|
Building the Douglas AD-5W Guppy This model was based on the Matchbox 1/48 AD-5 kit. I read Eli Raphaels excellent build review from HyperScale, which detailed merging the Tamiya front fuselage and wings with the Matchbox rear fuselage, but as I had a deadline to meet, I didn't have enough time to make this tricky conversion, I simply used the basic Matchbox kit, and parts from the Tamiya A-1H (cowling, propeller, landing gear, tail hook, and drop tanks) and the Radome from the ESCI AD-4W. Total build time approx. 25hrs. |
|||||||
) |
Assembly was fairly straightforward, with just a few minor issues. Care
should be taken when dry-fitting and aligning the cockpit, as there are
minimal alignment pins to ensure placement. Placement of the exhaust
pipes was tricky, requiring care to ensure a balanced fit. Because of the
crude wing fold design of the Matchbox kit, extensive filling
and sanding was required along the joins. The raised panel lines were
sanded and rescribed, and the edges of the radome from the ESCI kit were built up
with putty and press-shaped to match the fuselage bottom. |
||||||
) |
After all seams were
filled, sanded, and polished, the canopies and inside cowling areas were
masked. The rear window areas were painted flat black and masked
using vinyl scraps from the the E-Z Mask set for the Matchbox AD-5W. These
masks fit the canopy perfectly. The model was then primed with Model
Master Light Gray enamel. |
||||||
) |
Fuselage and upper
wing surfaces were pre-shaded; bottom and control surfaces were then painted with Insignia
White. Unfortunately, because this was my first attempt at pre-shading,
most of the shading disappeared when I applied to base coat - care should
be taken to airbrush thin coats |
||||||
) |
Upper surfaces were
painted with Model Master Flat Gull Gray a clear coat applied with
Dullcoat. Weathering was done with dark gray chalk pastels. A slurry
was made from the powdered pastel and water, then worked into the panel
lines with a stiff paintbrush. Excess was removed using a damp Q-Tip. |
||||||
) |
Upon completing the
dark panel lines, the middle areas of the panels were lightened slightly
using the same pastel method, but this time with white pastel. These areas
were blended into the surface color using a dry Q-Tip to create a more
subtle effect. |
||||||
) |
Several light coats of
Future were applied, then Decals were placed, using a combination of the
Matchbox kit Decals (Unit Designations, Rescue arrows & tail codes), National Insignia from
MicroScale #48-305 (AD-6s), walkways and drop tank anti-glare panels from
the Tamiya decals, and a few odd bits of lettering from the spares bin to
compile the AD-5W aircraft designation. |
||||||
) |
The Propeller, Landing gear and
drop tanks were added, using parts from the Tamiya Kit. True Details resin
wheels were added, and exhaust stains were added using a mixture of
black and brown pastels, and the model was then
airbrushed with several coats of Testors clear flat lacquer. |
||||||
) |
The antenna wires were fashioned from 1/2lb. fly fishing line and attached
with the aid of some "extra hands". The wires were then painted flat black
with Model Master enamel. Navigation lights were then painted with Model
Master Chrome Silver, allowed to dry completely, then coated with Tamiya
Acrylic clear colors. |
||||||
|
This kit is part of the IPMS/New Jersey Club Project for the USS Intrepid
Sea-Air-Space Museum and will be donated as part of a 29
model exhibit in early 2004. I plan to build a second model of this
aircraft for my own collection - but this time will try Eli Raphael's
Matchbox/Tamiya conversion, along with the excellent Cobra resin cockpit. |
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
References |
|||||||
|
Skyraider in Action #60
1/48 Tamiya/Matchbox A-D5 Skyraider
USS Intrepid Service Data Aircraft Tailcodes,
1964 1975 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)