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A tribute to Cdr Gary M. Witters... An AD-4NA in Korea


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Hello Dears,

Here we go again in Korea, it look like I got a bunch with Korean war...

Moons ago, I was in touch with Dave Klaus, I was a fan of Meteor productions...

Dave's uncle was Cdr Gary M. Witters, a Skyraider pilot from VF-194....

Amazing is'nt it ??

The Skyraider was so amazing that it has equipped some FIGHTER Squadrons....

Nonetheless, they carried bombs too...

So, let's go back in May 1953 aboard USS Boxer.

IMG_20220417_010459 IMG_20220417_010509

The kit is the old Monogram one, heavily modified....

I should have used the resin kit but I choose another path...

I sanded all the armour plating since at the time being, AD-4NA did'nt carried it, or sometimes only part of it...

AD-4NA ??? It's an AD-4N from which all the night fighting apparatus has been removed...

That's why, this one has the side doors but painted over....

AD-4 from late blocks carried the 4X 20mm guns, and all the 4NA has been retrofitted to carry it...

IMG_20220417_010520

The large air scoop on the spine is still from the night fighting version

Ventral and inner wing bomb racks are from the ancient model...

The engine cowling has been enlarged too, because the original one was clearly undersized...

IMG_20220417_010526

As usual, the cockpit has been clearly enhanced....

IMG_20220417_010548

Bombs came from an armament boxing from accurate miniatures, since the original bombs were Mk 82 from Viet Nam era....

And whatever, all the external loads from the original kit can get to the spare box... it is either undersized or wrongly shaped....

Now, that yellow thing under the outboad pylon???? :wonder::wonder:

It's a rescue canister, Admiral Jocko Clark insisted that one over every four aicrafts have to carry this rescue pack...

IMG_20220417_010606

Even if it's not perfect, I'm quite glad of this conversion mostly done with putty and sanding...

Glad too to give a new life to another old kit !!

More to come tomorrow, outside and family pics...

It's up to you now Gents !!

Comments are welcome, banter is mandatory !!

For the one interested in my Skyraider lunacies, here's the link

Sincerely.

CC

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13 hours ago, SAT69 said:

That's a wonderful build!

Thank You Sat !!

Glad you appreciate it !!

 

13 hours ago, stevehnz said:

That looks fabulous CC, you've a great eye for detail, such a lot to see on this. 👍

Steve.

Thanks steve,

I make my best to get closer of the real thing....

Then having peoples thinking "Why are you doing the same aircraft twice ??" and replying "It is not the same...."

I confess it's still a pleasure to me...:evil_laugh:

 

 

10 hours ago, mark.au said:

Well done! Looks very nice indeed, CC

Thank you Mark !!

On my way now to other adventures....

Creating the parts to upgreade the Esci and Matchbox ones....

 

 

3 hours ago, Wulfman said:

Super Skyraider, great build !

 

Wulfman

Thank you Wulfman !!

The Sea blue suited it well too !!

 

 

Thank you all Gents !!

Now on for sunny pics ??

IMG_20220417_161803 IMG_20220417_161818

While on a rescue mission on the 17th of May 1953 in the vicinity of Tanchon, Gary has been hit by AAA...

He was flying the #413, the jinxed Spad of the Sqdn...

He managed to gain a bit of altitude and made it to the sea...

He has been picked up by the helo from USS Manchester and bring back home safely !!

 

Now, family pics ???

IMG_20220417_161901 IMG_20220417_161918

14 years later, same part of the world but different war....

IMG_20220417_161936

Pretty glad to have fixed the engine cowling problem !!

IMG_20220417_161955

And now what about Sisters in blue ??

IMG_20220417_162154 IMG_20220417_162130 IMG_20220417_162119 IMG_20220417_162202

And now, repairing the F4U-4's antenna...

Pinged by my large stubby fingers...

Sincerely...

CC

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5 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

Looks lovely CC,  great work on this old kit, love the family photos too.  

Chris

Thank you Chris !!

I also enjoy the familiy pics !!

 

1 hour ago, stevehnz said:

Looking super in the sunshine, & the girls all together, a real treat. :)

Steve.

Thanks steve !!

And about Girls...

That's rare enough but the spad is adorned with a Pin up !!

Not very noticeable but...

IMG_20220417_203716

Little Miss Rita... Supposedly Mrs Hayworth ???

Sincerely.

CC

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2 hours ago, John_W said:

Very nice build. You don't often see them in all over blue.

Thank you Sir !!

I have 2 more all blue ones on the bench....

Heavily transforned too...

CC

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21 hours ago, Fritag said:

Love the Skyraider.  Love the CC Skyraider(s) :D

Well Thank you Sir,

A proper FAA Skyraider is in the making !!

That's mandatory for me !!

 

11 hours ago, Fred piket said:

Crikey! That's a fantastic model! I love the detail on it.

 

 

Thank you fred !!

Lots of work on these old kits, but I like it !!

 

11 hours ago, Pete in a shed said:

Nicely done, Great work with all the mods and it looks great in the overall blue.

Pete

Thank you Pete !!

Now on with an AD-4W !!

Huh, and 3 AD-5...

I know, I'm nutty !!

 

Thank you all for the support !!

Sincerely.

CC

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