After a series of fights with terrible kits, the Airfix Skyraider will be more relaxing.
(https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/4/2/0/130420-10189-pristine.jpg)
If one wants to correct the errors, it would take a lot of work, but if you just want a kit that goes together, and basically looks like the aircraft it's supposed to represent, this one is doing the job for me so far. Fit is fairly good, and it shouldn't be long before it's all together. The actual finish is still undecided; fire bomber or ag-sprayer, although fitting an external tank for either should be do-able.
Rat man this I'm gonna enjoy..the Skyraider is one of those kits I've had many times and still one of my absolute favs 😍
You could also go the whole hog and add spray booms to the wings - I'm thinking they're unlikely to be needing to fold, so no need to have elbows or disconnection points.
Just a thought. ;)
Primed
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54253416539_49f5caafe4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qEbWzr)
Looks good for an almost 60 year old kit!
Love the SPAD and have a soft spot for the Airfix kit. Built one as a teenager, long lost. 25 years later built another (the Heller boxing) whilst in the Middle East (model rests in a sandy landfill site somewhere!).
There's another in the stash that'll be built at some point, unlike the others (all OOB) I'll have a stab at moving the cockpit forward.
Ratty have you ever contemplated doing (or have done) that?
:thumbsup:
Quote from: The Rat on January 06, 2025, 04:42:08 PMAfter a series of fights with terrible kits, the Airfix Skyraider will be more relaxing.
(https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/4/2/0/130420-10189-pristine.jpg)
If one wants to correct the errors, it would take a lot of work, but if you just want a kit that goes together, and basically looks like the aircraft it's supposed to represent, this one is doing the job for me so far. Fit is fairly good, and it shouldn't be long before it's all together. The actual finish is still undecided; fire bomber or ag-sprayer, although fitting an external tank for either should be do-able.
There's enough room in the fuselage for an internal liquid chemical tank, dry chemical/seed hopper. The only visible external difference would be spray pipes, hopper chutes/doors.
It's nice to do a straight forward simple kit after a particularly challengin one. I've got half dozen or so in the stash just for that. Enjoy the build :thumbsup:
Quote from: kitbasher on January 08, 2025, 12:41:41 AMThere's another in the stash that'll be built at some point, unlike the others (all OOB) I'll have a stab at moving the cockpit forward.
Ratty have you ever contemplated doing (or have done) that?
No way, this is going to be a more relaxing build than the ones I've done lately! ;D
Quote from: jcf on January 08, 2025, 10:56:11 AMThere's enough room in the fuselage for an internal liquid chemical tank, dry chemical/seed hopper. The only visible external difference would be spray pipes, hopper chutes/doors.
Tons o' room, but I may go for some external tanks as well.
Looking forward to this. Keep cooking please!
Quote from: The Rat on January 08, 2025, 12:40:17 PMQuote from: kitbasher on January 08, 2025, 12:41:41 AMThere's another in the stash that'll be built at some point, unlike the others (all OOB) I'll have a stab at moving the cockpit forward.
Ratty have you ever contemplated doing (or have done) that?
No way, this is going to be a more relaxing build than the ones I've done lately! ;D
Apols, should have been clearer. I meant with any other Airfix SPADs you may have built in the past.
Quote from: kitbasher on January 08, 2025, 12:51:24 PMApols, should have been clearer. I meant with any other Airfix SPADs you may have built in the past.
My first ever!
A fire fighter Skyraider is one I've considered but never actually bought the kit. Be good to see it done by someone else, if that's what you choose to do.
A handsome and practical aircraft, one that might still work in its role today with appropriate avionics and controls updates. :mellow:
And naval, which is always preferable. ;D
Until I can get a new and better printer, this project is probably stalled at this stage. I mixed a little white into some gloss gull grey, and daubed it on where national markings might have been roughly painted over before being sold on the civilian market. The spray company using it didn't bother repainting the whole aircraft, it just added red bits for visibility and whatever name I can come up with for the business.
Which reminds me; I suppose many of you remember Gary, aka 'Before his wife finds out.' Not sure if we had a commemorative build when he passed, but I might dedicate this to him. Trouble is, I can't remember his surname. Can anyone help me out? He lived in New Brunswick, where this would have operated in the fight against the spruce budworm.
Now you've started the gears a-turnin' - what about bringing some of the old girls back into service with the Royal Scottish Airforce? I can just about see the saltires on the tail ... :)
When you reckon the size of country to be overflown, I think speed wouldn't be too much of an issue. Issue the ladies with some Avon cannons, a couple of IRIS-T for selfdefence, and load her out with Brimstones ... Someone's gonna have a rotten day!