BIG Intruder GROUPIE GROUPBUILD...

I finally managed to get started today!

Started with getting rid of the molded on detail, and rebuilding the rear deck. (using a bit of "artistic license" and refering the Revellograms 1/48 pit)

I jacked up the PE ejection handles for the True Details seats, so I just used fine wire. I also shortened the control stick...that thing woulda been in the pilots face!

Generally, the fit is fairly decent.  The keel section fits better than other Intruder/Prowler models I've done in either 1/48 or 1/72.  The main joint down the center of the spine is a nice fit, the only reason I put any putty on it at all is there's no actual panel line there so I wanted to try to make it truly invisible.

The only area that stands out as problematic was the wing roots; I feel as though the recesses in the fuselage may have been slightly oversized.  I filled them with some styrene strip, melted by cement, to take up most of the volume, then just added a little putty to clean up.

fuselage sides all sealed up... Kolja94 is taking the lead!

Kolja94

As promised, here's some pictures of my project so far.  My first one in almost 4 years thanks to a move and three deployments!

DiscoStu

Manstein's revenge:

This kit is so cherry that it is too bad there aren't more AM decals out there in 72nd for the A-6...

Anyone who knows of a good source or has any "spares" please chime in...

 

 

This is the set that I have that I don't need:

Thanks for the offer though...

As promised, here's some pictures of my project so far.  My first one in almost 4 years thanks to a move and three deployments!

Manstein's revenge

This kit is so cherry that it is too bad there aren't more AM decals out there in 72nd for the A-6...

Anyone who knows of a good source or has any "spares" please chime in...

This is the set that I have that I don't need:

This kit is so cherry that it is too bad there aren't more AM decals out there in 72nd for the A-6...

Anyone who knows of a good source or has any "spares" please chime in...

Thanks to Manstein's revenge for pointing this build out to me! I'm working on an Italeri 1/72 Intruder that I started in late April!

A couple points that were brought up earlier in the thread: The centennial scheme was a Prowler (not sure if the distinction matters to anyone or not, though they were technically separate airframes), all the Intruders having long since been put to bed. Sadly, that Prowler itself was sent into retirement a few months ago.  The seat arrangement, like that in the front of the Prowler, was in fact (to my understanding) for pilot visibility.  The seats' first 6 feet of travel is actually via catapult - no explosives initially.  When the rocket motors ignite the seat is clear of the airframe; if you've ever seen a video clip of an Intruder or Prowler ejection, you see that thanks to the delay built into the sequence the seats are clear of each other before the rocket motors ignite.

For the speedbrakes, that change was actually relatively early on in the Intruder's service life.  They found that, especially at approach angles-of-attack, the position of the speedbrakes adversely affected the airflow over the elevators - a less than desirable thing behind the boat.  So the fuselage ones were bolted shut and the wingtip ones installed.

Anyway, I'll start a thread with some of the in progress pictures so far!

THIS would make a diorama..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6DQEPIWLFc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u8TIvaz49DU

Actually, the patch is pretty rare, ever since the advent of female  Tomcat pilots in the Navy...  *Sigh*...

Echo139er

VanceCrozier:

 

Scorpiomikey:

 

 

Hans von Hammer:

 

Got this patch from an A-6 driver offa the Ranger that had been refueling F-14s for a cruise or two from KA-6s.. Thought it might give ya a chuckle..

 

 

Lol, dodgy.

 

 

A patch like this could get more pilots to sign on for air-to-air assignments...

 

A dio idea maybe....

 

A dio of the patch? 

VanceCrozier

The picture you're showing with the red moon looks like red-to-lighter red. I wonder if that one was airbrushed instead of decalled? the colours don't seem to transition as cleanly. I think I'd stick with the red-over-yellow decals that are on the sheet. I think you'll get the right look once you lay them over each other.

The picture you're showing with the red moon looks like red-to-lighter red. I wonder if that one was airbrushed instead of decalled? the colours don't seem to transition as cleanly. I think I'd stick with the red-over-yellow decals that are on the sheet. I think you'll get the right look once you lay them over each other.

What's the skinny on the moon???

ScottVA36

Vance the seats where arranged like that for ejection purposes so one seat dosnt fry the other aircrew

ahhhh - bonus!

Vance the seats where arranged like that for ejection purposes so one seat dosnt fry the other aircrew

Manstein's revenge

VanceCrozier:

Manstein's revenge:

 

I've seen conflicting pics depicting the "moon" insiginia on this unit's birds...my decal sheet shows an entirely yellow "moon" but most online pics show a mostly red moon w/ maybe the bottom quarter fading into yellow...???  What's the story here? 

 

THE  WORLD WONDERS...

 

(Not at all familiar with USN unit breakdowns...)

Could colour variations have been for different groups within a unit? Maybe even a different time period??

 

With red "moon"...

With red fading into yellow-orange:

Low Viz:

 

Decal sheet seems to suggest the "moons" overlay each other giving the option of an all-yellow moon or one that fades from red to yellow???

 

Red and Orange???

 

Manstein's revenge

 

VanceCrozier:

 

Ok, started the Intruder cockpit. The only issue I saw was a wrinkle in the rear wall of the cabin, puttied & smoothed it out, the went to work. (with my luck, somebody will tell me it was supposed to be there!)

And then I..... sorta "fermised it"

All oob, with some creative license on the IP. I've decided if I get hung up on EVERY detail, projects die in my hands. Still need to do a little dark wash.

 

The wrinkle was supposed to be there...

 

Nice job on the pit! The IP looks great.  Just noticed that the Pilot sat higher up than the Bombadier---did not know that until I saw the pit from straight on!

...wrinkle...

Higher pilot.... better view out the right side that way I suppose??

VanceCrozier

Ok, started the Intruder cockpit. The only issue I saw was a wrinkle in the rear wall of the cabin, puttied & smoothed it out, the went to work. (with my luck, somebody will tell me it was supposed to be there!)

And then I..... sorta "fermised it"

All oob, with some creative license on the IP. I've decided if I get hung up on EVERY detail, projects die in my hands. Still need to do a little dark wash.

Nice job on the pit! The IP looks great.  Just noticed that the Pilot sat higher up than the Bombadier---did not know that until I saw the pit from straight on!

VanceCrozier

Manstein's revenge:

 

I've seen conflicting pics depicting the "moon" insiginia on this unit's birds...my decal sheet shows an entirely yellow "moon" but most online pics show a mostly red moon w/ maybe the bottom quarter fading into yellow...???  What's the story here? 

 

THE  WORLD WONDERS...

 

(Not at all familiar with USN unit breakdowns...)

Could colour variations have been for different groups within a unit? Maybe even a different time period??

With red "moon"...

With red fading into yellow-orange:

Low Viz:

Decal sheet seems to suggest the "moons" overlay each other giving the option of an all-yellow moon or one that fades from red to yellow???

Red and Orange???

Manstein's revenge

 

I've seen conflicting pics depicting the "moon" insiginia on this unit's birds...my decal sheet shows an entirely yellow "moon" but most online pics show a mostly red moon w/ maybe the bottom quarter fading into yellow...???  What's the story here? 

 

THE  WORLD WONDERS...

(Not at all familiar with USN unit breakdowns...)

Could colour variations have been for different groups within a unit? Maybe even a different time period??

Mikeym_us

I dunno fermis but my uncle and both of my 2nd cousins are marines (can't use ex marines as once a Marine always a Marine) who fought in Vietnam which is odd seeing as my other uncle and another 2nd cousin were both in the Navy during Vietnam with my cousin being a machine gunner on a PBR. And both my grandfathers were in the Army during WWII .

fermis:

Medicman71:

Manstein's revenge:

Manstein's revenge:

I still love this scheme and want to marry it...

 

My kit came today and, boy, am I impressed with this "jewel" of a kit...I also got some Aires resin ejection seats to dress things up a bit...This is one pit that can be seen very well due to the massive canopy that slides open...Also got some Eduard masking for the glass and some AM decals for the above a/c...Unfortunately couldn't find a PE set in stock but the kit parts should be fine w/ a bit of careful painting...

I like the colors on this plane---especially the black tail and light undersides.  My a/c is slightly different in that the moon on the tail is yellow and the a/c number is "500"--which I believe indicates that it belonged to the Squadron Leader...

 

Yeah that would be the Squadron CO or the CAG's bird.

 

I will be doing the same bird, as a tribute to my big brother, who got to drop his first bombs with VMFA(AW)-332, on some insurgents, which in turn helped to save the lives of his brothers on the ground.

 If all Marines are brothers....and my brother is a Marine...what does that make me???....just a red headed step brother to the Corp???

 

THE  WORLD WONDERS...

Ok, started the Intruder cockpit. The only issue I saw was a wrinkle in the rear wall of the cabin, puttied & smoothed it out, the went to work. (with my luck, somebody will tell me it was supposed to be there!)

And then I..... sorta "fermised it"

All oob, with some creative license on the IP. I've decided if I get hung up on EVERY detail, projects die in my hands. Still need to do a little dark wash.

I dunno fermis but my uncle and both of my 2nd cousins are marines (can't use ex marines as once a Marine always a Marine) who fought in Vietnam which is odd seeing as my other uncle and another 2nd cousin were both in the Navy during Vietnam with my cousin being a machine gunner on a PBR. And both my grandfathers were in the Army during WWII .

fermis

Medicman71:

Manstein's revenge:

Manstein's revenge:

I still love this scheme and want to marry it...

 

My kit came today and, boy, am I impressed with this "jewel" of a kit...I also got some Aires resin ejection seats to dress things up a bit...This is one pit that can be seen very well due to the massive canopy that slides open...Also got some Eduard masking for the glass and some AM decals for the above a/c...Unfortunately couldn't find a PE set in stock but the kit parts should be fine w/ a bit of careful painting...

I like the colors on this plane---especially the black tail and light undersides.  My a/c is slightly different in that the moon on the tail is yellow and the a/c number is "500"--which I believe indicates that it belonged to the Squadron Leader...

 

Yeah that would be the Squadron CO or the CAG's bird.

 

I will be doing the same bird, as a tribute to my big brother, who got to drop his first bombs with VMFA(AW)-332, on some insurgents, which in turn helped to save the lives of his brothers on the ground.

 If all Marines are brothers....and my brother is a Marine...what does that make me???....just a red headed step brother to the Corp???

Medicman71

Manstein's revenge:

Manstein's revenge:

I still love this scheme and want to marry it...

 

My kit came today and, boy, am I impressed with this "jewel" of a kit...I also got some Aires resin ejection seats to dress things up a bit...This is one pit that can be seen very well due to the massive canopy that slides open...Also got some Eduard masking for the glass and some AM decals for the above a/c...Unfortunately couldn't find a PE set in stock but the kit parts should be fine w/ a bit of careful painting...

I like the colors on this plane---especially the black tail and light undersides.  My a/c is slightly different in that the moon on the tail is yellow and the a/c number is "500"--which I believe indicates that it belonged to the Squadron Leader...

 

Yeah that would be the Squadron CO or the CAG's bird.

I will be doing the same bird, as a tribute to my big brother, who got to drop his first bombs with VMFA(AW)-332, on some insurgents, which in turn helped to save the lives of his brothers on the ground.

 If all Marines are brothers....and my brother is a Marine...what does that make me???....just a red headed step brother to the Corp???

Aircraft 500 or "nutz" as we called it was always CAG's bird usually had the snappy paint job the skipper's was any other Modex he wanted most of the time the next one up.

http://maquetas.mforos.com/1165098/6487584-intruder-tamiya-italeri-1-72/

AWESOME BUILD BLOG for the 72nd scale Italeri/Tamiya Intruder...

Manstein's revenge

Manstein's revenge:

I still love this scheme and want to marry it...

 

My kit came today and, boy, am I impressed with this "jewel" of a kit...I also got some Aires resin ejection seats to dress things up a bit...This is one pit that can be seen very well due to the massive canopy that slides open...Also got some Eduard masking for the glass and some AM decals for the above a/c...Unfortunately couldn't find a PE set in stock but the kit parts should be fine w/ a bit of careful painting...

I like the colors on this plane---especially the black tail and light undersides.  My a/c is slightly different in that the moon on the tail is yellow and the a/c number is "500"--which I believe indicates that it belonged to the Squadron Leader...

Yeah that would be the Squadron CO or the CAG's bird.