A-7A Corsair `Streetcar 305'

[Marcel111]

GREAT job on that Bullpup, just wow!

[Whitey]

Wow, that rocket is impressive.

[ericg]

Some more work.

 

The bulkhead area around the exhaust is bare.

 

 

I designed a new piece that fits into it by snapping into place after the fuselage haves have been joined. 

 

 

 

The new part installed. Really only visible if you shine a torch up there but it is still an area that needs attention in the kit.

 

 

Just before I was about to start priming the model, I noticed that the tail are was a bit different on the A and B model to the E of the kit.

 

 

This required cutting out the sensor, as well as the bullet shaped fairing above the exhaust as it was too long.

 

 

I then designed two new pieces and printed them up. The small formation light was repositioned further forward.

 

 

 

Finally ready for priming! it is surprising the amount of work that has gone into this model. I have test fitted the excellent Eduard AIM-9B sidewinders on the new Flying Leathernecks rails, as well as my own Bullpup missiles. Also visible is the new step that I made from Brass.

 

 

I painted the model using SMS Insignia White, with Gunze Laquer grey on top. Radome was painted with SMS White and the fin was painted with Tamiya Sky Blue.

 

 

Whilst probably the most plain tail art on an A-7 ever, it still required a lot of thought as to how I was going to accomplish it.

 

Starting with the bare rudder

 

 

I made up a mask using my sillhouette portrait mask cutting machine that fitted the rudder profile exactly, which then enabled me to flip it horizontally in the program to also cut the opposite side and get exact alignment. It was a sweet sound in my workshop today when I had the sounds of my 3D printer and mask cutting machine working at the same time.

 

 

 

SMS White sprayed in two thin layers, being very careful to not build up paint on an inner edge of the mask.

 

 

 

Done. Now onto all the other markings.

 

Edited September 3, 2021 by ericg

[blackbetty]

very nice work!

[brahman104]

Beautiful job as always Eric!

 

Craig

[easixpedro]

Love it Eric! You captured all the small details and now she’s beginning to pop. There’s something about all of CAG-6’s markings on this cruise that are blah. Thinking of VF-33 that mimic this, but yellow. That being said, your rudder looks fantastic!

Thanks for sharing and I look forward to more!

-Peter

[Stokey Pete]

Loving the progress. The printed details are brilliant. The doors of possibility for conversions/accessories get ever wider. 

[Troy Molitor]

Looking good Eric.  

[ericg]

Thanks for the comments guys.

 

Some more work. I designed and printed up a new exhaust pipe to replace the kit one. In some cases, it is easier to make a new part rather than try and clean up the kit part with all of its ejector pin holes!

 

 

Using my mask cutter, I designed and cut the rest of the markings, and sprayed them on. The small Bu No. under NAVY was the smallest I was going to go.

 

 

I finished off the rest of the markings with decals, using a combo of kit and Airdoc ones. Strangely, the Airdoc decals were designed for an A-7B which shares a lot in common with the A. I also painted a test shot of the Bullpup missile which I am in the process of reprinting as I detected an error in the CAD file. I also detected a small difference with the way the white cam demarcation kicks up right at the rear of the tailpipe on -305, so had to sand back the last few letters of USS America, reprime, respray the cam and then respray some of the lettering, which can be compared to the first side on shot of the model. 

 

 

Visible here is the yellow Fiberglass strips around the edges of the windscreen. I wasn't happy with my first attempt at them and had to sand/scrape/rub off the paint and start again.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2021 by ericg

[blackbetty]

i really like your efforts, eric.  such clean work!

[dodgem37]

You have a nice-looking machine there, Eric.  Good show.

 

Sincerely,

Mark

[Michael931080]

Looks amazing Eric!  Really coming along now!

[Finn]

Coming along great Eric, some pics of various weapons, including Bullpups, being test fitted on the A-7A mock up can be seen here:

 

http://voughtworks.blogspot.com/2015/08/a-7a-mock-up-weapons-loading-1964-part.html

 

there are 5 parts, note the early design of the pylons.

 

Jari

[Out2gtcha]

Nice work!

 

The stance/sit looks great.

[John1]

Wonderful build and good attention to detail with the camo scheme.   Question - would A-7's have been flying with the early AIM-9B's or would they have been using later model missiles by the time they got into combat?

 

Keep  up the good work!