Trumpeter 1/32 A6-A Intruder

[sheppy]

For my 2nd build I am going with the the A6-A Intruder.
Just because for such a small aircraft the only thing that could carry more ordnance was the B52 bomber.
The Intruder`s would fly in low and fast pop up deliver there payload drop back down and run.
enough chat here is the Kit.





























As with the Skyraider I have use my 1/32 spitfire as a reference to show how large this kit is.

HISTORY
Most of this text was taken from the VA-128 disestablishment ceremony booklet.
The A6 was developed to meet the U.S. Navy's need for an aircraft that could attack ground and sea based targets in any weather, day or night. These needs generated a Request for Proposal in 1956 to which eight companies submitted no less than twelve design proposals. Grumman's design number 1280 was the winning entry and a contract was issued on March 26,1959. The aircraft was originally designated the A2F1, and the first flight of BUNO 147864 took place on April 19, 1960.
When aircraft designations were standardized, the A2F1 became the A6A. The first A6A entered service with VA-42 in March 1963. The "Intruder," as it was nicknamed, joined Navy/Marine squadrons on board fleet carriers in 1964, complementing A4 and A7 aircraft in the attack role. The A6 provided the Navy with an all weather strike capability for the first time. Its design enabled it to carry both nuclear and conventional weapons, which consisted of over three dozen types of ordnance, from guided missiles to cluster munitions.
The Intruder's lack of eye appeal has resulted in a low-key image in the minds of many uninformed aviation enthusiasts. But throughout its 32 years of service, it has earned and maintained a reputation as the workhorse of Naval Aviation from the countless Battle Group Commanders who were responsible for projecting United States power abroad. Time is one of the key yardsticks used to determine the relative success or failure of almost anything man develops. And time has clearly signaled the success of the A6 design. It leaves the fleet as it entered, the sign and how adaptable that design is to accepting improvements and technology. The A6 has proven exceptional in both areas. The design has been adapted several times to include the A6B, a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) suppression aircraft, the A6C TRIM, the first aircraft equipped with electro-optical sensors (precursor of the A6E Target Recognition Attack Multi-sensor or TRAM), and of course the KA6D) tanker aircraft. The mission capabilities have also been continuously updated to include state of the art avionics and sensors. The Intruder started with a Digital Integrated Attack and Navigation Equipment (DIANE) system using drum computers and separate track and navigation radars. The system now employs an integrated search/track radar, Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and Laser sensors used for target identification and self contained Laser Guided Bomb delivery. The System Weapons Improvement Program modified the aircraft to include a 1553 digital data transfer bus. This upgrade enables the Intruder to employ multiple advanced precision guided missiles for attacking ground and sea based targets and also anti-radiation missiles for conducting SAM suppression missions. Many Intruders have been further modified to incorporate Night Vision Goggle cockpits, enabling aircrews to employ an additional sensor, Night Vision goggles, in prosecuting night multiplane attacks.
One of the main advantages of the Intruder has always been its ability to carry a lot of ordnance, both tonnage and variety, to the target. The aircraft can deliver twenty-eight 500 pound bombs with pin point accuracy day or night. It also can deliver the Navy's entire arsenal of available weapons, from bombs to ground attack and air-to-air missiles, flares, and also provide a full array of target services for air and surface training.
The Intruder's range is also legendary. She can strike targets at over 500 miles from the carrier unrefueled. Her ability to go long distances with minimal additional fuel has greatly simplified strike planning for over 30 years, as airborne refueling has been and continues to be one of strike planning's most irascible problems.
Crew: Two - Side-by-side seating
Type: Carrier-based all-weather attack
Powerplants: Two 9,300# Pratt & Whitney J-52 P-8B turbojets
Wingspan: 53’ Length: 54’9" Height: 16’2"
Max Speed (clean): S/L 563 kts (648 mph)
Ceiling: 42,400’
Gross Weight (empty): 28,500#
Max Ordnance carriage: 18,000#
Fuel (Int): 16,000# (Ext): 10,050#
Max Gross Wt (cat shot): 58,600#
Max Range w/Max Ordnance: 1077 nm (Hi-Lo-Hi Mission)

[UKguyInUSA]

Oh my, great choice, this is going to be an awesome entry into this GB. Looking forward to watching this build come together....good luck!

Cheers,

Martin

[Nige201980]

Another great looking kit mate best of luck with the build.

[shortCummins]

I recently watched "flight of the intruder" with Danny Glover and Willem Dafoe, a so-so film but some nice shots of inside and outside of the aircraft, might be worth a look

[sheppy]

have the dvd and have watched it several times

[Willem]

Very nice mate. Another build to follow for sure.

[rwsmith14]

Looking forwarding to your build. I have one in the stash waiting... will be following your build.

[Lee]

Lods of extras - Nice

[hprentice]

My 1/72 A-6E is going to look poor compared to this bad boy! Looking like a nice thread, will definitely keep up with this one

[grover]

Holy heck. That's a hell of a kit. Good luck with this one mate. Looks like it's going to keep you busy

[snappercity]

This should be interesting...

[felisbarcinonensis]

Nice choice! I'll be following the thread

[sheppy]

this is going to be a slow build as I am waiting to get an Extractor so as can do painting without being in a gas cloud or outside.
Here are some photo`s of what I have been up to with the Intruder.



Some modification so as the resin cockpit will fit.

As you can see on the Left the kit part has a tunnel so as to fit over the spine but resin part on the Right does not hence the modification.






If anyone else intends to build this kit. Take it slowly as they seem to have designed the instruction so as to say " we put all the effort in for the detail so you must display it ".
If like me you want some parts shut there is no instructions to do so. So you have to work out yourself how to modify the parts so as to have them closed.

[martin57]

nice start , great kit best of luck

[sheppy]

some more photos only weaponry to do now until I get my spray booth.











As I said all I can do for now is clean up what I have already assembled and build the weaponry until I get my spray booth.

[sheppy]

Sorry no photos for a while had a few thing`s going on in life like washing machine break down.
enough of that here is what ive been up to.




that's the Payload so far only centre line drop tank to add.
hard to believe such a small aircraft could only be beaten by the B52 for ordnance carried.
Read an article the other day during the A6 Intruder`s first missions they lost 3 aircraft due to the bombs not leaving the pylons and exploding still attached. Douglas redesigned the racks so as to alleviate this problem.
oh well extractor ordered today so hope to be painting again soon.

[felisbarcinonensis]

Looking good mate! Long life to your new washing machine

[AlkaSeltzer]

So far looking great. Good luck with the mini B52

[FlyingCoffin]

Lots of good work so far. Looking forward to seeing more!

[sheppy]

Sorry its taken a while to post an update. waiting for the extractor to turn up and hospital appointments plus physio has taken time away from doing the kits.
So as for where I am upto .


as you can see cockpit is ready for paint.
Just hope I can get the 2 kits finished as am waiting to hear from gym for more rehab work.
If anyone is interested how I can do so much work in a short time span it is because due to health reasons I am no longer able to work early 40`s and working life finished so sad get so frustrated as can`t do to much atm and even after rehab work cant do anything without supervision.

[Tiger131]

Looking foward to seeing more of this

[sheppy]

the seats so far

[sheppy]

seats nearly finished

[shortCummins]

those seats look ace

[sidewrds]

Seats are looking great can't wait to see the rest of the cockpit. Just subscribed, keep the updates coming. If you run into problems with fit on the intake and fans I saw a guy building one on large scale planes forum and he fixed it using a piece from the engine. Don't remember the exact post but if you google the kit it should come up.

Sorry to hear about the health problems and wish you well.

[sheppy]

so what have I been up to .
here is the radar assembly

[sheppy]

here is where im up to atm

seat are done I gave them a coat of gloss then a wash of Ultimate dark earth then finished with a coat of matt varnish.


and here is the cockpit tub prior to the same application the seats got.

and finally the start of the engine assembly

[UKguyInUSA]

Those ejector seats are gorgeous, and when that tub is completed, with the seats in position, its going to look killer!

[sheppy]

A sad day guys cant complete the kits as my compressor died. It has served me well over many years of modelling so rip old friend.
I shall be purchasing a new compressor in the new year and finish the kits. Thanks to lee for his review of a compressor as I know exactly which one I will be purchasing.
plus a new airbrush as the one I use now can be a pain to keep clean. So farewell for now all have a Merry Christmass and a Happy New Year. I will follow all your excellent work so Keep modelling.

[Yevgeny]

Shame, but now you have perfect excuse for an upgrade
Seats looks awesome btw and cockpit comes along nicely.

[Gav0909]

Looking good so far mate. Plenty of detail in this kit.

Those ejector seats look awesome, really nice work.