john53 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 (edited) My next "project", actually more like a salvage operation. This kit was either in a fire or left in a hot storage area for years. Both kits were warped, the F-105D was easier to fix because it was thinner material, the A-6E is actually an Ace kit, a Korean knock off of the ancient Hasegawa A-6E Intruder but with recessed panel lines. The plastic is very thick.I have started trying to straightening by immersing the pieces into hot water and twisting it back to shape, a VERY slow process. The only reason I bought this kit was for the Revell 1/72 F-105D, it's VERY hard to come by and so far is pretty much salvageable---John Edited August 20, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 20, 2018 Author Share Posted August 20, 2018 (edited) It's too far gone. Nothing can be done. It's definitely a "twisted sister"!I just bought a sealed old 1/72 Hasegawa A-6A and will delete all this and restart later this week with that kit. No more Ace kits for me!---John Edited August 20, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peterpools Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 John Nothing like taking a shot at a deal - you never know and you still have the Thud. Looking forward to following your upcoming A6 build thread Keep 'em comin Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 21, 2018 Author Share Posted August 21, 2018 (edited) Thanks Peter, I am not "officially" working on the F-105D but the warped wing top drove me nuts so I put the wings and fuselage together to straighten them. One of the wing tops was curled up like a tortilla chip! I straightened it and massaged the rest out. I also had to massage the tail, it had a severe lean to one side. The rest of it looks good. It was thinner plastic than that "Ace" nightmare.---John  Edited August 25, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 25, 2018 Author Share Posted August 25, 2018 (edited) Here's the "new"Â Hasegawa 1/72 A-6A. The kit was complete and sealed, but the box was covered with mold and the decals are worthless. I will be seeking after market decals. Looks a lot better than the Ace kit.---John Edited August 26, 2018 by john53 corrected punctuation Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 25, 2018 Author Share Posted August 25, 2018 (edited) Much better fit! 1000% better! I did like the way Ace did the tail hook but the rest of the kit was a disaster.---John Edited August 26, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 25, 2018 Author Share Posted August 25, 2018 (edited) I cut the cockpit tub apart and glued it with the B/N seat lower than the pilots'. I then cut off the locating pin on the right side of the fuselage to let the B/N's side sit lower and trapped it in the fuselage halves. Now to fix the seats, make proper head rests, side consoles, B/N's joystick control pedestal, and scratch a proper looking instrument panel. I also need to sand off that bogus square block on the rear deck in back of the seats and add some piping.---John  Edited August 25, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 26, 2018 Author Share Posted August 26, 2018 I looked at the Revell kit and decided to "kill or cure" it. I cut the seam under the rear fuselage and worked it with a c clamp then reglued it. After it dried I filled the voids with super glue and added a little putty. Then I weighted the nose and added that to hold it all together. I'm just hoping it doesn't pop apart being under all that pressure. Maybe I can stress relieve it like we did at the shop I worked at, heat or vibration. Anyways I am putting it aside so I can concentrate on the Hasegawa kit.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 26, 2018 Author Share Posted August 26, 2018 (edited) The Hasegawa kit is moving along. I sanded the seams and sanded off that ridiculous square block on the rear deck. Now to start scratch building the head rests for the seats.---John Edited August 26, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 27, 2018 Author Share Posted August 27, 2018 (edited) The top of the generic seats were cut off and some headrests fashioned from card stock.Now to bend some ejection handle pulls from copper wire.---John Edited August 27, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 27, 2018 Author Share Posted August 27, 2018 Cleaned up the canopy, glued it together and then dipped it in Future. Doesn't look all that bad.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted August 27, 2018 Share Posted August 27, 2018 Coming along nicely! Waiting for updates! 😉   HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 27, 2018 Author Share Posted August 27, 2018 Thanks, slow but steady wins the race.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 27, 2018 Author Share Posted August 27, 2018 I loaded up the nose with tire weights and scrap, made face curtain pulls for the seats head rests and have the instrument panel sitting in place but not glued. I need to do some detailing on the instrument panel and add some structures to the seat backs. Then on to the side consoles and rear deck.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted August 30, 2018 Author Share Posted August 30, 2018 Seats, harnesses, rear deck detail, gun sight,side consoles, pilot stick, B/N console and stick done and canopy glued on.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 5, 2018 Author Share Posted September 5, 2018 (edited) The wings, intakes and exhausts are on, puttied and sanded. I just noticed the flaps are missing the cut outs to clear the fuel tanks so I filed them in.---John Edited September 5, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 5, 2018 Author Share Posted September 5, 2018 I cut the MERs off the kit pylon and replaced it with MERs from my Hasegawa weapons set. Odd, replacing Hasegawa parts with Hasegawa parts!---John  Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 6, 2018 Author Share Posted September 6, 2018 Need to order paint and decals, then mask and paint.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 6, 2018 Author Share Posted September 6, 2018 If I can't find the decals I want I am thinking of using the AOA decals for the Flight Of The Intruder movie plane, but painting it in it's correct gray over white scheme for the 1971-72 cruise. The decals say to paint it 2 tone gray.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 Movie decals are in. Now to mask and start painting.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 All masked and ready for white paint.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 The whites all done. Now to mask for the gray.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 16, 2018 Author Share Posted September 16, 2018 Grays done.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Parabat Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Coming along nicely. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 16, 2018 Author Share Posted September 16, 2018 (edited) Thanks, not too shabby.---John Edited September 16, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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