Trumpeter A-6A

[Bat242]

Hi! I decided to start a build of the 1/32 Trumpeter A-6A. Being that I have other commitments and often a slow builder, updates may be slow in coming. I also picked up the Avionix cockpit set along with several Eduard detail sets, one for the A-6E is shown but I pulled it from the A-6E in the stash and started using some of the common parts until the A-6A set came in. Also pick up a AMS Resin GRU-5 ejection seats since the Avionix seats are incorrect. I will be using AOA decals depicting a bird from VMA-242. My last Squadron before I retired.

A size comparison of the Revell/Monogram 1/48 A-6.

The kit and Avionix panel. The Avionix panel has better raised details and greater detail on the aft area of the seats.

The Trumpeter panel with the Eduard PE. First time I've used a adhesive set and I like it.

  The Avionix panel which I will be painting in the details.

Will post further pics as I make some progress on her. Hope to do it some justice at least any issues or mistakes can be taken in when I start on the next A-6A and A-6E. And to think I use to be a Phantom fan.

[Leon]

I'll be following along! Nice start on the IP'S.

[Bat242]

I do like the PE set but in this scale the details are flat unless one were to glue knobs/switches over them. The problem with this bird and it's a good problem, is that there are so many options to display it. With 3 Intruders I may have the second A-6A with a crew and gear up.

[TRM]

Nice build you have lined up...great looking set of goodies to boot! Off to a decent start there...looking forward to following along with your progress!

[deafpanzer]

Did somebody say A-6?!?! My former boss flew it for 15 years in the Navy and he loved it! Great start and I will be following...

[dupes]

Holy aftermarket!

Saw this at a competition last year...it's big. Like, need-a-bigger-spray-booth big!

[jpc1968]

looking good. Intruder is one of my favorites

[M1Carbine]

Im in on this one.

Bob

[adt70hk]

Joining the party!

Andrew

[Wes]

Count me in for this for sure

[Bat242]

I have only seen pics of a completed 1/32 A-6 but knew I wanted one when I heard it was coming out. I just waited till Squadron had a good sale price and I grabbed one, then a few months later they did the same with the 'E' version and got one of those too. Now I have another 'A' on backorder with Hobbylinc. I like all the options with this kit, to include a bird cage that can be displayed lowered, wing tip speed brakes open/closed, two full engines and tail pipes which has PE fan blades etc. So many ways to display this Intruder, guess that's why I got 3. Will like to display each one in a different dio setting.

[sturmbird]

DaNang and Chu Lai birds are close to home for me. Chu Lai a little more for me, but DaNang was actually closer (distance). If your going to follow the yellow brick road, then you want a Chu Lai bird as they only knew how to fly due north. You want a class A load out of 500lb. or 750lb. Snakeyes. Maybe some Rockeyes in the mix.

gary

[Bat242]

Thanks for the tip Gary. I came across a few pics of 242 when they were in Nam and will dream up a suitable diorama with the kit. One interesting photo I seen was of one of the Bat's loaded with four WW-II 1,000 lbs GP bombs, one on each pylon. Using up that WW-II surplus.

[sturmbird]

Jan 11, 2017 17:37:22 GMT -5 Bat242 said:

Thanks for the tip Gary. I came across a few pics of 242 when they were in Nam and will dream up a suitable diorama with the kit. One interesting photo I seen was of one of the Bat's loaded with four WW-II 1,000 lbs GP bombs, one on each pylon. Using up that WW-II surplus.

I hit Chu Lai on Dec. 7th, 1967, and never saw a singly WWII / Korean war bomb of any size. Must have been off an aircraft carrier or earlier. The Intruders started showing up in January or late February. Reason I remember this so well was that they bore the aircraft carrier names on them (maybe Kittyhawk or Bon Hom Richard). We walked past them, and the first thing I noticed was the size and how ugly it was! I think I even commented that for sure it could ugly them to death. Slowly a few started showing up in the bone yard (shot up). Never saw an A6 strike till late summer, but heard the DaNang birds hit the Khe Shan area pretty hard. All we got was A4's and Phantoms most of the time. We called them dump trucks!

Unlike the later planes having a black nose, all I saw had tan or white noses. (have seen both). Best decal sheets I've seen were from Kevin at Impact Decals (out of business). He was big on I-Corp stuff, and he was surprised when I told him I'd actually been up close to one of his subjects.

gary

[Rick]

Great projects Bat. Intruders always been top of jets for me so I'll be crowding in for a close look-see. I got no problem with slow builds. I can easily make a 1/72 kit last 6 months! Looking forward to seeing this bomb truck come together

Rick

[Bat242]

Sorry for being so long between postings, been one thing after another and to top it off I been fighting a bad flu the last couple of weeks. But I'm getting back to the build now.

This is an impressive kit and so far everything is going together with few issues. I was excited when I learn that this bird can be displayed with flap/slats down, wing tip speed brakes open and birdcage lowered, both engine bays can be displayed open. So what am I doing on this one? I'm going to display it with everything up and closed for a dio I'm looking at doing with the bird which will have the wings folded up 

I do have an 'E' in the stash. and a second A-6A that was on backorder came in the other day and one of those will be built to show off everything.

The plumbing for the fuselage speed brakes were a little tricky.

The intake sections went together just great with only a slight seam on the bottom when glued to the fuselage.

Was test fitting the Avionix cockpit tub to the fuselage. The major issue here was that there was no groove in the bottom of the Avionix tub like there is on the kit which slides into the top of the fuselage center beam. So I had to saw/cut down the fwd section of the beam which the tub rests on.

The Gru-5 seats are from AMS resin and are beautiful and they're an improvement over the Avionix seats and the kit which are Gru-7's and not correct for the time frame I'm depicting the bird. But it's a tight fit to slip them into the cockpit. I had a long discussion over at the A-6 Intruder FB page with former mechs and aircrews as to the correct colors of the seat cushions and orange won out. I'm still detailing the seats and need to make the correct looking face curtain handles.

While I have the Avionix cockpit, I was also working on the kit tub using the Eduard PE sets and will stick this in the second 'A' along with another set of Gru-5's. One thing I have noticed with the Trumpeter models I have built, is that they never include the throttle assembly. I have since added a scratch built one here.

The radar assembly is a beautiful piece of work, needing only some added wiring/tubing to enhance it. Of course this one will be button up with the radome closed. So I was only testing color schemes here for the next one.

I am please with this kit and would recommend it with 2 thumbs up.

[Leon]

WOW....Nice progress! The cockpit is looking good.

[Bat242]

Here's a few more progress pics.

This is the issue I was talking about. The kit cockpit tub.

The bottom of the Avionix tub.

And this is how the tub fits to the center beam.

Marked off the area which needed to be removed.

The engines and unlike some Trumpeter kits which the engines can't be seen like the F-105's, these can easily be displayed in their bays. With the exception of painting the tail pipe, this will be all the detailing I will be doing on this bird since I will be closing the bay panels. The next build I will be detailing  all the wiring and plumbing to them.

The kit provides PE inlet and turbine fan blades. I look at this and think of the carrier incident which a sailor was sucked into the port intake and walk away. He was a lucky fellow!

Putting the wing assemblies together, having the wings in the folded position means retracting the slats/flaps for this bird.

One of the flap assemblies.

A little more work on the seats and the Avionix cockpit.

[John Everett]

Will you be able to add a wash to the seat belts? The shadowing effect in fabric and upholstered items adds a lot to the look of the cockpit.

[Bat242]

I been sort of bouncing around the various sub assemblies so to take a break from the PE stuff but I will be doing some serious shading on the seats before she's all done.

[deafpanzer]

Great work on the cockpit!

[M1Carbine]

Stunning work.

Bob

[Leon]

Cockpit looks fantastic!

[Wes]

Good work so far.

Keep it up.

[Rick]

Looking great so far Bat!