allthumbs

Outstanding Ben...congratulations!

Amazed and inspired...congratulations Ben on another stunning model!

New From Sierra Hotel Models In 1/32 Scale...

New from Sierra Hotel Models in 1/32 Scale... A-6A/E Intruder Exhausts:

Nice work...the round head rivets on the empennage that you so tediously applied look outstanding! Rich

My (more distant) second choice... https://i.imgur.com/9ReMN92.jpg

My number one choice for a Leatherneck Ford... https://i.imgur.com/wmTKCx9.jpg

Got up-close to an A-6E yesterday and documented these pictures and measurements of the DECM antennas... https://imgur.com/gallery/OwDaQ https://imgur.com/gallery/5OoUv Hope this helps, Rich (who’s suffering from a strange fascination with Intruder lumps and bumps)

I didn’t realize that Trumpeter got the shape wrong. From your’s and Elmo’s research, clearly the leading edge kink is too pronounced. And there is not enough clearance built in for the MLG door. Another shape issue to watch for on the kit is the vertical tail fin cap. Fortunately, this is much easier to correct! Note that the top edge of the kit’s vertical tail is parallel to the aircraft’s longitudinal axis, when in fact it should slope down toward the front... https://i.imgur.com/3xWGzOa.jpg https://i.imgur.com/nQRY8Hw.jpg Hypersonic Models offer a replacement fin cap for the 1:48 Scale Hobby Boss Intruders, which suffer from the same shape issue. To my knowledge, no aftermarket replacement is available in 1:32, but it should be easy enough to correct using basic filing/sanding techniques. Rich

Perhaps the upper flashing beacon (on the vertical tail) was colored blue also. I didn't photograph this area up close, but should be verifiable from other references. Some more pictures of the tanker...https://imgur.com/a/FTf58

Some of my KA-6D photos. For the tanker fleet, a blue flashing beacon light was installed on the NLG door. https://imgur.com/gallery/9cidX

Great work! Here are some pictures of the Trumpeter A-6E wing pieces, with the modified leading edge section. Note that Trumpeter did not relocate the inner wing fence. It remains in the old, pre-mod position. The black line shows where it ought to be located. https://i.imgur.com/bw792gW.jpg https://i.imgur.com/MoLuosM.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Mtbglh6.jpg

Hi RD, By the late 1970s, nearly all models of the Intruder/Prowler, including the tanker fleet, had their inner wing leading edges altered to accept the relocation of DECM antennas. This took the form of a raised cuff that wrapped underneath the wing in the area of the MLG wheel covers. The placement of these antenna housings altered the aerodynamics to a degree, resulting in the inner wing fence displacement (inboard several inches). Incidentally, only the EA-6A retained the original “A†wing leading edge (with the long, uninterrupted stall strip) into the 1980s and 1990s. So, for a Desert Storm era KA-6D, the wing pieces supplied in the Trumpeter A-6E boxing are more accurate (DECM antenna bulges), although the kit designers failed to relocate the inner wing fences. Sorry to complicate things! But, nevertheless, I hope you find the information helpful (if not satisfying). Regards, Rich

Here are two photos of 72-1402, the box art bird, in SEA scheme... https://www.cloud9photography.us/Military-Aviation-9/Northrop-F-5-Freedom-Fighter/i-Ksrxp5R/A https://www.flickr.com/photos/147861202@N07/37685066032/

Good news Troy...they are available in 1/32 too, as are most Reedoak figures/accessories http://reedoak.com/#!/1-32-SPH-4-post-vietnam-helicopter-pilot-helmet-with-detailled-interior-and-scratch-on-back/p/99424642/category=26924830 Rich