Parallel Photo Builds of AD-5W Skyraiders

[Ianshaw]

Hi All,

I must admit one of my favourite parts of modeling is watching other modellers progress on the Forums so I thought I'd give it a go. There's an unusual back story on this one, firstly I'm a total nut for AEW Aircraft and have gathered quite a stash over the past 5 years to build. I'm trying to do them in historical order as best I can. So far I've done the ACI Wellington from 1941, the TBM-3W Avenger with the first APS/AN20 Radar, the Boeing PB-1W fitted with the same radar, the Grumman Guardian AF-2W, the RAF Neptune AEW Mk1, and two BN Islanders (slightly out of sequence).

I've come to the conclusion that 1/72 scale, especially for the smaller aircraft is getting difficult for me as the eyesight isn't what it was. It won't be too bad for the Tracer, Hawkeyes, P-3 Orion, Shackleton AEW and USCG C-130, but the small Skyraiders are proving a pain.

So under enthusiastic pressure from my younger brother Andy, I've started dabbling in 1/48 scale. The first attempt the RN AEW Mk-1 Skyraider has just been posted on Britmodeller today in the Ready For Inspection forum.

Firstly I had to find a Matchbox AD-5 Skyraider kit, very kindly both Andrew Smedley and Anthony Phillips both members of Britmodeller sold me a kit each, both having the Cobra Resin Cockpit Conversion set included and both for less than £25. Anthony was even kind enough to throw in several parts from an abandoned Tamiya Skyraider kit as well. I was even more grateful two weeks after the kits arrived as an identical package of the Matchbox model and the Cobra set went for £102 on e-Bay !

So the die was cast, these kits weren't going into the stash, they were going to get built. Lots of research was required as even after purchasing nearly every book on the Skyraider including several long out of print there was very little gen available on the "Guppy" version. The internet yields the same old photos most of which have been gleaned from the books anyway. After several e-mails to my Brazilian friend Sergio Santanna, who is currently writing a book on the history of AEW in Portuguese (hopefully to be translated into English, several US Navy Manual pages were sent to me for reference. Also after an appeal to US IPMS members on our IPMS site for info on AD-5W's, a wonderful guy called Seb Eusebio from Switzerland came up with copies of 2 articles published in the IPMS USA Magazine a quarter of a century ago, amazing, what an International hobby we have, thanks again guys for the help. So with as much research as possible collected it was time to start.

My brother, who is a much more skilled modeller than I offered to do the most difficult one for me as a birthday present, this version has a domed hood over the rear Radar Operator's compartment, we decided on a AD-5W from VAW-33 in Grey/White of 1953. He has a Matchbox AD-5 / A1-1E, a Cobra Cockpit set and a full Tamiya AD Skyraider kit to rob bits from as required.



I'm doing a Dark Blue Marines AD-5W of VMC-2 of 1955, this aircraft had the blue tinted plexiglas "Blue Room" over the Radar Compartment. Again the primary kit is the Matchbox Skyraider, the Cobra set and a Sqn acetate canopy and a few Tamiya bits.



The start of this project, the completed RN AEW Mk 1 is next to the components of this mini "Group Build"

Below, what we are aiming for, a superb model of an AD-5W at either SMW 2008 or 2006 I'm not sure which, I'd love to get in contact with the builder for some tips. Does anyone out there know who built this one please?



What I plan to do is post pictures of the builds as they progress, I'll be tracking Andy as he has better skills than me and part of the point of this is for me to try and improve my skills.

I sent him a parcel with all the bits and decal options for 2 aircraft, I was delighted that he went for the difficult option of the solid hood US Navy example as then I could do the easier Marines version! In the parcel was lots of research material, copies of the American IPMS plans with profiles for the hood and radome. I had previously moulded several radomes from the Esci kit with limited success, Andy wasted no time in pointing out that the one I had sent him was a bit "asymmetric" which I am sure a man of his calibre will be able to sort out! I'd marked up the Tamiya components with where I thought he should cut them, again this proved a bit presumptuous as when he did the two fuselage profiles were way off, whoops.



This shows the initial mating of the nose from Tamiya and the Matchbox fuselage , which called for liberal appliance of (the only available in the Far East) Tamiya two part resin putty.



The nose rubbed down with the Tamiya wing mated to the underside, note that all the armour plate detail needs to be ground off. the Matchbox wing is appalling with most parts in the wrong place and very little detail which is in stark contrast to the fuselage that apart from the nose cowl and exhaust ring area is not bad at all.



Above shows the trial mating of the Cobra cockpit set on the Navy version.

Now for some of the my "Marines" version progress, remember I'm having to use the Matchbox nose and wings, I do have though, Tamiya tail planes, undercarriage and wheels, flaps, and cowl baffles at the front of the engine that will be modelled in the closed position, that way I don't have to detail the engine !



The aircraft I am modelling is in the foreground, the wing tips and fin tip are bright yellow.



Initial putting together of the Cobra Cockpit on the Navy version.



The same parts on the Marines version with alot more detail added.

Next, Andy's detailing of the wheel wells in the Tamiya wing on the Navy version, luckily I have the ribs available to go inside the Matchbox wing on mine.



More to follow......

Ian S.

[Ianshaw]

Right on with Part Two of the build. The Navy version now has a new nose and most of the wing detailing is done. Now the dificult bit, the rear Radar Compartment cover. Andy had the drawings of the profiles from the American IPMS Mag from 1983 so he went for it. Here is the photo sequence of that construction.



The initial building up of the profile from plastic card formers, which Andy then filled with scrap plastic blocks.



The formers planked with plastic card.




After filling with Tamiya 2 part resin putty and rubbing down.



The hood being trial fitted on the fuselage.



After priming and some cockpit detail being added.



Andy has now added quite a bit more detail in the Radar Operators position, sadly 90% of this detail will not be seen as the rear hood will be closed.



One of the critical changes for the AD-5W version is the addition of a Radar Repeater Tube in the RHS in the front cockpit. This entailed scratch building the whole panel and remodelling the coming with the typical to type drop down in the dash board cover shield.



The primer has been dusted with a light grey, the consoles and sidewalls are then painted with thinned Tamiya black, this makes it flow around the detail better. When this is dry a wash of black and burnt umber oil paint is applied to all areas of the cockpit to shade it.

Now we are up to date, I await the next batch of photos from Andy, while I will have a go at detail painting and dry brushing the Marines version cockpit detail.

See you soon

Ian

[popeye]

Hello Ian.

This is just superb - such photo-builds are exactly what the ipms motto "by modellers-for modeller" means.

Re your AEW-1 on BM - regarding problems with Hannants Acrylics -
is that xtracolour you are having problems with ?

If yes, use the original mixture of thinners AND retarder (one fluid) at up to 60% thinner for airbrushing - you will be surprised of the smooth finish attainable !

Let me know - might have more tipps on that.

Rolf

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Ian,

What can I say......

Great to see all this on here... Great reference stuff for folks.. and they do look at this forum all over the world..! I only have to look at the enquiries I get regarding the Decal Bank for that.

I for one will follow your progress with interest, just reread your post 4 times to get my head around all the different versions and who is doing what...

More, more......

Anything else I can help out with Decals, just give me email....

Colin

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Ian,

The Marine version you are doing, and that photo that you make reference to.

What's the tale behind the different 'tanks' on the aircraft behind..?

Colin

[Ianshaw]

Colin,

Regarding the Marines Skyraiders picture posted above , the one in the middle is an AD-5Q ECM (Electronic Countermeasures) aircraft. The port wing has a normal high speed drop tank, our AD-5W usually had one tank fitted to the Starboard wing pylon without one on the port pylon (possibly to help counteract the deadly engine torque on the Skyraider). 54 AD-5Q's were built, the bulbous type tank on the starboard wing is in fact the ECM jammer pod. I have two of them going spare from the 2 Matchbox kits if you want them. The aircraft furthest away from the camera is an AD-4W which is the same type as the AEW Mk1 that the RN operated and which was replaced by the AD-5W.

Ian

[Ianshaw]

Rolf,

Yes it was xtracolour, it didn't seem to matter how much I thinned it (and beleive me I tried) it still seemed to dry semi matt and patchy but worst of all left stringy globules inside the Airbrush when it came to cleaning it, that were a real bitch to clean out. What really annoyed me was that I payed a lot of money from Hannants at SMW last year for the special thinners. I' m going back to Tamiya paints as I find them far more manageable.


Ian

[popeye]

Ian - re xtracolour.

If you have decided to change back to Tamiya problem solved I think.

But this Czech manufactured paint is otherwise superb. Can be brushed and airbrushed, superb covering power and grip but really a problem to clean the airbrush if used without original thinner/retarder.

Good modeling, Rolf

[Ianshaw]

Hello All,

Well, Andy was busy yesterday evening as he has finished painting the cockpit on the Navy version. I was up until midnight putting the photos on Britmodeller. I've received a snotogram from one of the IPMS Moderators complaining about the size of my images on here and threatening to pull the photo's. Wonderful, no wonder people have left these forums in droves and gone accross to Britmodeller where ther seems to be a much less oppressive atmosphere. I've suspected that the powers that be in IPMS don't really have time for the IPMS Forums for a long time and maybe they should have a bit of a lighter hand, but hey I don't want this thread to degenerate into a slanging match with the Mods so I've bit the bullet and just spent 2 hours of valuable modelling time re-sizing all the previous images to 640 x 480 or less, but to me they don't look that much different!

Right rant over, here are the latest photos. First the seats which he has done the cushions grey/green, the straps silver grey with dark green outlines.



Then onto the dash which has a grey plastic cover over the front that runs down to the coaming, the Radar Repeater in the passenger seat has been faithfully reproduced.



Parts now located and glued into the cockpit.



Next the centre console, I love that detail but I don't think my eyes are up to reproducing that let alone having the quality brushes!



Finally the whole thing together.



The wings are complete, so I don't know where he's going next, points to note here, the lower airbrake (we have now established) was removed and the recess was squared off round the internal sides. An escape hatch was installed from the rear radar compartment floor to the right of the Radar Operators seat that egressd into the old airbrake recess. This is very difficult to see on photos but it is there. It was not installed on the models that had 2 or more seats in the rear compartment. There is also a fresh air intake in the leading edge of the vertical fin that Matchbox missed completely!

I must get down the shed now and try and catch up with him, it's my last day off this shift cycle with ironing I'd promised I'd do and tea to prepare, a man's work is never done!

See you all later.

Ian S.

[ptcruiser]

Mar 6, 2009 9:27:48 GMT Ianshaw said:

I've received a snotogram from one of the IPMS Moderators complaining about the size of my images on here and threatening to pull the photo's. Wonderful, no wonder people have left these forums in droves and gone accross to Britmodeller where ther seems to be a much less oppressive atmosphere. I've suspected that the powers that be in IPMS don't really have time for the IPMS Forums for a long time and maybe they should have a bit of a lighter hand, but hey I don't want this thread to degenerate into a slanging match with the Mods so I've bit the bullet and just spent 2 hours of valuable modelling time re-sizing all the previous images to 640 x 480 or less, but to me they don't look that much different!

Ian
The explaintion given on your 'snotogram' (I received one too) clearly indicated that not all users have the luxury of upgrading their monitors. The advancement of photo technology has lead to higher res photos being easier to upload etc but as above, not everyone has or can keep up to speed with these developments.

As for your comments re the moderators, I think it somewhat ill judged as siginifcant time IS spent on the forum and it has improve significantly since the current webmaster took the helm.

If it's of any sollace, I too will be revisiting ALL my uploads to downsize them. I have resized my more recent ones, but obviously I need to review the older ones.

Rich

[Ianshaw]

Part 4

I've been doing some detail painting of the cockpit on the Marines version today.



Coming on but nowhere near as neat as Andrew's.



And the final view.



I've got some more of Andrews updates to put on, I'll try and get them on later this evening.

Ian

[popeye]

oh oh -

pity you are not living next door -

I would ask you to do the cockpit detailing for me - something I try to reduce to the minimum possible...

Rolf

[Ianshaw]

PART 5

Blimey Andrew's got a head of steam on and has sent me the third lot of photos in 24 hours. He has now atached the Tamiya wings onto the Matchbox fuselage on the Navy version. We thought we might have a few problems in this area but the join has matched pretty well see below.



There is a bit of a gap on the leading edge under the nose but most of this will be covered by the radome when it is fitted.



The fresh air intake in the forward leading edge of the tail fin has also been drilled out and reinforced with plastic card. This intake provided cooling air for the radar equipment and for thr radar operator himself.



Finally a couple of overall views of the model so far.

[sloegin57]

Ian (Primarily), Colin and Popeye.

This is right up my street and one reason I bought a Matchbox 48th Skyraider on evil bay about a year ago.

Back in the sixties, in Malta, I did a photo "walkaround" (mono - sorry) of an EA-1F 135018 of VAQ-33 of the USS America - always wanted to build one. Carried three tanks, one ECM pod and lumpy bumpy bits under the rear fuselage and on fuselage sides. When I can find the negs (up to my neck in other things at present), I'll do a photo spread here.

Ian - if you sen me a PM with your e-addy - I'll send a set of shots. Colin and Popey - before you ask, I know your e-mail addies!!.

Dennis

[Ianshaw]

PART 6

Hi again all, wow has a week gone by since the last entry, well we haven't been idle, both Andrew and I have made some progress. We are both determined to go for total accuracy on this one and there have been a couple of technical issues that have cropped up that have slowed us down a bit. Firstly we have dug up in our research a written reference to an under floor escape hatch for the Radar Operator in the rear compartment. We know that on AD-5W Guppies the ventral airbrakes were never fitted, however, there are no "decent" photos of the underside of the aircraft. So it is very difficult to confirm but it appears that as there was only one rear seat fitted in the Guppy there was room to install a hatch in the floor and a tunnel down into the lower air brake housing where another hatch could be popped for the radar operator to bail out. There were major concerns for the safety of the front crew when bailing out from this aircraft, potentially hitting the empennage, so you can image the rear guy had no chance.

That said, we have decided to include the hatch on the models, especially as it appears that on all the other such models that are viewable on the net, no-one else seems to have included it.

Firstly though I have some photos of the progress on the Marines version, as you can see I have tinted the rear two hoods with Tamiya Blue Clear after dipping it in Johnson’s Klear first. It took reasonably well but as I discovered when dry fitting it over the front cockpit bulkhead ( which was too tall) it scratches very easily indeed. The fuse is not glued together yet.



Next came the detailing of the wheel wells. The Matchbox wing is appalling; with massive circles moulded into the inside of the top half of the wing and lots of injection posts that also have to be ground off. After the grinding some shaped rod was glued in laterally front to back, followed by the spar detail ribs from a Tamiya kit which were used to box in the wells. Some hydraulic pipes were glued on to the front of the plastic cross members as was some plastic card strip over the beams. Then at the rear of the well a small strip was bent into shape to represent the stopper blocks that stopped the wheel rotating when in the well. The Tamiya UC legs and wheels were also dry fit tested at this stage. Now the quandary that another modeller on the site had this week had, what colour were the wells and legs? They could be Sea Blue, Zinc Chromate, Aluminium or White. Unfortunately the photo I am working from, see above, shows the aircraft with the gear up. I am tempted to go with the white as no one will know for sure, will they?





Next I masked the canopies, mainly to protect them at this stage from further scratching and other substances.

Here is a photo of progress so far on the Marines version, you can see the masked canopies, the wings ready to be glued together after which there will be lots of scribing to do. You can see the Tamiya flaps and drop tank also waiting to go on.




That's it for the update on the Marines version, now for the juicy bits, Andrew's progress on the Navy version. staring with the aforementioned escape hatch marking out. The picture below shows the airbrake housing on the Tamiya wing where it has been mated to the Matchbox fuselage, the hatch aperture has been marked out in pencil.



Next a hole has been cut for the panel to go over.



Finally the plastic card panel has been glued over the hole. From photos it appears that the hinges and actuator recess holes were not filled or blanked off on the original aircraft, showing up as black lines on photos of the original.



This stage of the model is going to be far more work on the Marines version as the detail in the airbrake recess on the MB kit is none existent and the side walls are perpendicular and don't slope following the profile of the airbrake as it should, so I'm really looking forward to this bit on my build!

Next Andrew has super detailed the Tamiya legs using lead wire and sticky back foil for the brackets, I wish I had some of that stuff as I'm going to have to used very thin plastic card.



Next the engine, again the Tamiya part but with the addition of ignition leads, luckily I have used the Tamiya startup baffles on mine so the engine will not be visable behind them.



On the Navy version Andrew wants to have the pilot's canopy slid back. On the original the front cockpit canopies slide back individually on rails mounted on the side of the cockpit and in a beam that ran between and above the pilot and co-pilot/passenger. To get this to happen on the model the MB middle section had to be cut away from the rear section (which Andrew did not use because of the scratchbuilt rear hood). Then he sanded down the thickness of the middle section, it does not have to be clear because this was aluminium on the real aircraft.



He then glued on the top beam for the hood rails, it looks crude but so it was on the the full size one.



Finally for this instalment, he masked off the rear hood with the sticky foil to protect it prior to the final rubbing down, there has been some filling for instance a fillet had to be inserted where the flap edges of the Tamiya wing met the MB fuselage as there was just daylight.



That's all folks for episode 6 .....back soon

Ian S.