ruzlkampf Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Got this kit out to clean parts and dry fit, and couldn't resist the temptation to build it! Never built this kit before, and don't know jack about A-4's. Heck, I might even have to read the directions! Looks to be a sweet old kit that I'm planning on blasting thru in about 2 weeks. Got a few after-market goodies like wheels and pilot, and I'm planning on doing my own decals. Robbing some Sidewinders off another kit for ordnance, so I'm good to go! Gonna see how well this kit builds up just one step above being OOB. Here's the kit; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 Here's the markings I'm going for. Flew off the HMAS Melbourne. Think it's 805 Sq., but I need to re-check that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 Here is the first dry-fit.. Can see why they nick-named it 'scooter". Going to put this Master details jet pilot in it, and those True Details resin wheels. Those decals are for a MirageIII, but I laid em down to show how big the insignia will be. Gotta have 6 of them, and a squadron insignia, ect. I'm going to have to get a few more of these kits so I can do a Kiwi version amongst others. Haven't done a jet since I joined this forum, so I gotta get it out of my system and blast this one out. Pics as things progress! Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJ Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I'm looking forward to watching this one, Russ! One question: Are you going to re-scribe it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Too cool Russ, too cool... Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 Okay,....so it begins. Haven't even started on it one day, and it's already morphing. Gadzooks! Spent most of the night doing basic research on the pit, and trying to choose my 'pilot personality'. More on that later. I already had to revamp my squadron markings cause I got the insignia the wrong size/place, and the wrong number of 'checkerboards on the tail on my digital paint-job above. Aaaach! Here's a pic of the real deal, and the squadron emblem of VF-805. Call sign for this squadron was strangely enough...."Checkmates"! Wonder why? Bwhahah. I love this pic. Every pic I've seen of these AC are in immaculate condition and very shiney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 Here is a close-up of the squadron patch that will go behind the engine intakes on the fuse.(whups, forgot to put it on before I took this screenshot,drat!...but it's on the orignal above) Also a pic of my revamped markings painted digitally. Correct number of checkerboards now, and the national insignia in the right sizes/places. Whoohoo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 Couldn't find a pic of an A-4G cockpit, but here's a shot of a Kiwi pit before and after the Kahu conversion. A-4G's woud have been similar to the one on the left, so I'm using that as my basis for painting. The kit cockpit mirrors this exactly. Cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 Took me awhile to find a pic of the seat, but the Kiwis bailed me out again with a shot of one in a museum. Can't think of the name of the place or how to pronounce it, but the building has a cool full size profile painting of an A-4 on the side of the building with their AF insignia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 Test fit on the cockpit and pilot. Wanted to make sure everything fit under the canopy, and the nose wheel-well lined up OK. Can't see too much of the pit when everythings together, but I'll make the effort and paint it all up nice and sweet. Really nice kit considering its age. Oh yeah Dave, I will be doing some re-scribing of access panels. The real AC is pretty smooth and won't have much in the way of panel lines. Even with the raised lines and rivets on this model, its really not too bad or over-done in my opinion. Hard to see anything in this close-up. The pilot is going to be a hybrid of resin and original parts. I WILL be replacing the head for sure. Master Detail pilots come with a choice of 4, and I'm trying to decide between these 2. Gonna have a white/red checkerboard pattern on the helmet visor. (trying to decide on a red ascot or not. ) He'll have shoulder patch decals, and other assorted tid-bits too. Should have pics of the painted cockpit/pilot by tomorrow night. Later, Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big matt Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Hey Russ, I vote for that guy on the right. He looks scared. Give him bug eyes . Matt p.s. here is a link for ejection seats, it's in Italian but lists FS colors for painting and has some good pics based on end user and aircraft http://www.seatejectcolor.com/seat/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrundt Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Here's the markings I'm going for. Flew off the HMAS Melbourne. Think it's 805 Sq., but I need to re-check that. Is that one of RAZBAM's Skyhawks or Ito's? Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 Whookay, Didn't get my cockpit painted tonight, cause I was busy playing Dr. Frankenstein with my pilot and chopping off the RWAR stuff on the fuselage. BLAST! Did however get a lot done on my future decal sheet, and have narrowed down my AC markings to #'s 870 or 871. The kit serial #'s are even in the same range as the A-4G's so thats one more thing I didn't have to look up a font for. whoohoo! Fell in love with this pic , which decided the AC I want to model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 Here's another shot of it on the deck of the HMAS Melbourne.(middle AC) Yeah, that's the ticket! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loic Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Hey Dude, you are just a mad modelling Stachanovist Cheers, Loic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts