A-6 Intruder Restoration Complete

[AeroplaneDriver]

Forgive me brother Whifers, for I have strayed from the One True Path.  I finished my A-6, not as a whif, but as a real-deal USMC A-6E, c.1993.  

This is my first non-whif in over a year, and my first non-whif aircraft in 6 years.  After starting the modifications to backdate the original Fujimi TRAM A-6E to a non-TRAM aircraft (meaning I chopped the turret off and plugged the hole) I decided to go back to a TRAM machine.  Fortunately the turret from my Italeri A-6E kit fit well with just a bit of sanding.  The decals from that kit were also used, making this machine from VMA-332 "The Moonlighters" in 1993.  I also went with the kit SAM supression loadout of 2 X AGM-88 HARM and 8 X CBU-87s.  The kit had no pilots, so for hte inflight display I found a couple from a pair of Airfix kits.  They arent the best figures, but with desert tan flightsuits and red helmets for some color, they'll work OK in a closed pit.

I wanted a fairly heavily weathered appearance, so after painting, decaling, and flat overcoat I did some light sanding followed by an alcohol washodwn, tring to reporduce the effect I discovered when I was sanding the old decals down.  It worked fairly well at giving that faded, uneven finish seen on real USN/USMC hardware, though it's not as pronounced as it was during the stripdown, but I had to compromise between getting the effect and leaving the decals and paint intact.

After the 'fading process' I did a thick sludge wash of black watercolor and soap (the kind that comes out of the pump as a foam).  This darkened the finish a good bit, and I did some highlighting by removing more of the wash using an alcohol soaked cotton swab.  Finally I outlined a few panels with a fine brush using the base color to simulate the spot painting seen in real life.

The colors are not an exact match, since I had Light Ghost Gray, but no Dark Ghost Gray.  Since I've read on several ARCair features that the two colors blend together so well it's hard to notice the demarcation, I decided to do the lower surfaces in LGG and the uppers in LGG + a few drops of Gunship Gray.  It may not be completely accurate, but given the variation seen in the real article depending on weathering and lighting I'm happy with it.

Anyway, sorry for the long post on a non-whif, I know this doesnt really belong here, but you guys are my sounding borad.  No backtory either, just a model representing a real aircraft flown by real people who sacrificed the comfort and safety of home so that the rest of us can enjoy those comforts and security.

Next model will be a return to whiffery!  

[DropBear]

From a non-whiffer, that is one nice looking bird.

Good work.

 

[anthonyp]

Oooh, pretty.  White ordinance always sets off low-vis schemes in a cool way.

[Archibald]

Interesting tips! The model look cool, and I like pylons- mounted models.

[Rafael]

MElovesit, AD!!!!      

I really want to learn how to apply clean finishes like on this one!!!
Whiff or not!!

Rafa

[NARSES2]

Thats an interesting loadout AD - I really do like the way you display your in-flight models

Chris

[cthulhu77]

very nice build !  It's fun to do a non-whatif now and again, to get you in the mood for some real craziness, and you have outperformed yourself with this one...really, really nice looking jet.

[ysi_maniac]

Sure a beauty. Good recycling.      

As I said in my last posted model, in flight jet models have something special I like        

[Eddie M.]

I really enjoy your work. This one takes me back to Jan. 0f 91.....
   Eddie  

[Jeffry Fontaine]

And the background music is "Down Town" as they head for the badlands...

[AeroplaneDriver]

And the background music is "Down Town" as they head for the badlands...

Funny you should mention that...for inspiration while working on this one I popped 'Flight of the Intruder' in the DVD.  I love the scene after tehy bomb SAM city and head for home singing 'Downtown'.

[Shasper]

"Keep the faith shipmate!"

Shas B)

[BlackOps]

Always liked the look of the Intruder, you've done her proud!

[AeroplaneDriver]

I really enjoy your work. This one takes me back to Jan. 0f 91.....
   Eddie

Eddie,

Your pics were 'the final straw' in the decision to make this one RW as opposed to a whif.  Sometimes the real thing is just about as cool as any whif could be, and I feel this way about USN/USMC Intruders.  One question for you though...After you posted your pics I started working on a loadout of Mk.82s, but never could get a good result with the heat-resistant crinkle finish.  Do you know of a good way to reproduce this, and more relevant to your own experience, when did they start using bombs with this coating aboard ship?

Thanks!

Nick

[devil505]

Not bad..A little too clean, but not bad.