TimNT

If I understood Thai correctly, he would be producing an entirely new kit of the AD-5 then a kit of the AD-5W, not just a conversion set to modify Paul's A-1E conversion. Please correct me if I am wrong, Thai. Tim

Hmm. Interesting, the VNAF never warmed up to the B-57, especially after Major Bien's demise. The program lasted less than 2 years. I was more hoping for an F-35A/B or A-37.

Hi Thai, I think that it is very important that you produce a very accurate first kit, so please take your time to study the material and pictures available on the internet and in real life. There is a real A-1E (not AD-5W) at the Aerospace Museum of California in McClellan AFB, Sacramento. Aerospace Museum of California (916) 643-3192 https://g.co/kgs/JSgDaEZ You may want to come out to take pictures and measurements of it before you commit yourself to mass production. There is also a Vought A-7 on display, among others, and we badly need a SLUF in 1/32 scale (the only kit in existence is the Trumpeter one which is awful!)

Hi Thai, My brother and I grew up in Vietnam, so the A-1 Skyraider was near and dear to our hearts, my brother being an A-1 aficionado much more than I am. After I told him about your A-1E project, he was very enthusiastic but soon started to point out a few errors: 1. The airplane in Riverside, CA which you inspected was an AD-5W with its radar radome removed. Its underbelly is different from the AD-5, the latter being flat and carrying a center pylon. https://images.app.goo.gl/YXC6Swq77c5Bt3pJA 2. The shape of the fillet of the vertical stabilizer is different and there should be no crease on the vertical portion of the stabilizer. https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195821/douglas-a-1e-skyraider/ We would like your first baby to be as perfect as you could make it, so I hope that you would not mind our input. Tim

Hi Thai, The horizontal stabilizers on the actual aircraft seem to have straighter edges than the ones on your prototype: can you double check their shape? https://images.app.goo.gl/cNy9Tjng5xbVJyuo7 The horizontal stabilizers on your sample have rounder edges, reminiscent of the Revell 1/40 AD-6 ones. Thank you for your attention, I am very interested in the kit. I presume that the kit will come with VNAF markings (It has to.) Tim