Masking Maybe in Order

I tried to free-hand with the airbrush the Tan and Pale Green patterns.  Did not turn out too well. 

TA-4H 544 Camo

I might have finally figured out the pattern used on 544.  As the two photos show I spent a bit of time with a pencil marking up the model.  The problem is 544 even on the left side as displayed at the museum does not follow exactly the 1999 symmetrical pattern and the right side is similar to a pattern seen on some A-4Ns.  The wing patterns also reflect this schizophrenia. 

 Right side pattern that is a mix of an earlier TA-4H and A-4N while the wing pattern is based on the original 1968 pattern and xnir.com's photo.

Left side that is close to the 1999 symmetrical except that the intakes are painted brown on both sides and that stripe of brown on the trailing edge that extends to the wing.  

Actually I just looked at the photos again and the left wing pattern has a brown leading edge slat which means on this side it seems the Symmetrical pattern extends to the wing except for that one variation on the trailing edge.

Glad I am using a pencil to sketch this all out.  Once satisfied, will cut out masking patterns for the Dark Tan FS30219 and Pale Green FS 34227.  Erase everything, clean up surfaces, and then re-shoot Sand FS 33531 as the upper base coat.

Are we having fun yet?

Battle of the Coral Sea

In early May 1942, the warriors of the US Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy squared off in what would be the first all aircraft carrier battle.  Japan wanting to take New Guinea and the Americans trying to stop it and save their sea link to Australia.

There would be many heroes on the American side in this battle.  Butch O'Hare throwing his VF-3 Wildcat fighter at a formation of G4M Betty bombers would earn him the Medal of Honor.  Aboard VS-2 two others would be catapulted to fame - Eng Leppla and ARM3c Liska who would use their Dauntless dive bomber to shoot down seven Japanese aircraft.

The model kit is the Accurate Miniatures SBD-3 Dauntless in 1/48th scale built almost straight from the box and using kit decals.

Playing in Photoshop to give it a real feel.

Overall view of kit on the Squadron carrier flight deck.

A peek into the pilot's cockpit.

Used Model Master paints for this project.  Diluted the Intermediate Blue with Light Gray to fade the top side paint.  Then dry brushed a Flanker Blue/Gray or used undiluted Intermediate Blue to represent touch-ups.  After sealing the paints used a silver pencil to make worn areas and tiny drops of black smeared front to back to represent spilled fuel on the wings or grime.

The tri-color propeller tips are decals I made.  In the -3 run this was how Douglas painted the propellers.  The TBD from Douglas had similar propeller tips.

Tried to scratch build the canvas cover for the canopy, this cover was used to protect the cockpit area from the elements but most importantly to prevent all that glass from reflecting sunlight and giving away the aircraft carrier.  Used diluted white glue on a white napkin to make a rough form.  Then painted it with Dark Earth which soaked into the napkin that gave a rough texture.  Once dried I cut it down and shaped it to represent how the canvas cover would look as the flight crew were going to move the plane on the deck.

All bombed up and ready to launch.

Change of Plans

IAF A-4E 819 build has been shelved.  Instead will build this model when they were in late Indonesian service.   I have found better pictures of these A-4Es.  Notice under the nose what looks like a radar altimeter in top picture and on the right side offset is a large blade antenna in bottom picture.

Luckily have the FCM decal sheet and very advanced on the build.  Will just have to scratch build the blade antenna, a few other sensors, and the radar altimeter.

819 Progress

Cockpit is in and fuselage glued together.  Avionics hump and barrel also glued.  Now working on seams to blend everything together.  Wing and landing gear are not glued in yet, just like putting plane together.

So far its been an easy and fun build.  Even attaching the barrel went on quickly and so far no major fuss.

Indonesian Skyhawk

Remember my talk of possibly building one of the Israeli A-4Es that were sold to Indonesia?  Here we go on the start of the build.  Once again the basis is the Monogram A-4E model.

But I have sawed off the sugar-scoop for the installation of the barrel.  The barrel is a leftover from the Hobbycraft A-4N/AF-1 kit.  The DEFA 30mm guns are coming from the spares box also, the ESCI A-4N kit since the Hobbycraft 30mm fairings are far too long.

The wing, intakes, speed brakes, and avionics fairing have been glued together.  All the ECM fairings and various antennas have been removed.  Will replace with needed and correct items later in build.

Paint and markings - as originally delivered to Indonesia.  Light gray, medium gray, and medium blue top colors.

A Scoop on Scoops

Finally got around to making a new scoop to represent an aircraft equipped with the J-52P-408A engine.

Top to bottom

1. The white scoop on tan fuselage I made from sheet plastic, X-Acto, and judicious use of files and sanding sticks.
2. The light gray large scoop is from the Hasegawa A-4M kit I used as the master.  
3. Finally the small medium gray scoop is what normally comes on all Monogram A-4 kits to represent the J-52P-6/8 engines.

As for what has been distracting me is the building of another earlier Douglas product the TBD-1 Devastator.

Going a bit detail crazy on the still excellent Monogram kit in 1/48th scale.