Trumpy A-6E TRAM Intruder - "Raygun 501"

[Out2gtcha]

Mk.83s not JDAMs...

 

And they came that way - all the credit goes to Wolfpack. I'm so-so on some of their stuff but I really do like their bombs quite a bit.

 

 

Ah no wonder I didnt see any of the JDAM framework on the body I was used to seeing.  Good show.   I might have to look into some of their stuff.

 

BTW, Im in process of trying to get my OV-10 packed up, but have NOT forgotten about the OV-10D PE. I have it ready to go, just have not been able to get to the PO yet. Its on my list for this week though, fear not!

[DoogsATX]

First licks of paint last night in the cockpit!

 

 

 

Not really looking forward to picking out the various consoles and gauge surrounds, but I figure it's easier to add black back. 

 

I'm also contemplating airbrushing the seat cushions - I think the Custom Micron can get narrow enough to pull it off without severe masking.

[Lothar]

Simply outstanding !!! For me,  each of your posts on this subject is like another long awaited episode of a favourite TV series.

 

Lothar

[DoogsATX]

Following up the overall cockpit gray with black for the consoles and instrument surrounds - I used Liquitex acrylic black ink for this task as it is thin, doesn't leave brush marks, and has a tendency to stay where you put it and not go flowing off and making a mess of everything. 

 

 

Also got the GRU-7 seat cushions painted with some Gunze RAF Dark Green - seemed the best match for the reference photos. These were painted freehand with my Iwata Custom Micron - HUGE testament to the thing's ability to spray small.

 

[Out2gtcha]

Also got the GRU-7 seat cushions painted with some Gunze RAF Dark Green - seemed the best match for the reference photos. These were painted freehand with my Iwata Custom Micron - HUGE testament to the thing's ability to spray small.

 

 

 

 

Wow, those seat cushions look FANTASTIC.   It makes me want to build this interior just for the seats alone.

[DoogsATX]

Slowly but surely building up the details. Before too long I should be able to gloss-and-wash the cockpit. Also waiting on some different thicknesses of lead wire to show up so I can really busy up the cockpit aft of the ejection seats - I may need to jump my focus to other areas during the wait!

 

 

[Stanton]

Love the pit....Im working an "A" model with a scratch built B/N hood.  Love your work.

 

 

Stanton

[Vitali]

Nice work! I also use the Liquitex acrylic black ink and it's really easy to work with. The only down side is the last bottle cost me 35.00 Au!

[crackerjazz]

Beautiful job so far!!! 

[DoogsATX]

Last night was one of those where the bench time went by and I don't feel like I did squat. But I got a few things done at least!

 

AMS resin wheels got removed from their pour stubs and drilled out. And the metal gear struts got cleaned up (seams on metal = PITA)

 

 

Also getting on with the cockpit - here's the clear backing to the IP with the screens starting to get their treatment. I swear I see different colors with every single flippin' A-6E cockpit I reference - but for this one the pilot's display will be good old dark green and the B/N will be white and clear orange over white. 

 

[Hubert Boillot]

Great work on the cockpit. These seats look great as well !

 

Hubert

[DoogsATX]

A bit more progress in the cockpit...

 

- Glossed and washed (Vallejo Dark Gray wash)

- Added PE placards to busy up the cockpit a bit

- Start to rear deck and behind-seat plumbing. 

 

On the last, if you look at A-6 reference photos, the areas behind the seats are definitely a rat's nest of plumbing. The kit doesn't really capture it. I'm a bit stuck at the moment waiting on USPS to bring me some additional sizes of lead wire to play with, so so far I'm just getting a small start with the 0.2mm wire that I have on hand. Much, much more plumbing to come!

 

[Elboogie]

Great job.  I always like the A6E intruder.

But WOW on the price of the kit.  It will take me a month to get that kit and all the AM parts to go with it.

It is definitely on my list to get.  Your cockpit looks excellent.   Keep up the good work.

 

 

-Richard

[Vitali]

Looks great. The colors on the seats look accurate also.SAC bomber green is a good match for the Risers.

[DoogsATX]

Work has been substantially slowed down by rain (and the wait for lead wire to finish rats-nesting the cockpit), but I've been mucking around with the MERs and the Rockeyes.

 

The MER mounting positions don't line up with the mounting holes in the Mk.20s, so I've had to drill new holes. They look ugly, but at least they'll be hidden once everything's mounted up.

 

After drilling out the first two, I ran into a problem...

 

 

Not good. For a few hours I thought I'd have to ditch the MERs altogether, then I had an epiphany. I'd drilled the new hole for those two by going forward...so if I drilled new holes by going aft instead...

 

Lo and behold, it worked.

 

 

Frustratingly, the way the mounts work, there's no way I can drill anything out and add metal rod as a stronger join. But at least I think I can get a nice good grip with what I've got to work with.

 

Late last night, I started work on the MER "shoulder" mounts and came across this wonderful sprue connector location Trumpeter came up with for the sway braces. Thanks a lot, guys.