Author Topic: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED  (Read 40509 times)

Offline Weaver

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FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« on: February 28, 2015, 11:38:54 AM »
Okay FINALLY I have something to show on this build.... ::)

It's going to be a Fleet Air Arm Skyhawk, from the same background as my FAA Panther, as illustrated by Cliffy B:



Mine will have it's gear down, the idea being that it's on deck alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis, with a live Red Beard on the centreline... ??? the A-4C radar nose and the Red beard come courtesy of Freightdog.







No serious problems so far. The fit of the cockpit parts is far from exact, and the decals for the side consoles are too long: the length of the moulding instead of the length from the bulkhead to the control panel. One of the console decals started peeling but I think I've got it secured using glue as clear varnish.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2015, 02:46:46 AM by Weaver »
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2015, 11:40:24 AM »
Question: how would you fill a panel line on a resin piece? I presume the usual fillers wouldn't stick because they're solvent-based.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline jcf

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2015, 02:30:21 PM »
Thick super glue or epoxy.
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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2015, 07:55:05 AM »
One of my creations is becoming a reality??!!   :o :-* 8)

Don't forget the retracted flash hood for the pilot  ;)

Try an acrylic putty.  I use Elmer's wood putty.  Water based and sticks fine from what I've seen.

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Offline kitnut617

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2015, 10:13:03 PM »
Harold, I don't see any photos -- what third party storage place do you use ?

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2015, 02:19:41 AM »
Harold, I don't see any photos -- what third party storage place do you use ?

Link to the main page of Harold's Skyhawk WIP images: Photobucket - hws5mp's Bucket / The Whiffery / FAA Skyhawk 1

Hope that works for you Robert. 
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Offline kitnut617

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2015, 03:01:57 AM »
Link to the main page of Harold's Skyhawk WIP images: Photobucket - hws5mp's Bucket / The Whiffery / FAA Skyhawk 1

Hope that works for you Robert.


Nope it doesn't Jeff, but now I know it's Photobucket related.  What's confusing me at the moment is I use Photobucket too, and I can see my pics I've posted quite well

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2015, 03:37:56 AM »
I use Photobucket, and I'm at work(!), and the photos are fine here  :)

I'm liking this! Will definitely follow. I'm keen to do an FAA A-4C based on Jennings Heilig's profiles from a while back, using the Airfix kit because it looks so good - where can I get the nose from?
Zac in NZ
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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2015, 03:55:01 AM »
where can I get the nose from?

the A-4C radar nose and the Red beard come courtesy of Freightdog


Link to FreightDog Models

"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2015, 04:21:04 PM »
where can I get the nose from?

the A-4C radar nose and the Red beard come courtesy of Freightdog


Link to FreightDog Models


Cheers Jeff - I don't think he's got the Skyhawk nose in production at the moment, but it's always worth asking because he sometimes has extras or seconds or part sets.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #10 on: March 03, 2015, 09:36:13 AM »
Okay, nose on:



That was surprisingly troublesome.

Firstly, when you cut the original nose off, you lose the front edge of the nosegear bay, which means there's very little to positively set the width of the fuselage, i.e. it can very easily crush in.

Secondly, I couldn't get the Freightdog nose to fit on straight. I carved off various bits of plastic and resin until I eventually sussed the problem. The nose gear well/cockpit floor project slightly beyond the panel line where you vut the original nose off. To accomodate this, the Freightdog nose has a recess in it's rear face, but unfortunately, the walls of this recess are way too thick and irregular, so they force the nose off-centre. The eventual solution was to carve the recess deeper and wider with a Dremmel until the walls were the same thickness as the kit fuselage. Even then it needed a bit of sanding, which was helped no end by the presence of the moulded-in hockey-stick aerial just in front of the windscreen.

The crack in the cockpit coaming keeps springing open no matter what I glue it with, so I'm going to wait unti the wing is glued in (which fixes the fuselage spacing) and then fill it. I also had to fill the panel line right at the tip of the A-4C nose which defines the smaller dielectric area seen on most of them. The line is perfectly correct, but I wanted the earlier, larger radome, because I'm going for the fibreglass-nose-on-white-fuse look of the Buccaneer S.1. I filled it with superglue (cheers Jon) and it sanded smooth very nicely.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
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Offline Old Wombat

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2015, 09:40:02 AM »
Looks like the work was worth it, though.

Build is looking very nice! :)
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Offline FAAMAN

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2015, 12:12:36 PM »
Great WHiff!! :) :) :) 8)

Great use of the new Airfix A-4 kit as it's pretty poor for shape and details :o, I've been accurizing two of these to correct ALL it's faults .... there's lots BTW ..... and it's a long process :icon_crap:

It really amazed me when I opened the box and felt nothing but disappointment :(, how could Airfix get it so wrong when they had the real aircraft to measure? :-\ ??? At least you can Whiff them as it's not very good for scale. :)
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #13 on: March 04, 2015, 04:00:38 AM »
More "interesting" bits.

The intakes:


First off, these are numbered wrongly on the instructions, with left and right numbers exchanged. Next, there is no way the intake location lips would fit between the fuselage and the trunking without carving a whole lot of material off both. Lastly, the joint line between the intake and the fuselage comes out too big because the two faces are not at the same angle - more fettling.

I wanted to find out if it needed extra weight before fitting the wing, since the lower wing covers the only place to add it (behind the cockpit, since the new nose is solid. This required the use of my super-high tech computerized laser balancing as follows:



Inclining trials on an aeroplane eh? Well it is a Navy aeroplane..... ;)
« Last Edit: March 04, 2015, 04:03:02 AM by Weaver »
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #14 on: March 04, 2015, 04:09:14 AM »
Thanks guys! Looking at another potential product I see I actually need two.

Great work with what seems a tricky conversion - Airfix's goof doesnt help. I'll bear that in mind when I get one/five.
Zac in NZ
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https://linktr.ee/zacyates

Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #15 on: March 05, 2015, 02:37:15 AM »
As a result of the inclining trials, I decided that it needed a little more weight behind the cockpit, but not as far as filling the whole compartment, and I was also worried about PVA seeping through the gaps at the corners of the cockpit bulkhead, so I made a ballast bucket and stuck it in place with a load of sprue:




Wings and tailplanes are now on:

« Last Edit: March 05, 2015, 03:04:16 AM by Weaver »
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #16 on: March 05, 2015, 05:32:01 AM »
Terrific project
Nothing like some practical experimentation from time to time to fix stuff

Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #17 on: March 05, 2015, 11:12:27 AM »
Getting near to the point where some paint can go on.... :)

I'll give Airfix this: the fit of some parts is superb. I dropped the airbrakes into the wells with no trimming and needed a scalpel to tease them out again.


Loadout question:

My FAA Skyhawks have five pylons. On a nuclear strike mission like this, with Red Beard on the centreline and drop tanks on the inners, what woulld be a good loadout for the outer pylons? My original thought was a pair of AIM-9B Sidewinders, but I'm now wondering if some combination of chaff dispenser pod, chaff rocket pod, early ECM pod and/or Sidewinders would be more appropriate. Thoughts?
« Last Edit: March 05, 2015, 11:15:59 AM by Weaver »
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline FAAMAN

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #18 on: March 05, 2015, 01:32:06 PM »
I'd probably hang an AN/ALQ-119 noise and deception jamming pod on station 1 and put an AIM-9B on the correct type of launch rail on station 5 for a bit of self defense as the 20mm cannon were notoriously inaccurate.
Another early ECM pod option is one of the ALQ-71 family of signal jammers.
Chaff and flares could be added under the rear fuse ala A-4E/F and later, this negates the need for a pod taking up a weapons hardpoint.
Keep up the great work, hope this helps 8) 8)
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #19 on: March 05, 2015, 01:56:46 PM »
I don't think AL/ALQ-119 was available in 1962, and since this is a rush job, they probably wouldn't be able to do fuselage mounted chaff (bundles in the airbrakes like SHARs in 1982?).
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #20 on: March 05, 2015, 03:49:21 PM »
I would go with ECM/Chaff etc (if anything).  No time/desire to be dogfighting with those AIM-9s on a nuclear strike profile...
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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #21 on: March 05, 2015, 04:12:15 PM »
I'd probably hang an AN/ALQ-119 noise and deception jamming pod on station 1 and put an AIM-9B on the correct type of launch rail on station 5 for a bit of self defense as the 20mm cannon were notoriously inaccurate.
Another early ECM pod option is one of the ALQ-71 family of signal jammers.
Chaff and flares could be added under the rear fuse ala A-4E/F and later, this negates the need for a pod taking up a weapons hardpoint.
Keep up the great work, hope this helps 8) 8)

ALQ-119 was not available until the 70s so it would have to be a much earlier countermeasures pod of some kind.  Maybe some type of UK produced countermeasures would be possible as an alternative on the FAA Skyhawk? 

If it has a military designation, then Andreas Parsch has it listed at Designation-Systems.Net.  His page pertaining to anything 'ALQ' is at this link: AN/ALQ - Airborne Countermeasures Multipurpose/Special Equipment
Another possible resource to consider for a UK/Commonwealth system would be at Chris Gibson's United Kingdom Aerospace and Weapons Projects.  Plenty of code names with definitions. 

I would go with ECM/Chaff etc (if anything).  No time/desire to be dogfighting with those AIM-9s on a nuclear strike profile...

Have to agree with Greg chaff and flares would probably be more practical for a strike aircraft that is flying low level until reaching the target at which point it would perform the toss bomb maneuver and return to low level to escape the blast.  Look down-shoot down radar systems were not available for widespread use at the time (1962) for any fleet of defending aircraft.   
« Last Edit: March 05, 2015, 04:28:21 PM by Jeffry Fontaine »
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Offline FAAMAN

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #22 on: March 06, 2015, 09:45:42 AM »
"Resistance is useless, prepare to be assembled!"

Online Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #23 on: March 06, 2015, 10:23:40 AM »
Didn't see the Cuban Missile Crisis time period  :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[
Highly embarrassed I withdraw .........  :-[
By the way there are quite a few Attack Squadron A-4C conversions on Ebay right now, here's links to two;

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Attack-Squadron-72035-1-72-Douglas-A-4C-Skyhawk-resin-nose-conversion-for-Airfix-/331474696692?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d2d6e79f4

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Attack-Squadron-Models-1-72-A-4C-SKYHAWK-Resin-Photo-Etch-Conversion-Kit-/361150182406?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item54163a7406

No need to be embarrassed my friend.  We all frequent this forum for the purpose of corresponding with others of a like mind in this hobby and in the process try to learn something about history and applying that towards the hobby.  So consider it a good day if you learned something you did not know before, then share that information with others at the appropriate time and place.

There were or are chaff and flare warheads available for the Zuni 5.0"(127mm) rockets that were carried by the Skyhawk and other aircraft.  That same pod containing four rockets was also used in a modified form to launch illumination flares for air support missions at night but these were ejected to the rear while the chaff and flare versions were forward firing.  In some instances the pilot would fire a flare rocket to light his way at night while flying low level so it would seem that the flare rocket served more than one purpose.  The version of the Skyhawk that Harold is building is an early version with only three stores pylons so with the Red Beard on the center line pylon the other two stores pylons would be carrying fuel tanks for the necessary range. 
« Last Edit: March 06, 2015, 10:29:49 AM by Jeffry Fontaine »
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #24 on: March 06, 2015, 11:38:05 AM »
Okay thanks for the input folks.

My Skyhawk may be based on an A-4C for the radar nose, but being a specifically British-built version, it has an Avon engine, 30mm ADEN cannons and five pylons, the latter at the RN's request in order to maximise flexibility from small air groups.

I've been reading about early '60s ECM and it seems that the USAF and USN had very different philosophies. The USAF adopted the QRC-160 pod, but the USN prefered an internal fit and had one for the Skyhawk that that consisted of two suitcase-sized boxes that sat in the ammo bay, displacing some of the cannon ammo. That caught my attention because when I was writing the back story, I did contemplate having the RN delete the guns in favour of ECM or fuel; after all, the Buccaneer had no guns. Eventually I decided that they'd keep them for the same reason as they wanted the outboard pylons; flexibility.

I think that an external ECM pod would probably be anachronistic on this build. I'm therefore going to look into having a small rocket pod on one pylon for chaff rockets, and a chaff dispensing pod on the other. I think I'm right in saying that flares wern't much considered until MANPADS began to proliferate at the end of the decade. I think for the sake of "Britishness" that I'd like the RPs to be 2" Microcell ones (i.e. RN standard in the real world) but I don't think I want the big 32-round pod: more like a 7-round one, which I'll probably have to make myself.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #25 on: March 08, 2015, 03:32:01 AM »
Slight diversion:  Attack Squadron also do an A-4C conversion:



No back to your normal (and I use that term very loosely) program...
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #26 on: March 08, 2015, 05:20:21 AM »
I'm dumb #1: the picture I have of a Scimitar carrying a Red beard also quite clearly shows it carrying a Sidewinder, so the latter is definately back on the menu.

I'm dumb #2: I nicked a couple of outboard pylons from a Hasegawa kit, then drilled new locating holes for them (because the spacing was different) before gluing the wing together. Then I realised that the Airfix kit has outboard pylons in the box, even though it's an A-4B. So now I'm going to have to open another one just to use it's wing as a template to drill the hole right.....

On the upside, the Red Beard has had it's original locating hole filled with a plastic plug (it was much too big) and a couple of wires glued ito it to attache it to the pylon.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
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Online Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #27 on: March 08, 2015, 06:45:53 AM »
I'm dumb #1: the picture I have of a Scimitar carrying a Red beard also quite clearly shows it carrying a Sidewinder, so the latter is definately back on the menu.

I'm dumb #2: I nicked a couple of outboard pylons from a Hasegawa kit, then drilled new locating holes for them (because the spacing was different) before gluing the wing together. Then I realised that the Airfix kit has outboard pylons in the box, even though it's an A-4B. So now I'm going to have to open another one just to use it's wing as a template to drill the hole right.....

On the upside, the Red Beard has had it's original locating hole filled with a plastic plug (it was much too big) and a couple of wires glued ito it to attache it to the pylon.
Congratulations, you are now qualified to wear the official tee shirt.  I won my tee shirt after spilling a bottle of liquid cement on my 37mm PaK/20mm FlaK project. 

So the wires in the Red Beard, just sticking up to match with holes in the pylons or something special?
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline FAAMAN

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #28 on: March 08, 2015, 09:07:55 AM »
Rumor has it Airfix was going to release the kit with bits for an air defense configured A-4B with AIM-9s and 5 pylons that could also be an Argentine Navy A-4Q (the two outer pylons were a retrofit to Bs) and maybe another kit with a new sprue for an A-4C fuselage to enable that version to be modelled.  :P :P They'd have to get their shape issues sorted first :-X

An example of an A-4B carrying AIM-9s;  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A-4B_Skyhawk_of_VA-153_Det.R_in_flight_1964.jpg  , have a gander at the full size image.  :)

Either way just make sure you fill the dump vent on the models spine as it's not a feature of ANY J-65 (nor Avon ;) ) powered A-4 (A-4A, B, C) only J-52 powered E, F, G etc. had this feature.

Also as I posted before, there are quite a few Attack Squadron A-4C conversion sets on ebay for around $13 AUD.
« Last Edit: March 08, 2015, 09:11:32 AM by FAAMAN »
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #29 on: March 08, 2015, 09:10:07 AM »
LOL - I did the same thing with the original wings on my BAS Skyvan.

No the wires in the Red Beard are just for secure attachment. The kit pylons have raised ridge-type attachments to the bombs/tanks, but the Red Beard has a fat hole that fits on a peg in the Buccaneer bomb bay insert. Since it's quite heavy, I wanted it secured with something more than a thin line of glue. There's one wire in an insert in the original hole and one further back to keep it straight.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #30 on: March 08, 2015, 09:48:30 AM »
Rumor has it Airfix was going to release the kit with bits for an air defense configured A-4B with AIM-9s and 5 pylons that could also be an Argentine Navy A-4Q (the two outer pylons were a retrofit to Bs) and maybe another kit with a new sprue for an A-4C fuselage to enable that version to be modelled.  :P :P They'd have to get their shape issues sorted first :-X

An example of an A-4B carrying AIM-9s;  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A-4B_Skyhawk_of_VA-153_Det.R_in_flight_1964.jpg  , have a gander at the full size image.  :)

Either way just make sure you fill the dump vent on the models spine as it's not a feature of ANY J-65 (nor Avon ;) ) powered A-4 (A-4A, B, C) only J-52 powered E, F, G etc. had this feature.

Also as I posted before, there are quite a few Attack Squadron A-4C conversion sets on ebay for around $13 AUD.


I've got a couple of rails that look about right, and I thought I had some decent AIM-9Bs, but I realize now that although they're reasonably detailed, their basic shape is still wrong. It never fails to amaze me how random some kit manufacturer's Sidewinders are: it's like they don't want to think too hard about the killy bits. I think I might just do a bit of whifjitsu here and claim that they're UK-made versions with slight differences from the US ones.

I'm not sure I'm bothered about the various vent and hatch issues with the Airfix kit: after all, who's to say what the details would be like on a "real" Avon-Skyhawk since one was never built? Maybe I'll convert the dump vent into a small scoop just to really mess with heads... >:D

I've seen the Attack Squadron conversions on ebay, but I've already got enough Freightdog noses for all the Skyhawks I want to build.
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #31 on: March 10, 2015, 07:15:12 AM »
I've been thinking about the markings on this one and there's a bit of an issue. Normal FAA practice for the underside of the wings was to have a medium-sized roundel outboard and then a really big serial number inboard of it, with one of the latter being reversed so it was readable from the front. The problem with the Skyhawk is that the wingspan is short and very obstructed by pylons, big drop tanks and the undercarriage fairings. Assuming that the roundels take up all the space outboard of the outer pylon, then to fit the serials in between there and the wing root, they have to be pretty small, they're largely obstructed by drop tanks on the inners, and they're messed up by the undercarriage fairing and doors.

A few other options occure to me:



1. The "by the book" version, but split around the u/c fairings. This would still be blocked by the tanks.
2. Single code, small enough to fit between the u/c fairings.
3. Same as 2, but much larger, to the point where the first and last digits are outboard of the fairings.
4. Single code but on the flaps. This is least likely to be blocked, but the size is limited.

What do you folks think?
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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #32 on: March 10, 2015, 07:37:50 AM »
Flaps would prob be best and be the most visible in the majority of load outs.
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Offline FAAMAN

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #33 on: March 10, 2015, 12:56:06 PM »
For your codes I'd probably stick to the by the book but with the full code outboard of the landing gear fairings and smaller in proportion anti flash roundels.
I'd also be tempted to place the codes inside the flaps, it'd be easy to do with a printed red background to white codes just use white decal paper.
I don't think there'd be much problem with obscuring the codes on the A-4 as it is psychically small and some limits would be put on just what could be done.
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Offline Tophe

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #34 on: March 10, 2015, 11:58:16 PM »
What do you folks think?
I like your project but my thinking is not serious, sorry: I would write a short funny code as 007, but this is probably not realist enough for you ;)

Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #35 on: March 11, 2015, 03:05:38 AM »
For your codes I'd probably stick to the by the book but with the full code outboard of the landing gear fairings and smaller in proportion anti flash roundels.
I'd also be tempted to place the codes inside the flaps, it'd be easy to do with a printed red background to white codes just use white decal paper.
I don't think there'd be much problem with obscuring the codes on the A-4 as it is psychically small and some limits would be put on just what could be done.

The thing is, the primary purpose of the big underside codes was so that the aircraft could be identified from the ground (bonkers with lov-vis colours, but they did it for real... ::) ) Making them small enough to fit between the u/c fairings and the outboard pylon would pretty much kill that however they were arranged.

Unfortunately, the flaps can't be modelled open OOB on this one, and again, it wouldn't serve the purpose of in-flight identification from the ground. BTW, pre-warning to prepare you for the shock: the inside of the flaps and slats and the edges of the doors on this model are NOT going to be red. The FAA had no history of doing it and didn't even do it on their F-4s, so I think they wouldn't do it on these either. UK aircraft generally have WAY fewer big bright warning symbols than US ones do.
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #36 on: March 11, 2015, 05:29:46 AM »
Okay following some suggestions over on What If, I've done one Harrier-style with the letters in two rows. I think this works pretty well, if you ignore stores obscuration (as the FAA seemed to do).

I've made the blue darker so it's easier to see, but the final decals would still be light blue.

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Offline kitnut617

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #37 on: March 11, 2015, 07:49:52 AM »
Just a note Harold, most of the underwing serials I've seen of RAF aircraft, had the pylon overlay the numbers/letters, the 4 needs moving closer to the 3 with the pylon over the 4 somewhat -- This is because when the pylon is removed for any length of time, the serial number would look quite odd in appearance. Also I think they should lay parallel with the leading edge, like Brit Phantoms do

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/8/9/1/0218198.jpg
« Last Edit: March 11, 2015, 07:56:26 AM by kitnut617 »

Offline FAAMAN

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #38 on: March 11, 2015, 05:14:23 PM »
I like the 'Harrier' style codes :D
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #39 on: March 11, 2015, 06:54:00 PM »
Just a note Harold, most of the underwing serials I've seen of RAF aircraft, had the pylon overlay the numbers/letters, the 4 needs moving closer to the 3 with the pylon over the 4 somewhat -- This is because when the pylon is removed for any length of time, the serial number would look quite odd in appearance. Also I think they should lay parallel with the leading edge, like Brit Phantoms do

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/8/9/1/0218198.jpg


Yes, I agree about the pylons overlaying the letters. I can only find one example of a Harrier with the spacing changed to fit around the pylon and it's a model, not a photo of the real thing.

We're going to have to agree to disagree about the orientation of the letters. I like the Harrier style ones and given the Skyhawk's straight trailing edge, I think it's the natural choice.
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #40 on: March 16, 2015, 11:12:48 AM »
Quick update: I've been fiddling about making the cockpit flash shields, which has been a patience-trying process of cutting tiny paper templates to size, test-fitting them and then making thin plastic final ones. Obviously, the nightmare scenario would be if the canopy didn't fit after then were in place. Think I've nailed it now, but in the process the cockpit coaming has come apart again, so that's currently drying with a sliver of plastic strip in it rather than filler. Should be able to paint it black, fit the shields, and fit the canopy tomorrow, and then it's off to the paint shop.
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Offline ChernayaAkula

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #41 on: March 17, 2015, 01:38:03 AM »
Yikes!  :o Fitting extra flash shields to any 1/72 cockpit has be difficult, but to something as tiny as a Skyhawk cockpit must be twice so. 
Cheers,
Moritz

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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #42 on: March 17, 2015, 03:27:57 AM »
Yikes!  :o Fitting extra flash shields to any 1/72 cockpit has be difficult, but to something as tiny as a Skyhawk cockpit must be twice so.

Yes, I had to trim the top corners off the ejector seat just to get the canopy to fit right, let alone the shield! Very glad I didn't use an aftermarket MB seat now (which would have been "righter" for an FAA machine) since, in between the pilot and the shields, you can barely see it anyway, and it would have been much harder to carve in-situ if it had been white metal or resin.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #43 on: March 18, 2015, 08:54:25 PM »
Okay, so here's some pics. Took them yesterday, but....problems... ::)







Canopy is now masked and glued on (very firmly: the rear shield keeps springing it off) so as soon as the attic has warmed up, spraying can commence. :)
« Last Edit: March 18, 2015, 09:25:17 PM by Weaver »
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #44 on: March 19, 2015, 02:12:50 AM »
Great work.
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But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Cliffy B

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #45 on: March 19, 2015, 02:19:01 AM »
Excellent!!!!

*Read in Mr Burns' voice*
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #46 on: March 19, 2015, 04:29:07 AM »
Cheers! Had a brainwave about the radome too: I'm leaving it in the basic resin colour. It'll get clear coats with everything else, and then I'll paint some thinned brown onto it to get the patchy look of the Bucc S.1 radomes.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

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Offline FAAMAN

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #47 on: March 19, 2015, 01:41:33 PM »
Coming along brilliantly ;) ;) You could always use a lightened mix of radome tan for the resin nose, then dry brush neat radome tan to get the 'wear'.
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #48 on: March 19, 2015, 05:11:28 PM »
Coming along brilliantly ;) ;) You could always use a lightened mix of radome tan for the resin nose, then dry brush neat radome tan to get the 'wear'.

I'm not sure if it was "wear" or just the fibreglass structure showing for lack of paint. Some of them seemed to look like this (i.e. raw fibreglass) when they were pretty new, others seem to have had either a coat of tan paint or a more uniform colour of fibreglass.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #49 on: March 26, 2015, 12:53:20 AM »
White paint:

"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline KiwiZac

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #50 on: March 26, 2015, 02:53:07 AM »
 8) That looks so right.

One teeny tiny suggestion: were it me, I'd make the radome darker. But that's just me - I'm not going to stop loving this build because of that.
Zac in NZ
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #51 on: March 27, 2015, 03:19:37 AM »
8) That looks so right.

One teeny tiny suggestion: were it me, I'd make the radome darker. But that's just me - I'm not going to stop loving this build because of that.

That's only the "undercoat" for the radome: it will indeed end up darker.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline KiwiZac

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #52 on: March 31, 2015, 07:15:10 AM »
In that case I have no criticism of this model at all  8)
Zac in NZ
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #53 on: March 31, 2015, 07:34:04 AM »
Had a bit of a fright a few days ago: spraying it with gloss varnish and it turned yellow! However, when left to dry completely, the yellow tone disappeared, so it's okay now. Currently working on self-print decals.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #54 on: April 01, 2015, 11:25:51 PM »
Underside decals:



Had a another fright when the self-print letters curled up and fell right off! Then I realised it was the Micro-Set: apparently some of the self-print decal films don't like it. Put another set on with plain water and they worked fine.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #55 on: April 01, 2015, 11:34:10 PM »
So that's what happened to the decals I printed in the past....  Never thought it was the micro-set.  Thought the paper was just old/bad.  I need to find out now.  Thanks for the idea lol!

The Scooter is looking fantastic man!!!!
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Offline KiwiZac

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #56 on: April 02, 2015, 04:30:06 AM »
Absolutely gorgeous!
Zac in NZ
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Offline Volkodav

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #57 on: April 02, 2015, 07:29:13 AM »
Love your FAA builds, they always look brilliant and I also find them quite inspiring

Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #58 on: April 02, 2015, 07:34:36 AM »
One side's decals:



Opinion please? What size roundels should I use on the upper wings? I have a choice of the same size as you see in the pic, or some that are about 50% bigger diameter. From what I can see, the ones on white Buccaneers were quite small.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #59 on: April 02, 2015, 08:12:27 AM »
Smaller is prob good but try cutting out one of each, place them on each wing and take a photo for review.  A decal dry-fitting if you will :)
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

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Online Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #60 on: April 02, 2015, 08:37:43 AM »
I would say use the same size roundels that you used for the fuselage just for uniformity if that makes sense.  I am also in agreement with Cliffy B in suggesting that you give both a dry run to see how it looks to you. 
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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #61 on: April 02, 2015, 10:20:37 AM »
I think I'm going with the small ones. I've offered both up, and another point apart from aesthetics is that the small ones can go further outboard while still fitting in front of the vortex generators, thus avoid a tricky decal-setting situation.

The only thing is I have no spare small ones, so I can't afford to screw one up!
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline FAAMAN

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #62 on: April 02, 2015, 12:58:14 PM »
Coming along very well indeed! :) Great work so far looks very good, I like your markings choices!! 8) 8)


It all looks 'right' so far :) :)
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Offline kitnut617

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #63 on: April 04, 2015, 01:39:46 AM »
I think I'm going with the small ones. I've offered both up, and another point apart from aesthetics is that the small ones can go further outboard while still fitting in front of the vortex generators, thus avoid a tricky decal-setting situation.

The only thing is I have no spare small ones, so I can't afford to screw one up!

If the fuselage ones are the same size as the under-wing ones, I'd go with those

Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #64 on: April 04, 2015, 11:45:53 PM »
Radome painted:



And for reference:



It's a coat of Hu.148 Radome Tan, brush painted with my smallest brush over the gloss coat so it would streak, then a band of Hu.98 Chocolate around the back. It looks messy in the pic because of the magnification, but seen at normal distance it's fine.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline Weaver

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #65 on: April 08, 2015, 06:16:20 PM »
Argghhh, last minute problems!

When I sprayed the main model with the clear gloss that turned temporarily yellow, I didn't spray the unattached bits like the u/c doors, the l/e slats and the tanks, which are now a noticably different shade of white. Mostly this doesn't matter, but it really shows on the slats because they sit in contrast to the wing and there's no plausible reason for them to be a different colour. So, last night, I gave then a coat of the same gloss lacquer, which boasts on the tin "dries in minutes!".

This morning, picked them up, and within seconds there was a fingerprint on one and dust stuck to the other. Dries in minutes my........ >:( Now I have to get them dry enough to sand back, paint them white AGAIN, gloss them AGAIN to get the same colour tone, then fit them, then matt coat everything...hang on...

Actually, that's not true: I could nick the slats from another Skyhawk kit and go straight to the white stage, then recycle the screwed up ones into the other kit (which will be cammo anyway) at my leisure.

This is why it sometimes helps to write problems down: seeing them on a screen or paper gets your brain moving....

"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
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Offline LemonJello

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #66 on: April 08, 2015, 08:01:23 PM »
Actually, that's not true: I could nick the slats from another Skyhawk kit and go straight to the white stage, then recycle the screwed up ones into the other kit (which will be cammo anyway) at my leisure.

This is why it sometimes helps to write problems down: seeing them on a screen or paper gets your brain moving....

Nice recovery! One of my biggest fears is a clear coat going bad - all that work down the drain! Can't wait to see the final photos of this one.

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #67 on: April 08, 2015, 08:15:05 PM »
Well here's a nearly finished one to be going on with:

"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #68 on: April 09, 2015, 01:28:06 AM »
Lovely in that anti-flash white camo :)

Offline FAAMAN

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #69 on: April 11, 2015, 02:20:21 PM »
That looks great Weaver, certainly a different look for a Scooter  8) 8) 8) 8)

What did you use for a gloss coat?
"Resistance is useless, prepare to be assembled!"

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #70 on: April 13, 2015, 11:11:30 PM »
That looks great Weaver, certainly a different look for a Scooter  8) 8) 8) 8)

What did you use for a gloss coat?

Humbrol Enamel Gloss spray can. Did the matt coat last week and it did the same damn thing, but this time I was ready for it, so a few days in the sunniest windows in the house got it back to white again.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #71 on: April 14, 2015, 02:45:46 AM »
The '62 Sunshine Cruise
FAA Squawks & the Cuban Missile Crisis

Model by Weaver
Profiles by Cliffy B
Story by Weaver & Cliffy B





By the mid-1950s, the Royal Navy's strike requirement had changed almost completely from that which applied in World War II. The advent of relatively small tactical nuclear weapons, the perceived threat from the Soviet Union's Sverdlov class cruisers, and the decision to abandon large carriers in favour of the more affordable 35,000 ton Colossus/Majestic class, created a requirement for a fast, compact strike aircraft that could deliver the projected Red Beard nuclear weapon to a land or sea target. In keeping with the principles of the 1947 Brokensha Report, which recommended that the UK buy it's naval aircraft from the USA rather than developing it's own, the Royal Navy examined the various options, and it quickly became apparent that Douglas and Blackburn, who had already worked together on a variety of projects, had the perfect aircraft for this requirement in Douglas's A4D Skyhawk. This remarkable little aircraft seemed perfectly tailored to the RN's 'small carrier' doctrine, since it managed to carry a substantial payload in a small airframe by virtue of ruthless weight-saving rather than technical sophistication. It also used an American version of a British engine (Wright J-65/AS-Sapphire) which kept the UK content acceptably high. Most of the competing proposals were either too big or too slow, the only serious competition coming from North American and Supermarine's project based on the FJ-4 Fury.


Douglas-Blackburn Skyhawk S.2 carrying a live Red Beard tactical nuclear bomb. The aircraft would carry two drop tanks, but the nearside one has been omitted to show the bomb clearly. 

RN orders for the Skyhawk were placed in 1956, but unfortunately, politics now intervened. The US government, highly displeased by the joint British/French Suez operation, demonstrated the leverage which the UK's dependence on American hardware now gave it by suspending all British orders for US aircraft and weapons, this being a major factor in the UK's decision to abandon the adventure. Both Tiger and Skyhawk programmes were affected and it wasn't until relations had been patched up that orders could be formally reinstated in 1958. However cooperation between the various UK and US companies quietly continued during this period, and in some ways the delay actually proved beneficial, since many technical issues could be explored and addressed properly without the pressure to start production as soon as possible. The Grumman-Gloster Tiger had been struggling with afterburner problems on it's J-65/Sapphire engine, and during the hiatus, a proposal to replace it with Rolls Royce's Avon was developed and accepted. Since commonality of logistics was particularly important on the small British carriers, a proposal was therefore made to re-engine the Skyhawk with a non-afterburning version of the Avon, and similar arguments were made for the  adoption of the British ADEN 30mm cannon by both aircraft as well. After all these proposals had been accepted, the Avon-engined, ADEN-gunned production aircraft were designated Skyhawk S.2s, the eight Sapphire-engined aircraft used for testing and trials being S.1s.


The same aircraft as it would appear after dropping it's bomb. Note the closed flash hood, designed to protect the pilot from being blinded by the nuclear explosion. This feature was highly unpopular with FAA pilots and was removed for Vietnam service since it was felt to obstruct rear quarter vision, even when open.



The Douglas-Blackburn Skyhawk S.2 entered service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1960 and was immediately christened the 'Squawk'. FAA pilots and engineers took to it from the start, and for the next decade-and-a-half it was possibly the service's most well-loved aircraft. It's probably best remembered by the public for it's sterling service in the Vietnam War, however that conflict was entirely different from the Cold War nuclear scenarios it was purchased for, and in the early years of it's service, they dominated planning and training. Thankfully the Skyhawks never got to deliver their Red Beard nuclear bombs for real, although it's now generally believed that they came uncomfortable close within months of taking delivery of them.



The training unit for the Skyhawk was 736 NAS, which also incorporated the Intensive Flying Trials Unit (formerly 800B Flight) and the responsibility therefore fell to them to develop procedures for the new weapon, the first examples of which were delivered in mid-1962. Initial trials took place ashore, but it was then decided that  a full-scale exercise at sea was necessary to test the new procedures under realistic conditions. HMS Albion had just completed the necessary refit to enable her to store the weapons safely, so at the start of October, six Skyhawks from 736 NAS deployed to the carrier, and she put to sea with Red Beards in her magazines for the first time.



After an initial work-up period in home waters, Albion ventured out into the North Atlantic for further exercises in rougher weather. However just days later, the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted without warning, and the US urgently requested help from all it's allies. HMS Bulwark was on-station in the Caribbean already, but she was just about to end her deployment and had no nuclear capability, so the Admiralty decided to send Albion to replace her, since it was felt that flying the nuclear bombs from ship-to-ship was too risky. The two carriers rendezvoused off Bermuda, and with much cross-decking of aircraft and stores, Albion was made ready for war. The carrier spent the next month operating with the US Navy off Cuba to enforce the American blockade, eventually returning to home waters in mid-December.



To this day, the British Government flatly refuses to declassify details of Albion's operations during the crisis, however by piecing together recollections from former sailors and airmen, and cross-referencing with American accounts, it is now generally believed that the carrier went to full nuclear alert on at least two occasions, with Skyhawks armed with live, 15 kiloton Red Beards ready on deck with engines running. However what has also become clear in recent years is just how limited this capability really was, since records that have been declassified make it clear that Albion cannot have had more than three Red Beards on board at the time, and the actual number may have been even smaller.



Albion's cruise during the Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the RN has ever come to using nuclear weapons in earnest, and has gone down in Royal Navy legend as The Sunshine Cruise, a gallows-humour reference to the term 'bucket of instant sunshine' which is  British forces slang for a nuclear weapon. In the absence of official information, anecdotal accounts of what happened have grown more dramatic as the years have passed. One oft-repeated story is that two of the Red Beards, or two of the Skyhawks (different versions exist) were unofficially christened 'Eric' and 'Ernie' after comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, who's theme song was 'Bring Me Sunshine'. However this is certainly a later invention, since the song wasn't written until 1966 and not used by the comedians until 1969.




Model : Airfix 1/72nd A-4B/P Skyhawk

A-4C nose & Red Beard : Freightdog Models resin

Flash hood and gun barrels : scratchbuilt

Paint : car undercoat white, Humbrol enamels & varnishes

Decals : roundels from an Flightdec sheet 4001 (1/144th scale), bomb stripes & warning triangles from Modecal set no. 57, 'ROYAL NAVY' from Xtradecal X72136, rest were self-printed

Thanks to Cliffy B for the profiles and story ideas and Geoff (Thorvic) for finding the Flightdec sheet.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2015, 02:59:01 AM by Weaver »
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #72 on: April 14, 2015, 02:54:56 AM »
Outstanding! :)
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Cliffy B

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #73 on: April 14, 2015, 03:10:10 AM »
I couldn't be more proud!!!  ;D  8) 8) 8)
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

"Helos don't fly.  They vibrate so violently that the ground rejects them."  -Tom Clancy

"If all else fails, call in an air strike."  -Anonymous

Online Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #74 on: April 14, 2015, 03:14:14 AM »
Great back story/history to accompany an excellent model! 
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #75 on: April 15, 2015, 07:48:32 AM »
Love it!
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

Offline FAAMAN

  • 'bin building for years ....... and it feels it!
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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #76 on: April 15, 2015, 07:21:18 PM »
 8) 8) just superb!!!  8) 8)
"Resistance is useless, prepare to be assembled!"

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #77 on: April 15, 2015, 10:48:41 PM »
Yes, very, very good!


Especially for a Shi..duck ... er ... Squawk (he adds, taking firm aim at friend FAAMAN, ex-Skyhawk techie & long-time mate).
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #78 on: April 16, 2015, 01:46:36 AM »
LOL - cheers folks: much appreciated.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline Volkodav

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #79 on: April 16, 2015, 01:52:28 PM »
one very cool little aeroplane.

Offline FAAMAN

  • 'bin building for years ....... and it feels it!
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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #80 on: April 16, 2015, 03:59:18 PM »
Will you ever learn Wombat  ::) Sky . . . . hawk!!  :) How many times do we have to have this conversation  ::) ::)

I think those Tracker donks may have affected you more than you know ;D ;D
"Resistance is useless, prepare to be assembled!"

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #81 on: April 16, 2015, 08:53:27 PM »
one very cool little aeroplane.

One very hot little island if it had ever had to use that egg for real.... ???
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #82 on: April 16, 2015, 08:56:06 PM »
Will you ever learn Wombat  ::) Sky . . . . hawk!!  :) How many times do we have to have this conversation  ::) ::)

I think those Tracker donks may have affected you more than you know ;D ;D


LOL - years ago, I saw a custom-painted scooter in town than was called "Shy Talk". Didn't realise what it sounded like until I said it out loud to my mate. We were both struggling with the "entertaining" charactertistics of '80s Moto Guzzi motorbikes at the time, and since their logo is an eagle, we christened it the "Sh*** Hawk" from then on.....  ;D
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #83 on: April 16, 2015, 10:49:31 PM »
I remember Skyhawk well from back during its hayday (decades).
Doing an FAA variant is primo :)

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba
« Reply #84 on: April 18, 2015, 11:50:37 PM »
where can I get the nose from?

the A-4C radar nose and the Red beard come courtesy of Freightdog


Link to FreightDog Models


Cheers Jeff - I don't think he's got the Skyhawk nose in production at the moment, but it's always worth asking because he sometimes has extras or seconds or part sets.


Update: I was talking to Colin last weekend and he's getting the A-4C nose masters re-done so he can do another production run.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline kitnut617

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Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #85 on: April 19, 2015, 01:33:09 AM »
Yeah! --- I like how that turned out Harold ----   :) :)

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #86 on: April 30, 2015, 04:58:00 AM »
I missed the voting  :icon_sueno:

Great news about Colin!
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Re: FAA Skyhawk - Cuba '62 FINISHED
« Reply #87 on: April 30, 2015, 06:57:59 AM »
Cheers Guys!  :)
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith