1/32 Trumpy A-6E Intruder - "Raygun 501"

[JimD]

I hadn't seen it in many years. Didn't remember much about it at all. I was prepared to be let down, but it is a rather good movie all around.

[aeroaustin]

Love that movie, Commander say have you see black man as admiral and it "third-generation Mafia"

[doogsatx/]

First licks of paint last night in the cockpit!





Not really looking forward to picking out the various consoles and gauge surrounds, but I figure it's easier to add black back.

I'm also contemplating airbrushing the seat cushions - I think the Custom Micron can get narrow enough to pull it off without severe masking.

[JimD]

Man that cockpit looks really good even straight from the box.

[doogsatx/]

Apr 30, 2015 13:05:22 GMT -5 JimD said:

Man that cockpit looks really good even straight from the box.

I think it needs more messiness behind the seats, but I'm going to add that in after the initial painting passes.

I wouldn't mind better or more diverse detail on the consoles and IP - it feels like the exact same part as the 1/48 kit, just bigger - but it's still pretty dang nice.

[JimD]

I figured some wiring work like you did on the 48th was in the plans. That will go a long way I think. I haven't owned a Trumpeter kit before the A, but the couple of Hobby Boss kits I've got that are supposed scale downs (A-7, A-10) had absolutely atrocious cockpits...funny tough the F-14 was pretty good.

[doogsatx/]

Following up the overall cockpit gray with black for the consoles and instrument surrounds - I used Liquitex acrylic black ink for this task as it is thin, doesn't leave brush marks, and has a tendency to stay where you put it and not go flowing off and making a mess of everything.



Also got the GRU-7 seat cushions painted with some Gunze RAF Dark Green - seemed the best match for the reference photos. These were painted freehand with my Iwata Custom Micron - HUGE testament to the thing's ability to spray small.

[JimD]

Those seats are great. The painting is really starting to show their detail.

Do you still use the black Indian ink or whatever it was for the consoles? I remember you saying it worked really well and was thinking of getting some to try. (Never mind, should have read the text before asking. I'm dumb) Looks great. Will try.

[wbill76]

Got to admire the impressive level of detail in those seats. Nice work bringing it all out and into view.

[aeroaustin]

Honestly, I following your thread.. I do admired your model. I still learn from your working.

[venom1]

Cockpit looks sharp mate, and those seats are definitely worth the investment!

Cheers,

Sam

[S e r z h--Rest In Peace]

Great job on the interior of the cockpit!

[wing_nut]

I knew it was time to check in here. Seats are just beautiful.

[doogsatx/]

Slowly but surely building up the details. Before too long I should be able to gloss-and-wash the cockpit. Also waiting on some different thicknesses of lead wire to show up so I can really busy up the cockpit aft of the ejection seats - I may need to jump my focus to other areas during the wait!

[Marcel du Long]

Woo, that's looking pretty inspiring!

Marcel.

[doogsatx/]

Last night was one of those where the bench time went by and I don't feel like I did squat. But I got a few things done at least!

AMS resin wheels got removed from their pour stubs and drilled out. And the metal gear struts got cleaned up (seams on metal = PITA)



Also getting on with the cockpit - here's the clear backing to the IP with the screens starting to get their treatment. I swear I see different colors with every single flippin' A-6E cockpit I reference - but for this one the pilot's display will be good old dark green and the B/N will be white and clear orange over white.

[JimD]

Those AMS wheels are nice. Now if only Sprue Bros would restock their A-6 stuff....I suspect you're the one that cleared them out

Looking forward to seeing how the IP turns out.

[aeroaustin]

I was thinking, right now I am temptation to buy more intruder.. 1/32 or 1/48.. after I see your like I saw Oh beautiful intruder, defenseless jet in enemy territory with no machine guns and evaded from SAMs..

[JimD]

You know you want an Intruder. Don't resist.

[aeroaustin]

Jimmydel, you are bad.. you enabling me to buy one!! :-)

[doogsatx/]

A bit more progress in the cockpit...

- Glossed and washed (Vallejo Dark Gray wash)
- Added PE placards to busy up the cockpit a bit
- Start to rear deck and behind-seat plumbing.

On the last, if you look at A-6 reference photos, the areas behind the seats are definitely a rat's nest of plumbing. The kit doesn't really capture it. I'm a bit stuck at the moment waiting on USPS to bring me some additional sizes of lead wire to play with, so so far I'm just getting a small start with the 0.2mm wire that I have on hand. Much, much more plumbing to come!

[doogsatx/]

Work has been substantially slowed down by rain (and the wait for lead wire to finish rats-nesting the cockpit), but I've been mucking around with the MERs and the Rockeyes.

The MER mounting positions don't line up with the mounting holes in the Mk.20s, so I've had to drill new holes. They look ugly, but at least they'll be hidden once everything's mounted up.

After drilling out the first two, I ran into a problem...



Not good. For a few hours I thought I'd have to ditch the MERs altogether, then I had an epiphany. I'd drilled the new hole for those two by going forward...so if I drilled new holes by going aft instead...

Lo and behold, it worked.



Frustratingly, the way the mounts work, there's no way I can drill anything out and add metal rod as a stronger join. But at least I think I can get a nice good grip with what I've got to work with.

Late last night, I started work on the MER "shoulder" mounts and came across this wonderful sprue connector location Trumpeter came up with for the sway braces. Thanks a lot, guys.

[JimD]

Glad you got the MERs sorted out, but man that is a stupid place to connect those parts to the sprue. Wow

[doogsatx/]

Additional diameters of lead wire finally showed up yesterday, so I was able to finally get the cockpit all wired up. I think I want to add a few more bits here and there, but want to place a few placards first and see how much room I have to work with.



With the GRU-7s in place (added upper hood/ejection pull ring since last photos)



Also got one of the MERs all the way together. The need to fill the seam slowed things up a bit...moving on to the second one soon.

[doogsatx/]

FINALLY got a bit of a break in the rain last night and a chance to paint some stuff - the main need was the nosegear bay since it needs paint before I can close the fuselage - but I also got to use some of the white on the AMS Rockeyes. A few I need to go back and sand further - for all the detail the surface of the bombs is a bit "rippled".



I'm also calling the cockpit - outside of the seats - done.

[mrt51]

Wow this is looking excellent.

Terry

[wing_nut]

Impressive work doogs. Beautiful. Great detailing in the pit. The toggles switches at the front left console looks like they would work if pushed.

Has your lighting setup for the way you get the shadowless pics been discussed? Maybe a photo of your photo setup? If so can you point me to that thread.

[doogsatx/]

May 15, 2015 9:59:21 GMT -5 wing_nut said:

Impressive work doogs. Beautiful. Great detailing in the pit. The toggles switches at the front left console looks like they would work if pushed.

Has your lighting setup for the way you get the shadowless pics been discussed? Maybe a photo of your photo setup? If so can you point me to that thread.

Thanks! If I were doing it over again there are some different choices I would have made (more time improving the switchgear mainly), but overall I'm happy with the way it's turned out.

As far as my setup goes, here's a link to the blog post on it: doogsmodels.com/2013/07/03/photo-studio-upgrade/

And a photo of the setup:

[aeroaustin]

One word "WOWsie"

[wing_nut]

The picture of the said said it sll...almost. Rolled translucent Plexiglas? There's plexiglass that's thin enough to roll? Where do you get that? Looking at the 1st iteration of your "studio" my 1st thought was... "SOB,How did he get into my family room?"

Until I changed to a sheet of vinyl banner material I to had that problem with the background not being big enough. Movjbg camera back and zoomed in helped in most cases. Better perspective too.

Thanks for posting that