imatt88 Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 (edited) Hey all, I have the 'Nam Tour of Duty Skyraider and I want to model the famous Navy Toilet Bomber Skyraider, What mods, if any, do I have to make to make it the Navy version? I've looked online, and the aircraft look visually the same.. Any help would be appreciated Cheers, Ian Edited June 20, 2018 by imatt88 Spelling Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trietmcam Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 The Navy version used the solid rubber rear tire, which is already depicted in the kit. The Air Force had inflated tire and some configuration had landing lights attached to either the legs or wing tips. I haven't come across a USN A-1 with lights on the legs yet. Otherwise, there are no exterior differences. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D. Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Brengun models makes a nice little kit for this. Includes resin toilet, etch parts and decals for the aircraft. I got mine from rebelalpha on eBay. I think I paid $12-15 for it, can't recall exactly. Midway sailor website has some good pics as well of this aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 The USAAF version A-1J was fitted with the Yankee extraction seat, while early USN A-1Hs had the standard seat used in earlier versions. In 1965 some USN planes were retrofitted with the Yankee seat. Since you haven't specified what kit in what scale you're using, it's hard to determine what's in the box. The two Tamiya 1/48 issues have different seats for the -H and the -J; the -H especially is pretty rudimentary. The Monogram 1/48 kit seems only to have a rather generic representation of the early USN seat. Here's a link to one of Tommy Thomason's blog showing the detail differences: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2013/11/ad-1-skyraider-standard-vs-extraction.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D. Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 1 hour ago, seawinder said: The USAAF version A-1J was fitted with the Yankee extraction seat, while early USN A-1Hs had the standard seat used in earlier versions. In 1965 some USN planes were retrofitted with the Yankee seat. Since you haven't specified what kit in what scale you're using, it's hard to determine what's in the box. The two Tamiya 1/48 issues have different seats for the -H and the -J; the -H especially is pretty rudimentary. The Monogram 1/48 kit seems only to have a rather generic representation of the early USN seat. Here's a link to one of Tommy Thomason's blog showing the detail differences: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2013/11/ad-1-skyraider-standard-vs-extraction.html He's using the monogram 1/48 kit. He mentioned the tour of duty kit. That was the Monogram 1/48 kit released at the same time as the TV show in the 80s/90s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Yes, thanks. I saw reference to that when I poked around the net, but I wasn't certain if that was the only kit and only scale so produced. The question still remains of which seat was found in the plane(s) used for the movie. I'm guessing the Yankee seat is likely since the movie was made in the 80s. If it's important to the OP, True Details makes one -- 48424. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D. Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Tour of duty ran from 87-90 on CBS. Regardless of what it says on the box, the kit is essentially a Navy skyraider. He's looking to build the toilet bomber that flew off the Midway. Not an Air Force version. Kit seat is accurate for a Navy version. http://www.midwaysailor.com/midwayva25bomb/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imatt88 Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 Thanks for the info guys. It is 1/48th and I have the toilet seat conversion on its way. Cheers, Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 Also: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2013/04/things-under-wings-va-25-1-skyraider.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 16 hours ago, Charlie D. said: Tour of duty ran from 87-90 on CBS. Regardless of what it says on the box, the kit is essentially a Navy skyraider. He's looking to build the toilet bomber that flew off the Midway. Not an Air Force version. Kit seat is accurate for a Navy version. http://www.midwaysailor.com/midwayva25bomb/ Right you are. From what I've just read, VA-25 had their A-1s retrofitted with the Yankee seat in 1967, which was after the toilet bombings since VA-25 was only on Midway through late fall 1965. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chriss7607 Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 I'm not sure what seat Monogram was going for either. But, honestly, replacing it would cause way more headaches than it's worth since it's molded integrally with the cockpit tub. I'd just paint it up and roll on. The only real thing that I would do is cut the weapons off of the pylons to do the correct configuration for the Midway airplane. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trietmcam Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 1 hour ago, Chriss7607 said: I'm not sure what seat Monogram was going for either. But, honestly, replacing it would cause way more headaches than it's worth since it's molded integrally with the cockpit tub. I'd just paint it up and roll on. The only real thing that I would do is cut the weapons off of the pylons to do the correct configuration for the Midway airplane. I used the CMK (maybe out of production now).I remember it was straight forward, wasn't too much problem. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chriss7607 Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 Interesting. I don't think I ever saw the CMK cockpit. It looks good though. I think it was KMC that did a set of weaponless pylons but they're out of production. I want to say that I remember reading that the bombs Monogram molded on are the wrong type for one of the boxings. Either the Air Force or Navy didn't use the fuse extenders. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 The CMK cockpit set is apparently still available; designed for the Tamiya A-1H. I used it and liked it on a build in 2010. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imatt88 Posted June 23, 2018 Author Share Posted June 23, 2018 Great stuff, thanks everyone for the input☺️ Cheers, Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chriss7607 Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 It's all good stuff. I didn't know that the CMK cockpit would fit the Monogram kit with little fuss. It depends on how far you want to go with it I guess. The CMK cockpit, resin pylons (if you happen to find them) , and I think someone just did a replacement cowl for it. Of course the correct weapons and decals. On the updates you could easily spend more than the kit! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trietmcam Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 Exactly. You could easily get carried away. If I were doing a Mono, I would only add a QuickBoost pylon sets, only because the Monogram big inner pylons are on the short and small side . Plus all the weapons were cast with the pylons, so you don't have much options but to use what's there. All the other stuffs, cowl, seat, are not noticeable, if you execute a well build model, unless you totally fixated on the shortfalls, and gotta have them right. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imatt88 Posted June 23, 2018 Author Share Posted June 23, 2018 Chris, You got that right! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F4DPhantomII Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 (edited) Hasegawa re-issued the Monogram 1/48 A1H as the toilet bomber for the Japanese market. I bought one years ago.They turn up on ebay from time to time. I prefer the Tamiya kit and am using the toilet and bomb rack on my Tamiya kit. Edited June 24, 2018 by F4DPhantomII Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D. Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 (edited) KMC did a number of sets. An update set with a cowl, an update set without a cool, and a separate weapons and pylons set Edited June 25, 2018 by Charlie D. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cubs2jets Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Search e-bay for vendor 109ace . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imatt88 Posted June 26, 2018 Author Share Posted June 26, 2018 Yup, I saw that guy. He has quite a few sets available. I picked up his Skyraider update set. Looks good in the pics, so we'll see. He also has a control surface set and weapons pylons set as well Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted June 28, 2018 Share Posted June 28, 2018 Don't forget to include the tail fins on the toilet bomb. They were bolted or welded to the back of the frame that held to commode. I have a resin upgrade set that I got in a trade some years back and it did not mention or include anything regarding tail fins. See pic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imatt88 Posted June 30, 2018 Author Share Posted June 30, 2018 (edited) Ya gotta love that. I got 109ace's update set in the mail, and it looks pretty good. I like it, and will probably buy more of his stuff Cheers, Ian Edited June 30, 2018 by imatt88 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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