Here's a shot similar to first loadout you planned, that I seem to be trying so hard to talk you out of... :

Ajay - I thought I was done with models but you've got me wanting to build a Skyraider!

Do it, we need more model posts!


Cheers Nixer, i'll give that a watch tonight.

Loadout decided. After all of that i'm going to run with the 2000 pounders, 20 odd dollars for two 1000 pounders so no thanks Rocket pods, two each wing and then two 250 pounders plus the centre line drop tank. The white i mixed had some gunk in it so the tank gets another light sand and a quick respray, plus needed some more putty work on a seam.






Engine and nose








Exhausts with the first colour on








Upper intake and nose fillets. I can't find any info on those or what they do. Some sort of air deflectors but for what?






Wingy bits





All the bits so far





First full trial fit up

Ajay, great build, as usual.

I found this, part of some kids university thesis, re the fillets:

THE HISTORY OF THE 6TH AIR COMMANDO SQUADRON
1967 TO 1969
By
Arthur R. Halliday
July 2010

The second feature was four flat fins behind the cowl flaps above the top
exhaust stacks set. The fins were staggered one behind the other and two per side. They
prevented the pilot’s night vision distortion from engine exhaust flames during night sorties.

The Skyraider, cool name for something so....not good looking, proved beauty is only skin deep in two wars

Awesome find, cheers. They had me stumped as to what they did.

I love the way this board always has someone knowing the answer, even to the most obscure questions...

Getting some colour on.







Exhausts nearly done







Old mate waiting for ride to be flyable






New tail marking options






Tinkering with loadouts













Finally getting cracking on the base.











The lighting is killing the base colours a fair bit. The green shows through a lot more and now i just have to wait for the first layer of the water effect to dry so i can see where it's at.

Can be found on some WW2 airplanes.

I like loadout #1! I want to like #4, but something looks funny with the rocket pod so close to the 2000lb bomb, but then so far from the pod next to it.

But looks great overall! You do amazing work. I'm really excited to see this one finished!

Four looks funny to me as well Malibu. I just finished putting the wing pylons on so hoping it looks better instead of just sitting on the wing like i had them placed above. We'll see tomorrow


Second coat of water effect drying.




First coat of the still water clear, same as used on the Warspite build. Looks a bit arty farty like a subdued Starry night.




Mostly cured, should be totally dry by tomorrow. Up against an old map i have hanging up that is about '76, notice Kampuchea.





Amputated pilot, he has to be a tough sob to fly the Syraider so he'll make a comeback.




Post surgery, used some miliput to roll up his sleeve.





Close, but no cigar, looks like some hand surgery is in order to try and get it on the stick.





Besides the paint rip off from masking and some tidy up work needed on the black/gull grey demarcation line on the fuselage, the front glass needs a small trim so i can pull the rear canopy piece in a smidge to close that little gap.





Pylons painted, of course i forgot the centre line pylon so had to paint it separately, after the brush was cleaned of course.







Rudder and tailplane insignia white sections. I finally ran out of Tamiya tape so will have to do the upper main wing ailerons white and leading edge aluminium tomorrow.









Tail wheel and arrestor hook. Fairly sure i need to tuck the wheel up into the rear bay, i need to look into it a bit closer and see how it sits in flight.

Main paint all done, just some bits and pieces to go like the wing walkways and leading edges then i will mount the clear rod and glue the wings to the fuselage. The ordnance looks much better hanging from the pylons. The 2k bomb isn't sitting in tightly yet as once it is in that poly cap i don't think she will budge easily.










Sorted out the canopy gap and touched up the masking error and some more under canopy painting and added the canopy rail.




Starting to look like something, man, this thing is a beast size wise compared to the WWII jobs i have been doing.

Your attention to detail is superb.


Wheels

Finally got to the stage where i could mount the clear rod. I built up a base of putty in layers over the last few weeks around the hole inside so the rod isn't just relying on a couple of mm of plastic. It's now nestled in about a centimetre of putty, glued with cyano glue, let set and then topped off with another layer of putty. The top of the rod sits flush against the fuselage spine as well so it should be all good.




Final test fit of the wings before they get mated to the fuselage.





Glued, taped and sitting overnight. I put some pressure on the wings to close the gap at the fuselage but the angle of wings is too high so it is what it is.





While waiting i masked up and sprayed the front cowl section, i was worried this may be a bit iffy but my taping job ended up being ok. I'll let it settle for a few days and then give the silver a cloth rub to smooth it down a bit.













Exhausts mounted and exhaust stains nearly done. I really should have done the stains before putting the wings on as they were exactly where i needed my hand to be when airbrushing. Based them black with some engine soot/oil colour mixed in and then played around with some compounds. They seem a bit stark to me atm but i will leave them alone until after i clear her her for weathering. I think i'm just too used to seeing her all nice and clean and the stains on all that grey and white are freaking me out

The exhaust soot looks great. Remember in that video I posted earlier, they had guys constantly wiping that stuff off...

I think they called them "Swabbies"!

In the Air Force, confused "Wing Wipers". (Just some friendly inter-service ribbing there)

I am no rivet counter by any stretch of the imagination, but I couldn't help but notice ELEVEN (11) exhaust pipes.

18 cylinder engine with 11 exhaust pipes??

From the Wiki: "were inserted into the exhaust piping of each group of six cylinders," Still no clue where 11 pipes come from???

Same basic engine was used on the B-29. I never knew this:



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_R-3350_Duplex-Cyclone

OK, back to the guy with the talent.

The 3 pipes must be 5 into 3 as from what i can find the odd one is 3 into 2. I wonder if that was specific to the Skraider because of engine orientation or rather part of solving the heat issue with rerouting of the system?

Speaking of B29s, the attempt to salvage Kee Bird in '94/'95 , a Cold War B29 that made an emergency landing in Greenland in '47 is an interesting watch if you haven't already seen it.

Frozen in Time

Crap it's blocked by PBS in this country

Do a search for unblocking YT vids that are region blocked, there is multiple ways around mate

Thanks M8 I've been thinking about adding a VPN for awhile ,,now is the time i really want to watch that video

Googled Kee Bird" , "Frozen in Time" and this is one site https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g3ZU0ZEVRk

After you watch it you may wish you had not. It's heart breaking.