RalphSarc Posted November 26, 2023 Share Posted November 26, 2023 A bit of history: The Douglas A-1 Skyraider played an important part in the Southeast Asia War. Its ability to carry an immense amount of weapons and stay over the battlefield for extended periods of time made it a powerful weapon. This aircraft provided close air support to ground forces, attacked enemy supply lines, and protected helicopters rescuing airmen downed in enemy territory. Designed during World War II for the U.S. Navy, the Skyraiders almost disappeared before they had the opportunity to excel over Southeast Asia. In the high-speed, jet-age world of the late 1950s, the Skyraider seemed to be a relic of an earlier time. It had performed well during the Korean War, but the Navy had decided to replace it with jet aircraft. However, Skyraiders proved well suited for fighting against the guerrilla-style war waged by communists in Southeast Asia. The "Spad" Arrives In the early 1960s, the United States provided South Vietnam with increased military assistance and training to resist communist forces, and the U.S. gave Skyraiders to the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF). In 1961, U.S. Air Force instructors started training VNAF pilots at Bien Hoa Air Base with Skyraiders in VNAF markings and their tail hooks removed. Gradually, the USAF instructors started flying combat missions with the VNAF pilots over South Vietnam. Redesignated the A-1 in 1962, the old Skyraider soon got the nickname "Spad" -- referring to the French fighter used in World War I. U.S. Air Force Skyraiders The first U.S. Air Force Skyraiders, two-seat A-1Es, arrived at Bien Hoa Air Base in May 1964. They were assigned to the 1st Air Commando Squadron (later the 1st Special Operations Squadron), which operated under the call sign Hobo. Other USAF squadrons flew Skyraiders from bases in South Vietnam and Thailand under the call signs Spad, Firefly and Zorro. Wherever they went, the Skyraiders provided critical close air support to ground forces and other operations, such as defoliant spraying or supporting the insertion and extraction of special operations teams inside enemy held territory along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Sandy to the Rescue Air Force Skyraiders in Southeast Asia are probably best remembered for their support of search and air rescue missions. Operating under the call sign Sandy, the A-1's ability to fly over a downed Airman for an extended period complemented its massive firepower. Whereas jet aircraft often had to leave an area for refueling or rearming, the Sandies provided nearly continuous suppressing fire until helicopters could extract downed Airmen. The A-1E on display (S/N 52-132649) is the airplane flown by Maj. Bernard Fisher on March 10, 1966, when he rescued a fellow pilot shot down over South Vietnam. For this deed, Fisher received the Medal of Honor. The airplane, severely damaged in further combat in South Vietnam, came to the museum in 1968 for preservation. TECHNICAL NOTES: Armament: Four 20mm cannons and a wide assortment of bombs, rockets, mines, grenades, flares and gun pods Maximum speed: 325 mph Range: 1,500 miles Weight: 24,872 lbs. maximum 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 26, 2023 Author Share Posted November 26, 2023 Boy it’s been a day of nothing but ejection pin removal!!! Parts K8 and K7 had ejection pins inside each cylinder on each part preventing a proper fit. I had to be very careful as each cylinder was very fragile however was able to remove them all. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 27, 2023 Author Share Posted November 27, 2023 Oh man each cylinder had ejection pins that need to be cleaned up this morning!! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 27, 2023 Author Share Posted November 27, 2023 Also had to deal with a sprue tab on the top of each cylinder that needed sanding so the two halves would fit perfectly. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottsGT Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 Those are as bad as the Kitty Hawk radials. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 4 hours ago, ScottsGT said: Those are as bad as the Kitty Hawk radials. I’d say that at least KH’s radials look like radials, not like a Christmas tree decoration …That a R-3350 1/32 engine 😩 ? Hubert 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottsGT Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 2 hours ago, HubertB said: I’d say that at least KH’s radials look like radials, not like a Christmas tree decoration …That a R-3350 1/32 engine 😩 ? Hubert LOL! Fortunately on the Skyraider it’s about 99% covered up if you build it with the front flaps closed. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 27, 2023 Author Share Posted November 27, 2023 I built a very old but well engineered Revell 1/40 kits years ago that was great fun. The 1/32 Trumpeter kit is much more complex over the Revell kit. I love the detail it offers. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 27, 2023 Author Share Posted November 27, 2023 After an hour of cleanup, careful sanding and dry fitting the cylinder halves fit perfectly. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 27, 2023 Author Share Posted November 27, 2023 Installing 18 parts L32 and 18 L9 for a total of 36 tiny push rod assembles this morning. How fun but loving all this detail. Need to reach out to a few friends for their thoughts on wiring the engine. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 28, 2023 Author Share Posted November 28, 2023 Fiddly, fiddly, fiddly!!! Here’s my first attempt at wiring a radial engine. Should add some detail to the engine you’ll never see after the cowling is installed, lol!!! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted November 28, 2023 Administrators Share Posted November 28, 2023 Nice! Looking really decent so far. I built the ZM kit years ago, and enjoyed it. It’s quite the real beast. I have one of these in the stash to use on the Fisher Models family edition Skyraider conversion, and I’m looking forward to giving it some love. I’ll be watching this quite closely. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 28, 2023 Author Share Posted November 28, 2023 I flew as a crew member on HH-53 out of NKP Thailand and had Sandy’s fly low cover for us during SAR missions. Devastating bird to say the least! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted November 29, 2023 Share Posted November 29, 2023 21 hours ago, Clunkmeister said: Nice! Looking really decent so far. I built the ZM kit years ago, and enjoyed it. It’s quite the real beast. I have one of these in the stash to use on the Fisher Models family edition Skyraider conversion, and I’m looking forward to giving it some love. I’ll be watching this quite closely. Ernie Tried my hand at the ZM Skyraider and sadly failed - the wing fold did me in. These days I think more then twice about buying, yet alone about tackling a kit meant to have it's wings folded - the fit is always a fight to the end for me and for the most part, I never get through it. I do have a few Tamiya 32nd Corsairs and even one of their 48th scale Corsairs in the stash waiting to be built, all with folding wings but no problems here as the engineering is superb and the parts actually work out well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted November 29, 2023 Share Posted November 29, 2023 22 hours ago, RalphSarc said: Fiddly, fiddly, fiddly!!! Here’s my first attempt at wiring a radial engine. Should add some detail to the engine you’ll never see after the cowling is installed, lol!!! Ralph Nice progress on the big radial - lots of details to add and those pushrods - the fit seems mighty poor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 29, 2023 Author Share Posted November 29, 2023 1 hour ago, Peterpools said: Ernie Tried my hand at the ZM Skyraider and sadly failed - the wing fold did me in. These days I think more then twice about buying, yet alone about tackling a kit meant to have it's wings folded - the fit is always a fight to the end for me and for the most part, I never get through it. I do have a few Tamiya 32nd Corsairs and even one of their 48th scale Corsairs in the stash waiting to be built, all with folding wings but no problems here as the engineering is superb and the parts actually work out well. Yeah I’ll build anything Tamiya. Their engineering is amazing. Although their armor kits sometime are not very accurate I love them nonetheless. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 29, 2023 Author Share Posted November 29, 2023 1 hour ago, Peterpools said: Ralph Nice progress on the big radial - lots of details to add and those pushrods - the fit seems mighty poor. There have been some fit issues that for sure!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 30, 2023 Author Share Posted November 30, 2023 Well like I said to a friend paint will hide a multitude of sins but I like the detail. Now on to assembling the engine exhaust. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 30, 2023 Author Share Posted November 30, 2023 Fiddly ill-fitting exhaust manifolds play this afternoon. Not at the least bit impressed!! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted December 7, 2023 Author Share Posted December 7, 2023 Finished the engine build in step 1. I have to say a Trumpeter instructions suck. With the lack of written instruction the assemble is left up to the builders complete visual interpretation. I’m not really sure if the exhaust manifolds are assembled correctly so we’ll see a bit further down the road when the engine is installed in the fuselage. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted December 8, 2023 Author Share Posted December 8, 2023 Primed the engine this evening in preparation for hand painting. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted December 15, 2023 Author Share Posted December 15, 2023 Finally finished painting the A1J’s engine. Pretty pleased with their effort. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted December 19, 2023 Author Share Posted December 19, 2023 Did I bit of metal highlighting to the A1 engine using Uschi’s metal polishing powder. Absolutely wonderful stuff! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted December 20, 2023 Author Share Posted December 20, 2023 Since I’ve already built a A1A in SEA camouflage colors I was thinking I might make this recent build US Navy bird. Comments greatly appreciated. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted December 23, 2023 Author Share Posted December 23, 2023 Started the assembly of the cockpit. The kit comes with PE seatbelts however I ordered a complete aftermarket colored PE set so I’ll use that. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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