chopper is finally together.......I may even start to paint her the weekend! 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, modelling minion said:

This is all good news Rich, it was very kind of Jeroen to help out with the weapons set, another case of our BM members showing why this is such a great forum.

I agree 110%, this is why I love it here.....and also to lead members astray with unwanted additions to their stash! :D

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok this is the official start of this build, the Chopper is far enough along now that I can start to spend some time on this build. 

 

Plus, due to the awesome kindness shown by a BM member  :thumbsup:  , the weapons set I needed should soon be on its way downunder.

 

Ok…First up all the parts were give a good wash in bleach then sort of separated

 

IMG_4735-L.jpg

 

The interior is a huge space but is very nicely detailed, the IP is going to look great, all it’ll need I a drop of clear for the “glass”.

 

IMG_4733-L.jpg

 

IMG_4734-L.jpg

 

After a wee bit of research, it turns out this particular aircraft was fitted with the earlier Douglas seats (RH ones) and not the later “Yankee” ejection seats. The easy way to tell what type was fitted is to look for the “Danger Ejection Seat” symbol. 

 

IMG_4732-L.jpg

 

So first proper test fit sort of looked ok, but I did notice a gap at the rear RH side. Some really careful measuring revealed that fuselage was slightly skew along with the rear edge on the cockpit floor.

 

IMG_4729-L.jpg

 

IMG_4730-L.jpg

 

IMG_4731-L.jpg

 

So some brass rod and super glue and we now have a reference guide!

 

IMG_4737-L.jpg

 

It took me a couple of hours of careful work using weird tools, brass rectangular rod etc, to get everything square, but it means now that the floor fits perfectly and straightens the slight skew in the fuselage.

 

IMG_4738-L.jpg

 

IMG_4743-L.jpg

(it actually does but was hard to hold and take a picture!!)

 

So some primer and the initial paint is laid down, where possible I’m trying to only use MRP paints, mainly for the finish and paint toughness.

 

IMG_4744-L.jpg

 

It looks good but there is so much more to go.

 

IMG_4745-L.jpg

 

IMG_4746-L.jpg

 

Ok after all this goodness and things going smoothly……there has to be a serious issue (gosh I need a build without one for a change)…..and this is a dozy! :wall:

 

The rear fuselage and underside insert!!! The second picture I’ve coloured the fuselage red to make it easier to see. 

 

IMG_4740-L.jpg

 

IMG_4742-L.jpg

 

From the front hole (RH one) back to the tip of the rudder is solid resin. It’s not a matter of squeezing the fuselage together to get it to fit. That lower section insert is actually the correct width.

 

There is no easy option to fix this, at the moment I can only see 2 options;

 

1, Leave the fuselage alone and just fill-in and reprofile the underside insert, the trailing edge of the rudder is too fat so I will need to correct. This is the easy one but it may look odd.

 

2, Remove the rudder completely and reshape separately. Then cut the hole tail section almost to the tails leading edge and then reglue together. This should return the tail to the correct shape, but is a huge job…….and may not even work!

 

Am going to jump on to some 1/32nd Scale forums around to see if anyone else has had this issue and for some ideas on the best way to tackle this problem.

 

I will keep progressing on this build for now, but I may have to shelve this one into a longer term project due to the complexity of the task…..I’m even thinking of possibly recasting the whole tail unit!

  • Sad 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh dear.  

 

Are you sure you're not just making excuses for the impending Z-M E?  :bleh:

In all seriousness, that sucks.  I'm sure you'll get through it eventually...and it'll look great...but it's all about the time thing you eluded to.  This is one of the reasons I shy...well ok, stay away from major resin conversions.  I ain't got the skills to properly deal with issues such as that.  The Trumpy Vigi and the Monogram Hustler are a nice entry into working outside the box...but certainly not to that level.  Look forward to seeing what resolutions you come up with.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, Triet Cam said:

Would it be easier if you spread the bottom left and right out to meet each or the red edge, and fill in at the middle wit a square styrene blocks?

mmm that would look to be the easy way, and at first I thought about doing it that way. But then you have to block in the wheel well opening as that becomes too wide plus all the proportions at the tail start to go completely off. If it was a cheap model, then yes that's the simplest way for correct this.

5 hours ago, modelling minion said:

That is really not good at all, I can't think of an answer that you haven't already come up with which is a real shame as the cockpit looks really nice and has some great details.

I have no doubt that you will get her sorted but it will not be a quick fix.

I have a few ideas floating around in my head, when i get back home from my shift I'll have a serious look at it. I'm still working on some of the smaller stuff on her at the moment, will have an update soon.

 

I have just ordered the JetMADS 1/32nd Saab Viggen!!!! :yahoo:  1/32nd pure resin porn!!!! :wub:

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, trickyrich said:

I have just ordered the JetMADS 1/32nd Saab Viggen!!!! :yahoo:  1/32nd pure resin porn!!!! :wub:

Great! So in Nordic II maybe we don't see the elusive Draken - but huge Viggen is not bad a substitute :P

  • Haha 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok this update is for stuff I did last weekend and just didn’t get time to post, managed to make some good progress. Oh I know Tom Cruise is annoying and like to pop up everywhere but I didn’t know he was that short!!! :D

 

The conversion kit come with a new cowling and the Trumpeter one, surprise surprise is not correct in shape and is a bit short as well! I fitted the internal panels to the new one along with the cowling intake doors. A wee bit of work was required to get them to fit. As the cowling is a bit longer, I may need to add some extra detail between the added pieces. Will check once the engine is in place as it does hide a lot of it.

 

IMG_4751-L.jpg

 

After the base coat some of the had their main colour coat/s. I’ve used MRP paints for this due to its strength and it’ll take the weathering nicely. The engine took ages to assemble even to this stage, there’ll be a lot more work carried out on it, plus I will have to add a wee bit of extra detailing to it.

 

IMG_4750-L.jpg

 

I really wanted to start closing up the wings, I’m not having the gun panels opened. To do this I needed to do some mod work so as I could fit the Master barrels at the end. I made up the interior panels to give the wing some strength. The guns were ditched, and sprue or plastic rod added in its place for the barrels to slide into later, extra bracing was added just before I close the outer wings up.

 

IMG_4755-L.jpg

 

As can be seen there’s a huge difference between the kit supplied ones and the Master Model ones!!!

 

IMG_4753-L.jpg

 

You can sort of see here why I was worried at first that I may have gotten the 1/48th ones, as they look tiny in the wing. But checking actual photos they did actually look tiny!

 

IMG_4754-L.jpg

 

Speaking of tiny things 🤭  ……..ok this dude is actually 1/35th…..but if you think of him as a less annoying Tom Cruise then you start to get an idea of just how large this beast was and she hasn't got her wheels on yet! (or small Tom is! :D  )

 

IMG_4748-L.jpg

 

....they could fit/squeeze 12 people in the back.....or a couple of dozen Tom's! 😆

 

IMG_4747-L.jpg

 

..ok now he is becoming annoying, just like in his movies ……  

 

IMG_4749-L.jpg

 

  ......... ok bugga off Tom!!!:fuyou_2:

 

Ok my tail issue (the plane’s not mine….) I think I may have figured it out after playing around with some ideas last Sunday evening.

The rudder will stay on, but I need to completely reshape its trailing edge is uneven in thicknessand, the moulded in actuators will be replaced, that will fix that issue.

 

IMG_4647-L.jpg

 

After more careful measuring and rechecking aligning, I will be able to correct most of the fit issues right up to the very last bit at the tail end. Due to the solid casting in this area it’s not practical to cut/split and re-join, as it may throw off the entire tail. So, for this last bit I’ll do some tricky stuff to hide the issue. It should do the trick and not spoil the look which is the main thing.

 

I have been informed my lovely exploding Zoukei-Mura bits  🥰   are on the way….so excited at this!  :yahoo:  

 

So, the build is one for sure, the plan during my 2 week break is to complete the interior (maybe even have it fitted), have the wings finished and maybe too the engine. Oh, and order the paint for her as well!

 

If I can get all that done, then I’ll be super happy.

  • Like 13
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, trickyrich said:

As can be seen there’s a huge difference between the kit supplied ones and the Master Model ones!!!

 

Maybe Trumpy thought the howitzers were supposed to be in there? 😁 The in progress is looking superb!! Glad you were abled to continue. 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Those barrels were really worth it, each is 2 parts with a choice of barrels tip style. There is also a set with the flash suppressors, but I think they were only used on later aircraft, haven't seen any "E" models with them fitted (someone is bound to find some now! :D )

 

4 hours ago, modelling minion said:

That is him full size next to your model Spad isn't it?

 

yeap! :D  

 

You see photos of air & ground crew standing beside these beasts and they barely come up to the wings! They must have been a huge aircraft.....just look at the size of the cockpit on the single seater...they were quite spacious inside!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok just a quick update, got a little bit done yesterday, am slowly getting back into the swing of things after 2 weeks away.

 

I’ve cleaned up the outer wings, and of course found some of the panel lines don’t match up between the upper and lower wings!

 

Plus I also found out that the flaps on the inside of the cowling were in the wrong place….again thank you Trumpeter!!! :rant:

 

Anyway, fixed those issues and moved onto painting and detailing.

 

The engine has had some more painting and a wash, still a bit to go as she looks too plasticy at the moment.

 

IMG_4779-L.jpg

 

IMG_4780-L.jpg

 

The seats and IP look better with some detailing, though there is more to go with the seats.

 

IMG_4781-L.jpg

 

IMG_4782-L.jpg

 

The basics are all done, just need to spend some more time finishing them. The plan is to get the wing done then I can put her aside and complete the Blackhawk and do some work on the Tornado.

 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, modelling minion said:

That is nice work Rich, the cockpit and landing gear are really looking good.

I wouldn't go mad detailing the engine mate as next to nothing will be visible anyway.

nah, all the wrk on the engine will be at the front, I do need to add some ignition wires but that will be it, the rest just some paint detailing........then slather the whole thing in oil for a more realistic look! :D

 

Plus I may have to spend some time on those rotten cowling flaps at the front. They're in the right position now but their fit isn't the best as a result of the move. Anyway can worry about that later on.

13 hours ago, stevehnz said:

An interesting read through, it's also nice to catch up on the slightly potty world of big scale modelling & remind oneself why I 'm not tempted. :D I'll be keeping an eye on this . :D

Steve 

Trust me you do need to be a bit potty to do something like this.....and it's going to get worse as i progress.

  • Like 1
  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

no update.....but these lovelies arrived today with the help of a very fine member!!!!  :thumbsup:

 

IMG_4814-L.jpg

 

So now most of the pylons will be filled up with lots of nice bangy stuff! :D

 

Now I just need to find some WP Bombs and this part is sorted!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...