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1/48 Tamiya Skyraider A-1J |
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HISTORY The history of the Skyraider began during WW II when Douglas submitted a design to the U.S. Navy for the XBT2D-1 as a replacement for the famous SBD dive-bomber. The first of the Skyraider was delivered in 1946 and named according to the Douglas tradition of starting the names of Navy aircraft with "sky.".For the next 12 years there was constant improvement in the airplane up through the AD-7, and 3,180 Skyraiders were delivered to the Navy, many of which were used during the Korean war. The Skyraider
was powered by the Wright R-3350 "Cyclone" engine. It was one of
the most powerful radial aircraft engines ever produced in the United States.
The R-3350 is a twin row, supercharged, air-cooled, radial engine with 18
cylinders and a displacement of 3,350 cubic inches. Horsepower ranges from 2,200
to over 2,800, depending on the model. Thousands of R-3350's were built
powering both military and commercial aircraft and the engine remained in
production well into the 1950's. The engine was first used in the Boeing
B-29 during World War II. Variants of the engine powered the C-119,
C-121, assorted commercial aircraft, and several US Navy aircraft. In 1964, it was
modified for service in the Vietnam War, redesignated A-1E/A-1H, and used by the
U.S. Navy and the U.S. and South Vietnamese air forces. Because of its ability
to carry large bomb loads, absorb heavy ground fire, and fly for long periods at
low altitude, the Skyraider was particularly suited for close-support missions.
The basis for this build was the USAF release of the Tamiya Skyraider. The kit is beautifully molded and assembly is straightforward. The markings are from Aeromaster and I used Pollyscale paints for the finish. I added a tissue paper cover over the rear of the area of the YANKEE ejection system, bolts to the sway braces on the ordnance, static dischargers, pilots helmet, and the whip antenna just to the rear of the cockpit. Other than those few details, the kit is built OOB. The Aeromaster markings I chose are for an A-1H operated by the 6th SOS located at Pleiku, in the fall of 1969. I was thrilled to find a picture of the actual aircraft that matched the decals over on www.skyraider.org . http://www.skyraider.org/skyassn/otherpics/isham/6T609.JPG
The base was constructed by gluing textured paper to a foam artboard. The paper was painted and weathered. I made the FOD barrel from a plastic tube, and the blast walls are plaster casings of a master. Frank
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Photos and text © by Frank Crenshaw