825 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 This is the 1975 boxing of Airfix’s 1968 release of this classic workhorse. When the kit was originally released the Skyraider was still in frequent use in Vietnam and was for a few years more in amongst the fast, and not so fast jets. I recall building it when released and it was a bit of a challenge particularly the white underside finish and all the parts of the weaponry. So a rummage through the stash to see what to build for this GB revealed this amongst some others. This seemed a good one to start with as the others had challenges, biplanes mainly, industrial levels of rivets or a little bit too much masking. Though the latter Gazelle may still make an appearance The kit has a bundle of white plastic on a number of sprues, the moulding being decent with little flash and minimal rivets which is uncharacteristic of Airfix at this time. And there is a classic Airfix stand in the box. A transfer sheet which might need a bit of bleaching. Old fashioned instruction sheet. And who also remembers the ‘complaints’ slip? 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 Welcome to the Group Build @825 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjwomack Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 One day I'm gonna get me an Able Dawg; apparently it could carry nearly its own weight. Along With the Tigercat my favourite carrier based planes 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 Mine was re-armed from one or more of the Hasegawa weapons sets - everything but the kitchen sink seems to have been hung under Skyraider wings at one time or another it seems. I must add mine to the "possible refurbishment" list!😆 Pete 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 Another great choice! It's a lot of aeroplane for the money, and Airfix gives you plenty to hang off it. 4 hours ago, Mjwomack said: apparently it could carry nearly its own weight The Martin Mauler (contemporary and produced in very small numbers) could lift a little bit more at 10,648 lb (about 5 tons), more than the average B-17 bomb load! 1 hour ago, PeterB said: everything but the kitchen sink That would be "including toilet bowls"! One of the more outlandish loads. Looking forward to it! Regards, Adrian 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 (edited) 12 minutes ago, AdrianMF said: That would be "including toilet bowls"! One of the more outlandish loads. Regards, Adrian Now you mention it I seem to remember hearing about those somewhere many years ago. Like beer barrels under Spitfire wings it seems they were taking care of the urgent needs of the forward troops I guess.😆 Pete Edited August 23 by PeterB 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted August 30 Author Share Posted August 30 On 8/23/2024 at 5:23 AM, CliffB said: Welcome to the Group Build @825 Thank you, as I review the stash I keep finding more classic Airfix kits. So time permitting there may be some more. On 8/23/2024 at 9:50 AM, Mjwomack said: One day I'm gonna get me an Able Dawg; apparently it could carry nearly its own weight. Along With the Tigercat my favourite carrier based planes. On 8/23/2024 at 1:10 PM, PeterB said: Mine was re-armed from one or more of the Hasegawa weapons sets - everything but the kitchen sink seems to have been hung under Skyraider wings at one time or another it seems. I must add mine to the "possible refurbishment" list!😆 Pete Im going to finish this one armed to the teeth but just use what’s in the box. On 8/23/2024 at 2:45 PM, PeterB said: Now you mention it I seem to remember hearing about those somewhere many years ago. Like beer barrels under Spitfire wings it seems they were taking care of the urgent needs of the forward troops I guess.😆 Pete From what I’ve read the toilet bowl was delivered as an insult to the VC along with usual ordnance rather than providing some home comforts! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted August 30 Author Share Posted August 30 Now my German Reconnaissance Set is almost out of the way I’ve turned my attention to the Skyraider. First up some paint on the detail parts as well as some sub assemblies started. The cockpit is a little sparse and rather than detail it I’m going to pop the pilot in despite the classic Airfix odd pose. Overall the space seen will be small with the pilot in so that’ll salve my conscience of not detailing it. Although most parts are fairly well moulded there are some with a lot of flash and mould lines, the bomb tails will be a nightmare to clean up. There’s also a number of mould mounds, most on the inside where they won’t be seen but there’s a fair few on the weapons pylons. Looking forward to some sanding! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planebuilder62 Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 I didn’t realise that this came with a wing fold solution. Dear @825, will you be building this with folded wings? Its not someting you see everyday on Skyraider models. Regards Toby 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted August 31 Author Share Posted August 31 1 hour ago, Planebuilder62 said: I didn’t realise that this came with a wing fold solution. Dear @825, will you be building this with folded wings? Its not someting you see everyday on Skyraider models. Regards Toby Airfix did a few of these carrier based aircraft with wing folds. They did it with the Helldiver as well. In theory it’s a working wing fold but it is a little rudimentary and the folds lack detail. There is scope for detailing if wished. However, I’ll be finishing this Skyraider with the wings extended but I may need some support for the outer wings. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 2 Author Share Posted September 2 A couple of problems. First the pilot doesn’t fit into the cockpit at all And the pylons and rockets have mould depressions in every one. I’ve already started to fill with Mr Surfacer and a second amount will be needed. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 2 Author Share Posted September 2 A bit of work done today. The pilot was easy to fix, I simply bent the legs straighter until the pilot fitted. Then the fuselage closed up making sure the arrestor hook and tail wheel had been inserted. There will be a bit of cleaning up to do but not at all bad for an elderly kit. Then fitted the cowling, tail planes, inner wings and dive brakes. Again decent fit although the lower airbrake needed a little sanding down. And the outer wings on. There will be tidying up needed but Airfix’s engineers have done a good job. There are glue finger marks on the cowling which are courtesy of my incompetence. I’ll leave things overnight to solidify everything up before attacking it with some filler and sanding sticks. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfox63 Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 11 hours ago, 825 said: There are glue finger marks on the cowling which are courtesy of my incompetence I've done the same thing on my B-29, annoyingly, but par for the course. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 10 Author Share Posted September 10 It did take fair few coats of white on the undersides to get an even finish, even on the white plastic. It was mainly over the areas of filler and Mr Surfacer to be fair. Anyway now masked up to get ready for some Light Gull Grey. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 16 Author Share Posted September 16 A few thin coats of Light Gull Gray brushed on. It’s taking a little bit more than I thought but getting there. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 23 Author Share Posted September 23 Main painting finished and masking removed. A tiny amount of touching up needed which is gratifying. Now masked up for some of the detail painting, the green top to the fin, the walkways and anti glare panels. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 Looking good! I have read that this kit has some accuracy issues, but it builds up into an impressive model. I like that so many of us in this GB are building the kits as Airfix provided - it makes.a nice change from agonising over measurements and details! Regards, Adrian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted Tuesday at 06:55 AM Author Share Posted Tuesday at 06:55 AM On 9/24/2024 at 10:06 AM, AdrianMF said: Looking good! I have read that this kit has some accuracy issues, but it builds up into an impressive model. I like that so many of us in this GB are building the kits as Airfix provided - it makes.a nice change from agonising over measurements and details! Regards, Adrian Thanks Adrian, it does look fairly impressive, loads of bulk capturing the Skyraider character. I must admit I rarely obsess or agonise over measurements and details but get on with building things. Mind you that doesn’t always make me quick. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted Tuesday at 07:00 AM Author Share Posted Tuesday at 07:00 AM I decided to get some of the transfers on. They went on fine although I did trim a number of them. However a couple of problems. Despite being taped to a south facing window for a number of weeks they are still a bit yellow and that shows. The bigger issue is I gave them all a coat of Micro Sol to see if they would bed down over the rivets. The next morning a number of them have not bedded down but lifted. I hope that a session with Kleer will help resolve that. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted Tuesday at 10:16 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 10:16 AM Good luck with the Klear - fingers crossed at this end. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted Tuesday at 12:12 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 12:12 PM Hope it all works out! In dire emergencies a touch of Tamiya Extra Thin can help as a last resort before stripping them off. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted Tuesday at 12:58 PM Author Share Posted Tuesday at 12:58 PM 20 hours ago, Jinxman said: Good luck with the Klear - fingers crossed at this end. Thanks JM 18 hours ago, AdrianMF said: Hope it all works out! In dire emergencies a touch of Tamiya Extra Thin can help as a last resort before stripping them off. Regards, Adrian 18 hours ago, AdrianMF said: Hope it all works out! In dire emergencies a touch of Tamiya Extra Thin can help as a last resort before stripping them off. Regards, Adrian TET is a last resort but I think I’ve got away with the Kleer. Not perfect but adequate. The weird thing is the Micro Sol seemed to make the transfers more stiff rather than softening them. I’ve still the other side of the fuselage to do. I might go for the flooding them on with Kleer option. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted Tuesday at 03:01 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 03:01 PM FWIW I can't see your photos in either iphone Safari or Win 10 Chrome, but I can see them if I click "open link in new window". It looks very nice and for Airfix decals of a certain age, I'd be very happy with it after a coat of varnish. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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