Tamiya 1/48 AD-6 Skyraider

Here's my Tamiya 1/48 A-1H Skyraider in the markings of the VNAF's (South Vietnamese Air Force) Tanh Phong flight belonging to the 514th Fighter Squadron, circa 1962. This model for me is truly my latest and greatest (considering my modeling skills).

The 514th four flights sported different colorful fuselage bands each, with the squadron commander's aircraft having a fuselage band consisting of all four flight's bands combined.

Cutting Edge and CAM decals both did a sheet depicting several of these Vietnamese aircraft, but not this one. I only know of one photo where this fuselage band can be seen. I decided to go for that one and airbrush it on. It required quite a bit of fiddly masking, but I'm very pleased with the result: a very original model.

The serial number was combined from the three different serials provided with the kit. Since there was no 2 (for BuNo 135237) in any of the serials, I mirrored a 5 (i.e. put it on the "wrong" way / up side down) and it worked beautifully.

The wing walkways were also airbrushed with Tamiya German Gray instead of using the kit decals. National insignia and cowling badge came from the Cutting Edge sheet. The decals were quite stiff and even after several applications of Micro Set and Micro Sol they wouldn't snuggle in to the panel lines completely. Kit decals responded great to the Micro Set and Sol. The "Y" tail code was an "X" from a Matchbox 1/72 Phantom FGR.2 cut and trimmed. The "37" on the landing gear doors should read "237" but I didn't have the right decals in the spares box. If anyone has two "2"s in modern RAF style numbers (1/72) I offer myself to help them get rid of those ;o)

If you do an early VNAF Skyraider, make sure to check whether it has the red navigation light on top of the vertical stabilizer and yankee extraction system (135237 had neither). And if it had spoked or solid wheel hubs (both come with the Tamiya kit).

I snagged the Mk 117s from Tamiya's A-1J kit. Paints used were Humbrol 129 (overall color), Revell Lufthansa Yellow (fuselage band), Tamiya Midnight Blue (Fuselage band puffs of smoke), Revell 04 White (landing gear and wells, rocket launchers, fuel tank, and some details), Tamiya Black (anti-glare panel), a mix of Tamiya Black and German Gray for the propeller, Revell Silver for the wing and cowling leading edges and some details, and Revell Red for the fuselage band flames and navigation lights.

Everything was sealed with Humbrol Gloss Coat. Decals were applied using Micro Set and Micro Sol, followed by another coat of Humbrol Gloss. I used Burnt Umber thinned with turpentine for wash and then a final coat of much-thinned Modelmaster Semi-Gloss to finish the model. I guess this kit proves that all paints can be used over each other if you allow enough time for drying and hardening (usually I let it sit for 24 hours). Tamiya paints are great in that you can handle and repaint parts in about ten minutes after airbrushing.

The oil spill on the fuel tank was created by allowing reapeated flows of moderately thinned burnt umber followed by repeated flows of heavily thinned drops of the same until the effect pleased me, wiping off any excess from the lower surface of the tank in the direction of what the air flow would be. I used a fairly small brush as an applicator. In all, I had great fun with this one and I am ready to start another VNAF Skyraider, A-1J this time, in SEA camouflage.

I can recommend this kit to anyone. There are no difficult areas at all.

Cheers,

-Leon-