Revell 1/48 Grumman A6-E TRAM Intruder "Libya Raider"
Aug 2, 2024 10:47:02 GMT -5
406 Silverado, deafpanzer, and 6 more like this
Post by garybrantley on Aug 2, 2024 10:47:02 GMT -5
I started this in mid-July 2013! And it was finally finished on January 1, 2016. I wasn't working on it for all that time, but from time to time I would tinker with it and put it back on the shelf. I eventually worked up the resolve to "get her done" late in 2016! 
The model represents aircraft number 501(build number 161685) of Navy squadron VM-85. It took part in the Navy's attacks on Libyan patrol boats in the Gulf of Sidra, March 1986. The aircraft carries two AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and three drop-tanks. I am not sure that that is the exact load-out for 501 on any actions there but it's close enough for me.
The paint is Model Master enamel, dark ghost gray on top, light ghost gray underneath. The decals are from "The Intruder's Sandbox" set by AOA decals. I had a couple fairly good reference photos of this aircraft and that helped as I tried to replicate the worn, patchy appearance of those Intruders. The ochre-colored anti-erosion tape seen on the leading edges is clear decal film sprayed with Humbrol trainer yellow. The rod for the flak curtains is fine wire, secured to a tiny length of aluminum tubing in front and into a hole in the canopy bulkhead. And the exhausts are sections cut from old ballpoint pens.
I used my Paasche Model H for the spraying and used various shades of gray, rectangle and square cut-out "stencils", file card as a straight edge, Flory washes and some pastel chalks to weather her. I used a mechanical pencil with the point sanded down quite finely and pieces of old vacuum cleaner belt to draw the panel lines. The drop tanks were done the same way and then I used a cotton bud to blur the pencil lines a bit. I think that technique gives a good result.
The kit went to together fairly well and the worst ordeal was attaching the tanks and ordnance. The attachment points were poorly engineered and seemed way too fiddly to me. I was not greatly impressed by the AOA decals either. Some resisted adhesion and none seemed overly rugged but rather too fragile. But after much gnashing of teeth and entirely too much time, she was finished and ready for the display cabinet. But before that could happen, I had to get some pics. There are some taken inside, and a few from the Cameron airport too. I never felt like I had my mojo workin' out there that day. 😉
The Intruder is a bad tail-sitter; even with two 9mm bullets epoxied into the nose cone, the slightest wind sent her back on her heels like a chippy with the fleet in! 😁 Heck, even moving the canopy back too far will tilt her too. A slight breeze out at the airport was frustrating in that sense. I'm glad a few pics turned out well! January 2, 2017, was a lovely day out there and I had a nice interaction with two local police officers. They were very cool! Thanks for taking time to look! 😊
The model represents aircraft number 501(build number 161685) of Navy squadron VM-85. It took part in the Navy's attacks on Libyan patrol boats in the Gulf of Sidra, March 1986. The aircraft carries two AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and three drop-tanks. I am not sure that that is the exact load-out for 501 on any actions there but it's close enough for me.
The paint is Model Master enamel, dark ghost gray on top, light ghost gray underneath. The decals are from "The Intruder's Sandbox" set by AOA decals. I had a couple fairly good reference photos of this aircraft and that helped as I tried to replicate the worn, patchy appearance of those Intruders. The ochre-colored anti-erosion tape seen on the leading edges is clear decal film sprayed with Humbrol trainer yellow. The rod for the flak curtains is fine wire, secured to a tiny length of aluminum tubing in front and into a hole in the canopy bulkhead. And the exhausts are sections cut from old ballpoint pens.
I used my Paasche Model H for the spraying and used various shades of gray, rectangle and square cut-out "stencils", file card as a straight edge, Flory washes and some pastel chalks to weather her. I used a mechanical pencil with the point sanded down quite finely and pieces of old vacuum cleaner belt to draw the panel lines. The drop tanks were done the same way and then I used a cotton bud to blur the pencil lines a bit. I think that technique gives a good result.
The kit went to together fairly well and the worst ordeal was attaching the tanks and ordnance. The attachment points were poorly engineered and seemed way too fiddly to me. I was not greatly impressed by the AOA decals either. Some resisted adhesion and none seemed overly rugged but rather too fragile. But after much gnashing of teeth and entirely too much time, she was finished and ready for the display cabinet. But before that could happen, I had to get some pics. There are some taken inside, and a few from the Cameron airport too. I never felt like I had my mojo workin' out there that day. 😉
The Intruder is a bad tail-sitter; even with two 9mm bullets epoxied into the nose cone, the slightest wind sent her back on her heels like a chippy with the fleet in! 😁 Heck, even moving the canopy back too far will tilt her too. A slight breeze out at the airport was frustrating in that sense. I'm glad a few pics turned out well! January 2, 2017, was a lovely day out there and I had a nice interaction with two local police officers. They were very cool! Thanks for taking time to look! 😊
