SoftScience Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 Since I like to overreach (and not accomplish) during group builds, I took on a third build. This is Tamiya's A-1J in 1:48 scale. I'm building my kit as a 602nd squadron special ops aircraft. These planes flew night sorties in support of Hmong guerrillas in Laos in the 1960s. The Laotian fighting is a fascinating and often overlooked aspect of the Vietnam war. Anyhow, 602nd aircraft would fire flares and small rockets to light up targets at night. And during the days they flew in support of missions to rescue downed airmen. Think the scene where Willem DaFoe's character dies in "Flight of the Intruder" The Tamiya kit is pretty spiffy. It's very simple and I anticipate a quick build. I decided to begin with ordnance, as I hate this part of the build and tend to rush it at the end, in order to finish quickly. Something about flying cylinder halves together just bugs me out. They never fit really well, and require filling and it's a giant mess. These fit OKAY, for the most part, but some filler was needed on the mini-gun pod and the smaller rocket launchers. There will be cleaning up to do when the putty dries. The large drop tanks will also need some seam cleanup and probably some rescribing. I like how Tamiya made the large tanks with poly caps.l, so they can be easily attached and removed. More to come, soon. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 welcome along with and awesome build!!! I was really hoping someone would show up with one of these Tamiya beasts. I have been coveting one of these for ages, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. They were an incredible last hurrah for the big piston engine aircraft, and played an important part in the activities in this area. Like a lot of the new 1/48th Tamiya aircraft it should be a really nice build. They're not perfect but are worth it. Good luck with the build, I will follow this one with special interest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 Always room for another Spad, especially for one engaged in the odd trip across certain borders. We're ending up with quite a lot from Laos which is excellent. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 The weapons have been base painted. They still need to be tarted up with detail painting and weathering. But for now I'm moving on to the cockpit. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 Awesome work on the weapons loadout so far! Looking forward to seeing your work on the cockpit! Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davek72 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 On 25/08/2020 at 11:35, SoftScience said: The weapons have been base painted. They still need to be tarted up with detail painting and weathering. But for now I'm moving on to the cockpit. Smooooooooth weapons 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share Posted August 28, 2020 On 8/25/2020 at 1:25 PM, PlaStix said: Awesome work on the weapons loadout so far! Looking forward to seeing your work on the cockpit! Kind regards, Stix I hope this doesn't disappoint. I kept it simple for the cockpit. Clean, smooth, and out of the box. The side consoles were done old school, with a toothpick. The instruments are a decal with ultra flat Lucky Varnish and Krystal Clear over the instruments. Seat belts are the kit decals cut out, backing paper blackened with permanent marker, and glued in place. Then coated with Lucky Varnish. That stuff really brushes on well. I was going to add the pilot, but he's one of Tamiya's worst figures and has a stiff pose and a dumb looking turtle-man face. 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 A fine start 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triet Cam Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 What's VN without a Skyraider. The pit is looking very spiffy. Nice looking rows of knobs. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 What?! no resin cockpit with pre painted photoetch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share Posted August 28, 2020 1 minute ago, busnproplinerfan said: What?! no resin cockpit with pre painted photoetch. I've used them on occasion, but I've realized that I don't care overly much about super detailing cockpits. Nobody is going to be looking in there. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 I went crazy on a couple of cockpits, only get them now for Haseagawas if I want the opened. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 5 hours ago, SoftScience said: I hope this doesn't disappoint. Certainly not, a very nice start indeed. I'm coming to the same conclusion as you regarding super detailing, it takes a lot of effort for what can be very little visual difference when the fuselage halves are closed up. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almac Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 Nice start. Cockpit looks really good. Cheers Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimbledon99 Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 WOW!! Those weapons look superb!! The cockpit is rather nice too!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share Posted August 28, 2020 Over the last few evenings, I also added some detail and basic weathering to the stores. I wanted to make the drop tank look like it had been rolled along the tarmac and fuel depot ground. I still need to add the characteristic oil leaks. The LAUs and gun pods got some general grunge and little dings. and the tubular bomblet dispensers (I thought these were rocket tubes at first, but nope). These don't look great, but probably good enough. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 I like the weathering on the tank and weapons, an often overlooked area, the tank in particular is very effective. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 They say the devil is in the details ,and it looks like you're paying plenty of attention to the stores, they look well good 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share Posted August 28, 2020 2 hours ago, modelling minion said: the tank in particular is very effective. Well I am primarily a tank modeler... Sorry 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted August 29, 2020 Author Share Posted August 29, 2020 This firefly is taking shape, and boy what an ugly shape it is 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 Definitely very Skyraider shaped, though I have to disagree with you about it being ugly, brutish and powerful yes but not ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted August 30, 2020 Author Share Posted August 30, 2020 It's the thick fuselage to tail transition. It's like cankles Anyway, I've got it almost ready for.paint. but first, two questions: 1) for aircraft with black undersides, would the landing gear bays also have been painted black? 2) did the camouflage pattern run under the canopy or was that area black? 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Cankles 😂 , looks good together ss , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 I would think that the wheel wells reamined their original colour as it helps to find any leaks, and the area under the canopy is difficult to see in any pictures so your guess is as good as anyone else's but if I had to choose I would go with either camo or grey. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted August 30, 2020 Author Share Posted August 30, 2020 A base coat of very very dark gray 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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