Joel_W Posted October 6, 2014 Author Share Posted October 6, 2014 (edited) Update please! Love your work so far, especially the attention to the wing setup. It was very informative for my own effort. I have the same kit going and plan on a Desert Storm lo-viz machine. No paint on yet, but lots of parts cleanup and fitting and gluing. Wow, this is a well-engineered kit. I tossed my Kinetic A-6 into our club raffle after I saw the Kinetic/Hobby Boss parts compared. I want to use all of the Rockeyes, so it will be MERs on the outboard pylons and a finless tank from a Hasegawa A-4 on centerline. inboard wing pylons, I don't know - Mk. 83s, maybe... So how are the MERs going together? I cut all the sway braces from the sprue, then discovered that there are two different numbers for them. I can't tell the difference between the ones that go on the sides and the ones that go on the bottom! And the holes in the Rocks are not right for mounting them to the MER... Get your update on, man! Andrew, Thanks so much for your most enthusiastic comments. It really means quite a lot to me. Looking forward to seeing your build, especially the Low-Vis scheme. I certainly agree that the HB kit is worlds better then then Kinetic kit, at least that's what I've read just about everywhere. The MERs are together and base painting is done. The mounting brackets are really weird. As you said there are two different parts numbers: F8 and F7, yet they're identical. I had to modify all the brackets that went on bottom of the MERs. Also the mounting holes don't line up as HB decided to use the same spacing as for the pylons, which is wrong. I'm working on a update right now, so you'll see where I'm at. Joel Edited October 6, 2014 by Joel_W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 6, 2014 Author Share Posted October 6, 2014 (edited) Time for another small update. I finished weathering the canopy with just a dark gray sludge wash. I then unmasked the clear glass and assembled the interior back electronics shelf, open/closing latch assembly, and then the 4 PE mirrors. The trick to them was to bend the mounting plates so that you had a nice gluing surface. And yes, I also noticed from looking at the pictures that I have to touch of the canopy front face, as the tape pulled off some of the paint. Next was the switch to MK20s and GBU-10s for the out-loads. From a few posts I received, it was pointed out to me that on pylons 2 & 4, the inside mounting stations weren't used for the MK20s, as the gear doors hit them. I'm sure that's not a good thing. So I only constructed 8 MK20s. As I mentioned in my reply to Andrew the locating holes in the MK20s are to mount them to the pylons, not the MERs. So I plugged them, and drilled new holes. Not difficult, just time consuming. One thing you need to keep in mind is to plug both holes, not just one. Then center the new mounting holes so that the MK20s seat correctly. They're just in raw white paint at this point. Next up was what I think are GBU-10s. There is no mention of them in the kit instructions, and try as I might, I can't figure out exactly which GBU they are. I painted the pylons and will be glossing, decaling, and weathering them. Again, they're just painted basic white. Hopefully, by the end of the week I'll have a follow up post with the pylons, MERs and loads, finished, weathered, and assemblied. Thanks for taking the time to look. Joel Edited October 6, 2014 by Joel_W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VA-115EFR Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Superb work Joel! Really looking forward to the finished product! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peterpools Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 JA Super progress on both the canopy and the loads. I'm pretty sure the facing edge of the canopy is aluminum but I could be wrong. Sure is looking mighty good Keep 'em coming Bro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 JA Super progress on both the canopy and the loads. I'm pretty sure the facing edge of the canopy is aluminum but I could be wrong. Sure is looking mighty good Keep 'em coming Bro Pete, Thanks for stopping by and approving what I've done. It's easy to paint the facing edge any color, but I need to find out now. Anyone know exactly what the facing edge should be? Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 Superb work Joel! Really looking forward to the finished product! Thanks so much for stopping by, and your most positive comments. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 For some strange reason, or mental lapse, I omitted the picture of one MER ready for glossing and weathering. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andrew.deboer Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 The inside framing of the canopy, including the forward edge where it closes against the windscreen bow, should be black. The decking and bulkhead attached to the canopy behind the seats should also be black with a healthy dose of grime and dust. Pete, Thanks for stopping by and approving what I've done. It's easy to paint the facing edge any color, but I need to find out now. Anyone know exactly what the facing edge should be? Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 The inside framing of the canopy, including the forward edge where it closes against the windscreen bow, should be black. The decking and bulkhead attached to the canopy behind the seats should also be black with a healthy dose of grime and dust. Andrew, Thanks so much for that information. Sure wish I knew about the decking, as it's too late to re-due it. Will paint the forward edge of the canopy black. I'm also assuming that goes for the edging of the windscreen. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andrew.deboer Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Yep! The edge has a seal as well as the interior canopy color, so paint it black. I usually paint my cockpit bits (glareshield, seats, whatever is black) Tamiya Nato Black, then do a wash of thinned enamel Burnt Umber. The Burnt Umber imparts a dusty dirtiness to whatever black surface it's on. http://www.glennsmuseum.com/later_mil/pics/a6_cockpit_flgd.jpg Andrew, Thanks so much for that information. Sure wish I knew about the decking, as it's too late to re-due it. Will paint the forward edge of the canopy black. I'm also assuming that goes for the edging of the windscreen. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 (edited) Yep! The edge has a seal as well as the interior canopy color, so paint it black. I usually paint my cockpit bits (glareshield, seats, whatever is black) Tamiya Nato Black, then do a wash of thinned enamel Burnt Umber. The Burnt Umber imparts a dusty dirtiness to whatever black surface it's on. http://www.glennsmus...ockpit_flgd.jpg Andrew, Once again, thanks for the information. The picture is perfect. I've downloaded it for my reference files. Joel Edited October 7, 2014 by Joel_W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 Finally finished all the loads out. Stations: #1 & #5 each have a GBU-10. After a base coat of Tamiya Olive Drab, I added some Yellow to it, and randomly applied a blotchy pattern. Personally, I think I didn't go far enough with it, as GBU-10s still look to new. Stations #2 & #4 each have a MER rack with 4 MK20 Rockeyes. As was pointed out to me by a former crew chief, the inboard racks aren't used, as the gear doors have a nasty habit of hitting them. Rather then just weathering the MK20s with washes, I wanted to show a little rough handling wear and tear, so I lightly sanded parts of the bombs with a #4,000 Micro Mesh pad. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peterpools Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 JA Super work on the loadouts ... looks real good Bro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Those are really nice! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 Peter & David, Thank you both for stopping by, and thanks for those most positive comments. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 (edited) I guess you can call yesterday's update part 1, and today's update as part 2, as the pylons and bomb loads have been installed. Of course I just noticed that I forgot to paint the tail end of the GBU-10s, so there's one more task added to my list. I'm getting close to the end of my A-6E Intruder build as I can finally see the finish line. Not much left to do. I just have one ejection seat to paint, both seats ejections grabs, and both sticks. Install the canopy, and a few odds and ends. Should be done by early next week. Joel Edited October 10, 2014 by Joel_W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Well, after 3 1/2 months of working on the Hobby Boss 1/48 scale A-6E Intruder, I finally finished it this morning. It certainly hasn't been the easiest of kits to build, and at times has fought me tooth and nail. Still, the finished results were well worth my efforts. While not a perfect build by any means, it has to be the most challenging build I've had since coming back into the hobby, and thus the most satisfying. Here's a bakers dozen pictures of the finished A-6E. 6 pictures in this post, followed by 7 pictures in the next post. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Here's the 2nd half of the Bakers Dozen. Hope you enjoy them. Thanks for stopping by. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lancer512 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Excellent build! I really like the way the aircraft is not overly weathered, yet every detail is visible. And just 3 1/2 months? I would need at least half a year to do something close like that! The cockpit is just amazing! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Excellent build! I really like the way the aircraft is not overly weathered, yet every detail is visible. And just 3 1/2 months? I would need at least half a year to do something close like that! The cockpit is just amazing! Lancer512, Thanks so much for your most kind words. Glad you liked my efforts in the cockpit. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Enrywar67 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Hi Joel.....a great build and paint work and decalling work.....!!Compliments a model to be proud.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jgrease Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Great build Joel! It's been a pleasure to follow along. So what's next? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Joel, You did an amazing job. Really did justice to fine aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shaka HI Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Excellent! Looks great Joel. Congrats! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Man O man Joel she came out awesome, great work. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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