Monogram 1/48 EA-6B Prowler

[Medicman71]

I started this one a while back. In line with my love of US Naval aircraft, I had to get this. The Kinetic kit doesn't appeal to me with the multipart canopy and ill fit. I saw this one in my LHS and picked it up on my birthday. Ironically, at the model show here a few days later, I was able to find the Aires cockpit and the Wolfpack update set. I also got the Fightertown Decals for the Shadowhawks. I'll be doing the line jet and not the CAG jet.

[Medicman71]

[Medicman71]

The resin update set had a new tail antenna, tail spine, wing fold upper wing humps. Some plastic was cut or sanded off for the new parts later.

[Medicman71]

Oh and did I mention that it was completely rescribed? The intakes were a pain to get attached but they're on. Just some filling and sanding to do.

[Medicman71]

Today I got the casting blocks off the the Aires resin parts. I tested everything including the fit of the cockpit in the fuselage. I think with a little work it'll fit in there fine.

[robbo]

Nice looking build and a lovely jet. Nice extras you've got too

[armornutii]

   Absolutely try to find intakes for the kit. The first fan section starts to far forward, it shoukd be inline with the engine door not the boarding ladder. Kinetic did the same mistake.
      Kit decals are from my first squadron I was attached to....never seen it live in color however very accurate up until mid 90s if done in tactical grey.

[keavdog]

Great start. Man that pit looks awesome.

[406 Silverado]

This is gonna be epic!! And an Aires cockpit set AND a Wolfpack set to boot. Bring it!!

[stikpusher]

Excellent! This gonna be a good one!

[Tojo72]

That's really looking good,looking forward to all the details

[deafpanzer]

Loving the aftermarket cockpit set! Looks like you are having a great start buddy!

[brandonk]

This is gonna be epic. Love what you have in mind for this.

[Medicman71]

Jul 16, 2023 16:06:30 GMT -5 armornutii said:

   Absolutely try to find intakes for the kit. The first fan section starts to far forward, it shoukd be inline with the engine door not the boarding ladder. Kinetic did the same mistake.
      Kit decals are from my first squadron I was attached to....never seen it live in color however very accurate up until mid 90s if done in tactical grey.

Thanks guys! Hopefully I can do it justice. Armornutii I didn't know you were part of a Prowler squadron. Unfortunately, I think the intakes are going to have to do the way they are. I do have to really good reference books to help with the details. 

[406 Silverado]

Jul 16, 2023 16:06:30 GMT -5 armornutii said:

   Absolutely try to find intakes for the kit. The first fan section starts to far forward, it shoukd be inline with the engine door not the boarding ladder. Kinetic did the same mistake.
      Kit decals are from my first squadron I was attached to....never seen it live in color however very accurate up until mid 90s if done in tactical grey.

I missed that with you being part of a Prowler squadron Perry! If that ain’t cool I don’t know what is!!

[armornutii]

   There are resin conversions one can buy to correct the fan depth however it requires surgery. Unless your in the know in won't matter.

[Medicman71]

Jul 18, 2023 14:09:10 GMT -5 armornutii said:

   There are resin conversions one can buy to correct the fan depth however it requires surgery. Unless your in the know in won't matter.

Yeah I remember seeing them. Didn't want to go that far with all that.

[handiabled]

That resin office looks fantastic! Look forward to this coming together

[TJ]

Yup definitely pulling up a chair for this one. Something about the Intruder,Prowler that just does it for me

[armornutii]

   True fact, the  Intruder, Prowler were 2 of an elite group of airframes that were never exported to NATO allies. Even up until the mid 2ks the Prowler was the best airborne electronic warfare platform available.
     One of the reasons it was retired was mostly because the fleet was trying to homginize for parts compatability. It is easier to stock , cannablize, or flat out steal parts from similar airframes rather than try to locate, transport special components.
    That said there still is dissimilarity and technical components to keep stores busy.

[stikpusher]

Jul 26, 2023 8:36:42 GMT -5 armornutii said:

   True fact, the  Intruder, Prowler were 2 of an elite group of airframes that were never exported to NATO allies. Even up until the mid 2ks the Prowler was the best airborne electronic warfare platform available.
     One of the reasons it was retired was mostly because the fleet was trying to homginize for parts compatability. It is easier to stock , cannablize, or flat out steal parts from similar airframes rather than try to locate, transport special components.
    That said there still is dissimilarity and technical components to keep stores busy.

Exactly. it was something of the McDD/Boeing lobbyists and the logistic folks that ended the types flying days for the Navy. My good friend who retired as a navy Captain during one of our run conversations bemoaned the fact that the Navy retired the A-6 fleet right after getting them new build wings to extend the lifespan of the type. The Tomcat was retired under similar circumstances. Logistics makes it easier to support an all Hornet air wing. But it doesn't mean that those are superior in their respective missions. 
IIRC, the Intruder was offered to the Brits, but passed up by them who went with their own similar Buccaneer.

[armornutii]

  I wan not aware we offered the A-6, my guess they would have turned it down simply on looks alone LOL. One ugly bird...Prowler doubly so.
    Other than Russia, not real sure to what extent, I think the U.S. is the only country to operate an A.E.W platform....allegely no one can surpass our capabilities.
   The Growler platform IIR started as a single seat system with Air to Air defense/ offense capabilities however even with the most sophisticated software the pilot was still overworked. Park a Growler and an F-18 D side by side and there is a very distinct size difference, not just the cockpit.

[stikpusher]

The Germans had a SEAD/EW version of the Tornado, the ECR (Electronic Combat Reconnaissance). I don't know what sort of jamming capabilities it carries, but IIRC it has a location/mapping capability for threat emitters, was well as HARM capabilities. The Soviets had a fairly robust aerial EW program, with most types being conversions of existing airframes. I know that most of the major NATO countries have various ELINT aircraft, as well as the Israelis. The Israelis demonstrated over the Bekaa Valley in 1982 how to integrate it all by destroying the Syrians then top of the line Soviet air defense systems, as well as a good portion of the Syrian fighter arm. They still raid Syria fairly regularly nowadays, and most likely employ those capabilities when needed. I'll bet that the Japanese, the ROKs, and other countries do as well.

[armornutii]

  Very interesting Stik, guess I'm alittle buas LOL. Was the Soviet ECM HARM capable before the U.S.? My frame of reference to this point is as a serviceman from 86-94. 
    We loaded HARM during Desert Storm however I do not remember if we ever REFTRAed with that system.

[406 Silverado]

What a LOT of information stikpusher and armornutii! You could dang near write a book on what you two are discussing!

[stikpusher]

Joe, such a book on the subject would be interesting. At least to me, and other folks with interests in that aspect of aerial warfare.

Nut, I know that the Soviets had a few ARM types, and looking onto Wiki on Soviet ASMs, their oldest hope entered service in the early 70’s. Some were like Shrike’s in capability, but much longer ranged. Most of their attack aircraft types, such as the Flogger, Frogfoot, Fttter, and Fencer had the capability to carry the basic ARMs, while the Firebar and Foxbat F were dedicated SEAD types.

[buddho]

The aftermarket details is really going to make this venerable kit pop ..watching this build. 🤓

[Medicman71]

Thanks guys! I'll get back to it soon after Nationals.

Oh and they are working on making a ECR version of the Typhoon for the countries that use it. The Su-27/33/35 etc can use the Russian ARM missiles but they're not that good at it. They haven't used it much at all in the Ukraine.

[robbo]

I saw a nice one at a show today

[Medicman71]

Nice! That's the Kinetic kit though. I don't like the way they do the canopies on the Prowler/Intruder kits.