1/32 Trumpeter A-4E

Post by **rwsmith14** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:45 pm

I will be building Trumpeter's 1/32 A-4E using the below pictured kit and aftermarket items

I will model an A-4E from VA-212 in 1967. Va-212 conducted the 1st Walleye flight over Vietnam. On March 11, 1967:
The Rampant Raider's commanding officer, Commander Homer L. Smith, conducted the first Walleye combat attack, striking the Sam Son Army Barracks. in Skyhawk BuNo 149971, NP-232, from deck of the USS Bon Homme Richard with a pair of Walleye.

Some of my inspiration pictures for this GB:

1st Walleye flight over Vietnam. VA-212 Rampant Raiders Skyhawk BuNo 149971, NP-232, on the deck of the USS Bon Homme Richard with a pair of Walleyes, 11 March 1967. At left is Tom Taylor, TAD from China Lake at right is VA-212 CO CDR Homer Smith.

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 1:24 am

Wow, another 1/32 scale super duper looking kit for the Vietnam GB!! That looks awesome with the all the extra details...I'm looking forward to seeing you put this together!

Good luck.

Cheers

Martin

Post by **Lee** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 10:18 am

What a beast - Another big one. Looking forward to this

Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 12:24 am

I'm off.. first step:cockpit started

Aftermarket Ejection seat from Wolfpack. Details are great hope my painting can do it justice.

Cockpit parts:

Cockpit interior from Eduard

console, IP sanded & primed in preparation for the P.E.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 12:57 am

P.E, on the instrument panel. still have to attach two handles (small) on the bottom but it will do that last before putting it into the cockpit and sealing it up.

Post by **Willem** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 11:48 am

Very cool looking kit. Love the Scooter.

Good luck with the build.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:54 pm

Cockpit just about complete. still to do: Touch up the paint a bit, Then Apply wash and chipping. then on to the engine. The IP is tack'ed on with blu-tac for pictures/

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 3:41 am

Tonight, I got the engine components primed. then started working on the Walleye, put halves together and started the seam work.

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 5:50 am

Great start mate, that cockpit looks fabulous!

Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:58 am

Cockpit is complete. washed and dry brushed. used a dark wash, brown wash, a white wash then dry brushed. not totally happy with it. each dial on the IP has a bead of Future applied. not totally happy with it.but it is ok. no where as good as my F-105 cockpit.

I apologize for the poor quality pics. My dog got a hold of my good camera. let say it's not my good camera any longer

Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 2:55 am

On to the engine:

still have a few more parts to add to the engine . waiting for these four pieces (on the main engine body) it to dry first. then do some seam work then paint.

Intake sprayed with Tamiya Insignia white with MM gloss ultra.

I don't plan on doing too much with the engine since this will not be seen. You can opt on the build to build it where you can show the engine but I'm going to just seal it up.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 7:56 pm

Engine is complete, ready for install

Turbine is painted with an experiment. I mixed 50% Alclad II Stainless Steel and 50% Tamiya XF-24 Dark gray. I was going for a Dark gray with a metallic sheen. Did not come out the way I wanted it too so I little bit more experimentally with it is needed. The engine was initially sprayed with Alclad II Steel then applied a heavy dusting of Alclad II pale burnt metal. Followed by various shades of Alclad II Hotmetal, Blue, red, sepia, violet and transparent yellow. then that was dusted with the Pale burnt metal. dry brushed with sliver and applied MIG Fuel&oil stain. I figure this will not be seen so it was a good area to experiment on. Happy with the result. the pictures do not show?pickup the different shades/Hues of the hotmental colors

Next up On to the fwd fuselage.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 4:20 am

Sneak peak of things to come. fwd fuselage with engine installed mock up.. Going to be a large A-4 !

Post by **MarkVerploeg** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 6:22 am

Great work
I like the cockpit amd engine a lot
Keep up the good work

Post by **grover** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 8:58 am

wow, awesome work mate. Loving the details.

Post by **chief5437** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 11:09 am

Great work buddy! Love the engine, shame it won't be seen.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 5:45 pm

Chief..it won't be seen but I'll know it's there and what is looks like !

)

Post by **rwsmith14** » Fri Oct 03, 2014 3:34 am

Engine compartment interior; primed ,painted, clear coated then weathered.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Sun Oct 05, 2014 8:10 pm

Just about ready to install the cockpit and close up the fwd fuselage. installed the cockpit side skirts and weathered. still have to paint and detail the NLG wheel bay first. Still have to make a decisions whether or not to close or leave open the maintenance access panels. If I leave them open it would add more visual interest then again if I leave the shut it would give that stream lined look. and won't have to detail the panels.

Post by **chief5437** » Sun Oct 05, 2014 8:35 pm

Looking good! Hard decision to make on the panels. It is nice to see a sleek bird now and then, lol!

I was thinking the same on my current build, but as they provide so much detail for the bays, I thought it would be rude not to show them open! Ha ha

Whatever you decide, I'm sure it's gonna look great. I'm really looking forward to seeing it finished, kutgw!

Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 2:34 am

Update Monday Oct 6, 2014. Just about ready to seal up the fwd fuselage. The cockpit and engine fit like a glove !. Although instructions do not call for adding weight to the nose, I've been down that road before. no tail sitter here !!! Have to wait 'til tomorrow to get more weight in before closing it up. Then followed shortly by the aft fuselage being sealed. It's going to start to look like a "Scooter" soon. Decided to close all maintenance accesses . the engine accesses went on easy. Next was the port fwd access which needed sanding and more sanding ect.. the thing wouldn't fit right. finally got it to where it was acceptable and I can fair it in. Decided to leave the dual Starboard access panels doors alone and detail the maintenance panel to show it in the open position.

Post by **jbellos1** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 1:41 pm

Fantastic kit! Build is very interesting to follow - thanks for the details and such. 1/32 scale is my favorite scale in aircraft and this one looks great!

Post by **rwsmith14** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:40 am

Not much too report tonight. Biggest thing I wanted t do is close up the fuselage. not quite there yet but almost. sealed up the fwd fuselage. had minor trouble with the upper back rear part of the cockpit. removed that piece and reattached after the fuselage was closed up.. not too hard. Rear fuselage is sealed and ready to attach to the fwd part. Cockpit tub fit real nicely. after fully dried, I'll go back and do the seam work. Do not expect any intensive filler&sanding.

just noticed on the cockpit pic, I have to fix the side skirt looks like it is not well attached.

Post by **snappercity** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:24 pm

This is really going well.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 7:29 pm

It is going very well. This is my first Trumpeter kit in any scale, I did not know what to expect. I'm very very pleased so far with it. It has been very enjoyable to build.

**Felis Barcinonensis YouTube Channel** · Post by **felisbarcinonensis** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 9:40 pm

It's lookin good mate! Good shots too

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 12:41 am

felisbarcinonensis wrote:It's lookin good mate! Good shots too

Thanks !

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 12:41 am

snappercity wrote:This is really going well.

Thanks

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:34 am

This build is moving right along.. smooth sailing so far... Tonight got the whole fuselage sealed up, sanded & filled. Got the wheel bays together, installed, painted washed. Still want to detail some more in the wheel bays.. Wings are sealed as well. Wings are not yet attached to the fuselage. next up is adding the wing flaps, mechanical linkages and wing accessories. Also need to apply another coat of insignia red to the fwd extended wing flap area before, sealing and masking them.

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:50 am

Looking sweet, that came together quickly since the last tie I checked in!

Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 3:42 am

put together the wing flaps and control surfaces. Insignia red on the wings flaps. getting ready to mask them off in preparation for paining insignia white on the upper control surfaces and bottom fuselage. Walleye put together primed awaiting painting. next up is attaching control surfaces then masking them in preparation for fuselage painting. Attaching wings.

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:42 pm

Coming along nicely! Kutgw

Post by **Deacon** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:56 pm

Man you're not hanging around with this one mate.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 3:19 am

Deacon wrote:Man you're not hanging around with this one mate.

Everything is moving as smooth as can be, I'm real impressed by this kit.. no problems at all.. everywhere fits Perfect a real joy to build.

Post by **planemaker** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 6:54 pm

Stunning job so far!

The cockpit looks amazing.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 10:34 pm

planemaker wrote:Stunning job so far! The cockpit looks amazing.

Thanks !!

Post by **rwsmith14** » Wed Nov 19, 2014 1:22 am

Haven't posted in 4 weeks. Took sometime to finish some other projects for a local model contest and work has gotten in the way

That's done now. Will be moving on this project tomorrow.. Keep tuned for more updates

Post by **Ozzie21** » Wed Nov 19, 2014 1:30 am

Very nice work. Your cockpit looks tremendous. Looking forward to some more.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:26 am

not much at all done tonight.

here how she sits tonight second coat of insignia red applied. ready for clearcoat them masking.

Walleye AGM-62 ready for final paint. seams filled and sanded,primed

Centerline 400 gal/1514L drop tank(resin) this thing is HUGE ! filled a crease on the bottom with Mr, surfacer 500.

wing flaps almost ready to go

Post by **SyntaxModels** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 10:54 am

Just jumped in on the build now, and it looks stunning! Can't wait to see it finished!

Post by **chief5437** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 12:39 pm

I was wondering if you'd forgotten about this one, lol! Great progress, you've got some huge ordnance there!

Post by **Tiger131** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:00 pm

thats one cracking cockpit

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 6:38 pm

SyntaxModels wrote:Just jumped in on the build now, and it looks stunning! Can't wait to see it finished!

thanks it has been a fun build.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 6:39 pm

Tiger131 wrote:thats one cracking cockpit

Thanks

Post by **rwsmith14** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 3:48 am

Made some progress... windscreen in place. Early warning receiver antennas in place. wing flaps in place. still have the other set of control surfaces to install. almost ready for priming. canopy just placed, not permanent yet. sorry for the poor quality pics.

The horizontal stabilizers are not glued yet

AGM-62 Walleye are in the process of being painted. a few more coats of white to go. The 400gal centerline resin fuel tank has been fill with Mr. Surfacer 500, then sanded. A light coat of Perfect Plastic putty applied to fill the smaller pits.

Post by **SyntaxModels** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 6:19 am

Some good progress mate, looking forward to seeing it done!

Post by **rwsmith14** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 8:47 pm

Continuing with priming and masking. Walleyes are starting to look good. Still have to trim up the tamiya tape around the cockpit. started to use pre made masks by Steel Beach but found they are made for the Hasegawa kit.. was wondering why the masks did not fit exactly. Steel Beach products are right on the money. Started priming the landing gea..r fwd gear is from SAC.
I used Tamiya Fine Primer works like a champ all the time. though expensive
I'll be using Alclad II Gray Primer & Mircofiller to prime for the topside of the aircraft.

Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 11:07 pm

AGM-62s, Centerline fuel tank painted. awaiting detail painting and gloss in preparation for weathering

Post by **SyntaxModels** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 4:49 am

Can't wait to see this thing all done mate!

Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 7:08 am

SyntaxModels wrote:Can't wait to see this thing all done mate!

Me TOO !~