Talon

The Italian markings were considered, but there are no known photos of the actual markings, only speculative profiles of kit and decal manufacturers. The one photo available of one of the Italian aircraft shows it still wearing German markings.

Only non-German user was Italy, and that was single digits of airframes, and there are no known images of the markings on the aircraft, only conjecture.

Hmmmm

Oops, fixed. Starboard side = good. Port side = bad

This is a very nice build and nice to see you correcting the issues as you go. Turbulators are actually called vortex generators. Also note one tweak missing of the list from Thierry when you get to it is that there should only be a landing light on the starboard main gear door, where Trumpeter would have you add one on the port side as well.

Somehow I missed this announcement. That is very sad news. He was inspirational. RIP.

Lead wire works well, or fine brass wire, fixed in place with superglue, after careful positioning with a toothpick or tweezers. But whatever you do, please DO NOT twist the wires together. Aircraft avionics wires should lay as flat and straight as possible for so many reasons. This fad of twisting them to make them look cool is great - if you aren't looking for any accuracy.

Great stuff Kev, thanks. One small item I note, Rick mentioned the P-51D detail sets he donated as prizes, you have as my drawn prize, were actually intended to be included with the Hasegawa Mustang, which was won by MustangManiac. I am ok with that prize being to sent to the correct recipient, and am happy to go with the two books drawn, which look excellent. I don't have a 1/32 P-51, so would be a much better use for those items.😊

Late to the party but hopefully not too late. Add me as a donor and recipient too please (if not too late). I'd like to donate a set of 3D printed 1/32 A-4E/F/K/M upgrades, which includes 1 x 400 gallon centreline tank, 1 x 150 gallon centreline tank (no-tail for adversaries), 2 x chaff/flare dispensers, 1 x fuel dump mast and a pair of 30mm Colt cannons.

One small fix - you might like to turn the ALQ-164 around, so it's not facing backwards 😉 Good to see the pod getting put to use. It was the first thing I ever designed in Fusion, and still one of my favourite creations. Can't believe that weas over 2 years ago now.

Both are AGM-62 Walleye variants

Photos were linked in the message above.

Looking pretty good. You might want to add the missing refuelling light on the starboard intake with its associated access panel, which Trumpeter completely missed http://nabe3saviation.web.fc2.com/images/wa4m-08.jpg http://nabe3saviation.web.fc2.com/images/wa4m-12.jpg

Shame it hit the wall so to speak. Doing similar here for our club's Roy Cross challenge (build a kit with Roy's artwork on the boxtop, in 2 months), but I picked the Airfix 1/72 F-80C for my build, and it is a very nice little kit for its age. Didn't stop me rescribing it and designing/printing some parts in the process. We did have two guys here complete the Airfix Heracles, albeit straight out of the box, for the challenge.

Already done the donkey work if you want the 400 gallon

The pylons on the A-4 were not handed, so the pylons on the port wing were the same as the pylons on the starboard wing. When fitted to the aircraft, they were perpendicular (at right angles) to the lower wing surface. The lower wing surface has a slight dihedral, so the pylons angle ever so slightly outward when viewed from front or behind (not from below). The fins on the rear of the tank, align to the lower surface of the wing, as can be seen here. Note that unlike other aircraft, the arms on the pylons (sway braces) moved as they were tightened onto the store, not just the pads, which is why you see the arms hanging down when there are not stores attached.

Optical illusion based on perspective.

One more addition to the items needed for this build. CAD now finished on the 400 gallon centreline tank

Attacked by 3 x 109s, lost your wingman, and you're still flying straight and level?! You're gonna get kilt! Who comes up with the boxart?!

I do, but anything you might have that would help I am - that was part of the motivation behind getting this progressing again.

Progress happening slower than I would like, as only able to do between the paying job and family stuff Rear cockpit Rear instrument panel and coaming Front instrument panel (not complete and coaming will follow)

It sort of is. It requires me to finish the CAD. Taking a little longer than planned, but there has been a lot of progress and a change in design philosophy on my part. The ladders have been released under Phase Hangar Resin. The cockpit will be under Flying Leathernecks.

If the kit age being over 25 counts then I'll jump in with the big Hasegawa OA-4M (released in 1987), posted elsewhere here, as I'm trying to get the cockpit CAD done, to be able to actually progress this again

Lynn has been involved in the development of this kit for some time already.