Tamiya 1/48 A-1J Skyraider

[aur0ra145]

Howdy all!

Got a start on this guy. Gf gifted this to me ofr my birthday some time ago and I'm just now really getting to start it up.

Mostly primed in Ultimate gray and painted in various Tamiya colors.

[aur0ra145]

Got the wheel wells and speed brake recess painted. Me and my gf will write messages in my models when I make them. She thinks it's cute, and it allows me to buy more models! Win-Win

[Lysus]

Ha! Good stuff with the messages.

I should do a skyraider someday.

[aur0ra145]

Ha! Good stuff with the messages.

I should do a skyraider someday.

It gets her involved and lets me spend way more money than I should on modelling. She does some really cool stuff. My favorite was the history of US roudels she did. I tend to build something and she'll draw a picture of it.

[aur0ra145]

Got the wings attached finally. Had a little bit of filling to do. I'll need to sand around the bottom of the nose; however, it's not too bad. Only one wing needed the seam filled between it and the fuselage.

[aur0ra145]

Got the horizontal stabs on. Freaked out and thought I lost the backplate for the gray engine piece (this is what holds the grommet for the prop to seat into.) Turned out I had already glued it on a long time ago but had forgotten. Dry brushed the motor a bit to get a more weathered look to it. Also assembled the whole engine cowl and motor.

[Lysus]

I know the feeling; sometimes weeks can slip by between sessions and spend time looking for parts I've already fitted. Lately I've taken to keeping a journal of sorts. Just a notebook with what steps I've done and what I intend to do next so I don't loose my place.

My brain isn't what it once was

[aur0ra145]

Made a bit more progress on the Skyraider. Got the engine mounted, antennas on and speedbrakes attached. Got the prop painted up in preparation for decals. Also put together the drop tank and sanded it a bit. Next will be flaps, bombs, rockets, footsteps and the like.

[aur0ra145]

Work continues on the Spad. Got all the munitions finished. Took forever. Ultimate Black primer used on everything.

I'm really enjoying this build. Coming along nicely.

[aur0ra145]

Used XF-83 to do the black basing paneling stuff. First time trying this technique so hopefully it ends well.

About ready for the white-ish undercoat. Then SEA on top! That will all be MM acrylics with the appropriate color.

[aur0ra145]

Bottom side painted up in MM Camo Gray FS36622.

[Lysus]

Certainly is on its way to "awesomesauce" status. I think what draws me most to this plane is the way that it never looked clean or new even when it was new and clean.

[aur0ra145]

Got some work done during the live show.

Painted the body in SEA colors. Used Model Masters Dark Tan FS30219, MM Medium Green FS34102 and MM Dark Green FS34079. Prop was in Ultimate black Primer, X-8 Yellow and the hub was Vallejo Metal Air Steel. Drop tank was the MM Camo Gray and the fuel cap was X-7 Red. Hook was done in X-2 Gloss White and X-18 Semi Gloss Black, the hook point was in Vallejo Metal Air Steel.

[aur0ra145]

Got the exhaust pipes repainted MM Rust. Then the decals went on.

[aur0ra145]

Next did some weathering. Not a bunch as the black basing kept me happy with the panel lines and such. Got all the munitions together and on pylons. None of the pylons needed to be glued in, they all just sort of worked out. Overall, I went with MM Semi-Gloss topcoat. Applied some Vallejo Carbon Black pigments to get the exhaust and gun effects. Did a bit of oils to look like oils on the centerline tank.

Overall great kit with a great finish. I'm very pleased with the results!

Thanks for following along with this build!

[Apaleftos]

looks great, id make it dirtier, but my goal is to make kits as good as this

[jkeller]

Looks good. I have the H on bench. You gave me some inspiration to get moving on it.

[shortCummins]

nice build and good build thread

rgds
John(shortCummins)