Tamiya A-1J 1:48th

[nicely11b]

Not one to take a break between builds, I've jumped right into my next build after finishing my Stryker, Tamiya's quarterscale A-1J Skyraider finished as the cover plane "Sock It To 'Em".  I'm not a fan of Tamiya decals, but I want to do a SEA scheme on the plane and aftermarket decals are nonexistent for the J.  

I started with my least favorite part of an aircraft build, the weapons.  The kit does come with a nice variety including Mk. 82s, M117s, LAU-3 and SUU-14 rockets, and a SUU-11 minigun pod.  I've decided to build all the weapons and then once the kit is built, I can decide which loadout I want.



Along with the weapons, I've done a quick dry-fit of the main fuselage and wing assembly.  The fit of the wing roots is outstanding with no noticeable gap between the wings and fuselage.  The wings themselves are slightly warped, but I think they should be fine with TET.





Overall, I think this is going to be a pretty quick and simple build.  Hopefully that will ring true once I really get into it.  As always, thanks for watching.

[dierk]

'this is going to be a pretty quick and simple build'...hope that doesn't fall into the category of 'famous last words'

[Leon]

Dry fit looks good! Hope the rest of the build is trouble free.

[nicely11b]

Jun 5, 2016 13:06:42 GMT -5 dierk said:

'this is going to be a pretty quick and simple build'...hope that doesn't fall into the category of 'famous last words'

I'm sure I just jinxed myself with those words 

[TRM]

Nice pick-up build!! Off to a great start too! Keep plugging away!

[wbill76]

Here's hoping the jinx doesn't take! Pulling up a chair to see which way you ultimate end up with this one.

[nicely11b]

Jun 5, 2016 19:25:15 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

Here's hoping the jinx doesn't take!

My luck at the bench has been too good lately.  I'm due for an ole' kick in the behind.

[nicely11b]

Though I haven't photographed them, the weapons are together, primed, and first bits of paint are on them.  With them going, I've moved onto the cockpit where I've had to make a few modifications. The kit come with a molded instrument panel with empty gauge locations. The gauges are on a separate decal. I punched the instrument faces out of the decal and glued them into their locations on the panel. This looks a lot better than trying to put the decal on the IP.



The straps for the seat are also a separate decal. I attached the decal to some Tamiya tape, and cut out the individual straps and glued them to the seat. Once they were glued, I painted over them with a khaki color, highlighting the metal areas with aluminum. Once all that was dry, the seat was given a brown wash and flat coat with Testors Dullcoat Lacquer.





I've also scratched an ejection seat handle and oxygen hose.  The handle isn't 100% accurate for the Skyraider, but it's better than nothing.

Up next, mounting the cockpit in the fuselage and closing it up.

[martslay]

Looks very good! Good luck!

[wbill76]

Pit is looking good.

[dupes]

Jun 5, 2016 8:53:04 GMT -5 nicely11b said:

I'm not a fan of Tamiya decals, but I want to do a SEA scheme on the plane and aftermarket decals are nonexistent for the J.

Isn't that odd? And it isn't like the kit has only been around for a short period of time...can't believe nobody has done a set.

[nicely11b]

Yea, it shocks the hell out of me too. There are a ton of AM markings for Navy versions, but no Js

[Leon]

Nice work on the cockpit!

[nicely11b]

Moving right along here, guys.  Once the cockpit was together, the kit was ready to close up.  The fuselage halves are together as well as the wing halves.  I just need to do some minor seam clean up where primer showed a few dips.



The wings aren't attached yet.



Also working on the R-3350 while I allow the primer to sit.  I added some ignition wires with lead, though most of it is hidden inside the cowl.

[Leon]

Nice progress! The engine looks good.

[nicely11b]

Real quick update today.  The wings have been attached to the fuselage.  No pictures yet as I'm still filling a few small spots with putty and CA.  Fit was really good again, though I used some Perfect Plastic Putty at the wing roots.  I'm not a really big fan of the Perfect Plastic Putty, but the one area that I do like using it is on the roots.  I've used 3M's Spot and Glazing Putty to fix a few steps between air vents and the fuselage.

More importantly, though, the cowl is just about finished, at least with paint and assembly.  The outside of it still needs to be weathered, but it's beginning to look the part.  The SEA colors are from the Gunze Mr. Color range.



I'm really trying to focus on getting good separation lines between colors.  It's an area that I've needed to improve from previous builds.  So far, I'm happy with the results I'm getting.  I'm using blue-tac to get the feathered edge.

[wbill76]

Cowl looks good! Blue-tac is perfect for the feathered edge you're looking for (and getting) without having to deal with a lot of overspray issues, especially on colors with high contrasts to each other. It's my go-to method for masking stuff like this. Depending on how you angle the airbrush against it, you can produce either a harder or softer edge...just have to be sure that on the backside it's firmly pressed against the surface, otherwise it can bleed through due to the air pressure effect. Ask me how I know that...

[nicely11b]

Haha thanks, Bill. Ya I've had a few mishaps with blue-tac, though they were all my fault. Just trying to be a bit more deliberate with my painting around the masks this time.

[nicely11b]

Finally got everything together and primed today.  There is one small spot on the top of the fuselage, around the antenna, that I need to hit with some sandpaper.  I'll also need to throw on a little bit more primer once I get the windscreen on.  Otherwise I'm ready to start adding paint.

[deafpanzer]

Looking real good... count me in too!!! There's a beautful real thing sitting at National Air Force Museum in Dayton that you can get so close to look at it.

[nicely11b]

I'm hoping to make it out there again soon. I've been there a few times, but really want to again with the 4th hangar finished now.

[deafpanzer]

Jun 22, 2016 20:34:31 GMT -5 nicely11b said:

I'm hoping to make it out there again soon. I've been there a few times, but really want to again with the 4th hangar finished now.

Me too! Hoping to visit sometimes in 2017. I only had 3 hours to see the entire museum last time and it was NOT enough. Better make it a full day next time! LOL

[nicely11b]

Oh geeze, you need three hours for one hangar. Last time I was there was the first time I'd gone through the presidential and R&D galleries. It'll be nice having that all together.

[nicely11b]

Still plugging along with the Skyraider.  My resin canopy retractor boot came on monday so I was able to get that installed and primed and began putting paint down.  I actually started painting the lower surfaces while waiting for the boot, so it's been done for a few days.  Though, while I was masking the canopy, I broke off the large square antenna that sits behind the bottom speed brake.  And of course, while fixing it, I left a nice big TET thumbprint in the paint.



So after letting that sit for a few hours to make sure everything was set, I hit it with a fine sanding stick and reprimed and repainted.





This morning, I began putting paint on the upper surfaces.  I started with the wings and I'm doing things a little bit different than usual.  I decided to work one spot at a time, only masking the area where I needed to paint, instead of masking and painting the whole plane.  So far I've liked doing it that way.  I feel like I have a bit more control and that I'm able to focus on getting good lines.



At this point I've only done the tan on the wings.  I'll finish the tan on the rest of the fuselage over the next day or two, then move on to the greens.

[Deleted]

Lookin good! How you masking between the camo colors?

[nicely11b]

Jun 23, 2016 12:54:04 GMT -5 @bluenosers352nd said:

Lookin good! How you masking between the camo colors?

Thanks! Blu-tac putty

[Deleted]

Jun 23, 2016 15:02:15 GMT -5 nicely11b said:

Jun 23, 2016 12:54:04 GMT -5 @bluenosers352nd said:

Lookin good! How you masking between the camo colors?

Thanks! Blu-tac putty

Thanks, that's what I've always used too.  Just curious.

[Leon]

Nice start on the camo!

[wbill76]

Looks like a good strategy for the pattern. Nice!

[nicely11b]

After a few days away, I've found time to finish the main painting of the camo.  I still need to put a gloss coat down before the kit decals, so I may get there tonight.  Otherwise, she's moving right along.