1/32 Tadpole - Update 10/7

[JimD]

Normally I wouldn't start another kit jut yet, but I'm not going to flake out on the Phantom, I just don't feel like decals tonight and my other project is drying. So, I'm cracking this one open tonight.

I never intended to do this kit in 1/32, but I got a deal..so...here we are.



Not a whole lot in the way of AM decals...at least not compared to 1/48, but I dig the VA-95 "Green Lizards" scheme and I really loved the last Superscale sheet I used.



The kit stencils are horrendous...with spelling errors and such, so AOA stencils.



This is the Bu No I'm doing. Not much in the way of weathering in this photo...don't know that I can resist weathering her...lol




The other aftermarket lined up:

AMS FOD Covers
AMS Wheels (still need to order some...they were out of stock)
Eduard Exterior and Undercarriage PE sets
True Details Seats

When I decide on how I'll load it up I'll likely be ordering resin ordnance.


Stay tuned

[TRM]

Very cool stuff Jimmy!! Count me in!!

[Leon]

Count me in Jimmy! Looks like a fun project.

[sabre]

Looks like a great kit with some nice after-market sets to turn this into a enjoyable build for you Jim, look forward to following the progress on this one Mate.

[wing_nut]

What's up with all the gas passers? I mean the jets... not the builders. Either way, I'll be watching. But if it's the builder... I'll watch from a safe distance.

[doogsatx/]

Looking forward to this one! You going to do wings up or down?

[JimD]

I want to do them up. I need to do them up (for space). It's going to be a wait and see. I'm a little worried about strength based on your comments about the engineering there.

[doogsatx/]

Jun 10, 2015 11:06:05 GMT -5 JimD said:

I want to do them up. I need to do them up (for space). It's going to be a wait and see. I'm a little worried about strength based on your comments about the engineering there.

Yeah. Have fun with it.

Just...don't commit yourself too soon. I've seen it done (there's a 1/32 A-6A at Kings with the wings up), but I'm still not at all a fan of how it's engineered.

[aeroaustin]

Jimmydel, are you try to give me the signals to make me to buy intruder? I am very weaken man now and my finger are impatience to order intruder.. I haven't complete 12 steps model addict program soon I might relpase back to square one.. Lol....

I will keep eye on your thread to see how is your progress...

[JimD]

Jun 10, 2015 11:30:26 GMT -5 aeroaustin said:

Jimmydel, are you try to give me the signals to make me to buy intruder? I am very weaken man now and my finger are impatience to order intruder.. I haven't complete 12 steps model addict program soon I might relpase back to square one.. Lol....

I will keep eye on your thread to see how is your progress...

Wait a second...you haven't got an Intruder yet? I thought we went through this already...no self respecting modeler should be without an Intruder kit

[wing_nut]

I thought buying the Intruder WAS the 12th step

[wbill76]

Pulling up a chair!

[JimD]

Jun 10, 2015 12:16:30 GMT -5 wing_nut said:

I thought buying the Intruder WAS the 12th step

So I'm close to recovery!?

Jet fuel has taken over my blood for whatever reason. Be careful you'll be building one soon if you hang around our threads too much

[doogsatx/]

Jun 10, 2015 14:52:05 GMT -5 JimD said:

Jun 10, 2015 12:16:30 GMT -5 wing_nut said:

I thought buying the Intruder WAS the 12th step

So I'm close to recovery!?

Jet fuel has taken over my blood for whatever reason. Be careful you'll be building one soon if you hang around our threads too much

I'm mainlining JP myself. Can't really explain why. In many ways, jets are a lot more of a pain than props.

[JimD]

Yeah they are a whole different beast. After a string of WW2 builds it really is a bit of a challenge to change your thinking. I really really hate modern landing gear...most other stuff is easily dealt with...but it's a real chore to get them done.

[doogsatx/]

Maybe I've had good luck on the landing gear front?

To me, it comes down to a few things...

1 - Intakes. Thank god for FOD covers.

2 - Stencils.

3 - In 1/32, aftermarket is awful compared to just about anything else. Look at the decal options available for the Intruder in 1/32 vs. 1/48 and you'll start crying. Same goes for F-4s, F-16s, F-15s, anything really.

4 - The kits. Even the good ones I've built or messed with have been mixed bags. Hasegawa's A-4 is a really nice kit, but the landing gear mounting holes are different heights, and if you don't fix it, the bird leans. Hobby Boss' A-6 has a terrible nose arrangement. The bigger Trumpeter has a fragile and fussy wingfold (the main actuator really should be a cast metal piece). Nose cones NEVER fight right. Great Wall's beautiful F-15C actually doesn't fit all that great. And so on.

[aeroaustin]

Jun 10, 2015 11:45:09 GMT -5 JimD said:

Wait a second...you haven't got an Intruder yet? I thought we went through this already...no self respecting modeler should be without an Intruder kit

Actually I have one A-6 intruder from Revell, but I am tempted to get another kits, two or ?? so please don't tease me about intruder, I might order tonight...  

[JimD]

Jun 10, 2015 17:08:18 GMT -5 doogsatx/ said:

Maybe I've had good luck on the landing gear front?

To me, it comes down to a few things...

1 - Intakes. Thank god for FOD covers.

2 - Stencils.

3 - In 1/32, aftermarket is awful compared to just about anything else. Look at the decal options available for the Intruder in 1/32 vs. 1/48 and you'll start crying. Same goes for F-4s, F-16s, F-15s, anything really.

4 - The kits. Even the good ones I've built or messed with have been mixed bags. Hasegawa's A-4 is a really nice kit, but the landing gear mounting holes are different heights, and if you don't fix it, the bird leans. Hobby Boss' A-6 has a terrible nose arrangement. The bigger Trumpeter has a fragile and fussy wingfold (the main actuator really should be a cast metal piece). Nose cones NEVER fight right. Great Wall's beautiful F-15C actually doesn't fit all that great. And so on.

I just don't like gear in general. Usually have to force myself through them on all builds. With modern stuff they just get more complex and tedious.

You're dead right about decals. I was going to go with the 1/48 A-6A. I had picked a Furball set was all excited...then when I picked this one up and started searching I was a bit disappointed...not to say I'm settling on the Lizards...but it wouldn't have been my first pick if I had more options....

I really want to do one of the Tamiya Phantoms soon...but the decal options aren't that great either...at least there are some...

Haven't seen much on the GW F-15 but I did plan to get one...awesome to hear...lol

[doogsatx/]

I'm actively sourcing a "Marines" boxing of the Tamiya F-4J because it's apparently one of those second boxings that includes Cartograf decals. Kinda like the 9th Air Force P-51D in 1/48.

[JimD]

The one with the Warlords markings? That's the boxing I had that I lost in flooding during Allison. If that's the one I didnt realize it had Cartograph decals. Very interesting.

[JimD]

Nope. Just looked and that's the original boxing. Amazon has the Marine J but it's coming from Japan.

[Bat242]

I have the kit and got the Squadron decals I been waiting for which looks great...VMA-(aw)242 Bats of course. One problem I see having with the bird is that there are so many options to depict it in a dio. One fix would be to get a couple more if the first build doesn't drive me crazy.

[Rick]

All these intruders is practically becoming a group build. I've picked one up off the shelf at the LHS a couple times then set it back. Sooner or later it's bound to happen.

Rick

[JimD]

Don't resist. It's a seriously cool airplane.

I got a little tied up with some commitments and thought better of digging into this one. But should be going by the end of the weekend. Stay tuned

[JimD]

FINALLY! I've got started on this one. Will be slow going as I work on a number of other projects, but it's going.

Tub painted and paint on the seats have begun. Man these True Details bang seats are absolutely the best pieces I've ever worked with. The detail is amazing.

[deafpanzer]

Seats look lovely... I want to sit on them now!

[wbill76]

Nice start to the tub Jimmy. Seats look good with all those details, I can see why you like them!

[venom1]

Off to a great start there Jimmy, those seats are beautiful! Definitely worth the investment!!

Cheers,

Sam

[JimD]

The seats are a work of art. For sure.

Finally with the "work" way ahead of schedule I could do some work on the Intruder. Bang seats are at 90% neat to hit some dry-brushing and they should be good.

Cockpit tub is glossed up for a wash and such. Need to get the IP decal laid down.

[John Everett]

I stopped building airplanes many years ago mostly due to the difficulty in providing a good level of cockpit detail. How the hell to you and Doogs paint your interiors so cleanly???