The kit is nothing special at all but a good representation of the A-1H Skyraider. The quality is Tamiya like; it could almost be build over night. I added a Resin cockpit from Aires, to improve the kit parts. Unfortunately
I ordered the Cutting edge version first, learning that the version I wanted to build has NO Yankee extraction seat. So I had to go for another one. The Aires cockpit is of very high quality, but any instruction how to
install it in the kit is missing. The most difficult parts to install are the sidewalls. I cut them to shape, and sanded the sidewalls close to transparent. That's the way to go if you want to have them installed. One could also consider leaving them off, as they almost can't be seen when the cockpit is installed.

The wheel bays from CMK are very fine detailed. Compared with my references 100% perfectly designed. Only 1-2 Hydraulic lines are missing. To install them into the kit you have to sand them down a lot, again almost to transparent. But afterwards there is no further trimming required, and they fit perfect. The tail wheel is also supplied, and it's much more correct than the original Tamiya one.

The perhaps most difficult part to "get right" was the propeller. The separate blades have to be glued to the governor section. This must be done very carefully. Once they are installed you can't turn or twist them anymore. And if one blade is looking a bit too much to the left or the right, the whole prop looks ugly. Compared to the original Tamiya one and again both together compared with some pictures, you immediately see why CE made a corrected one. For me a must add!

I wanted to build the A-1H from VA-65 piloted by Lt. Jim Johnes, because I found some pictures of the original one on www.skyraider.org. So it was easy to build the model as accurate as possible.

The aircraft I painted with Vallejo Model Air colors, witch I use since quiet a long time with high success.  I preshaded the panel lines with black, and sprayed the metallic colors afterwards. Those I covered with Tamiya tape, and then I finished coloring the model. The panel lines have been highlighted with a brown - black mixture of water based colors. After they were dry I got the idea the mixture was a bit too brown, but after some days I was used to it, and now I like it. The exhaust strains were airbrushed with Tamiya smoke. I passed about 60x for one, so I had very good control of the shape and the darkness.  Oh, I just remember, the exhausts are from Moskit, and they are a MUST!! I have never seen something more realistic on a model than those.

To start decaling I used my old "trick", and sprayed Future on the whole model. This gives it a very gloss and smooth surface, where the decals stick very well, and the decal film is invisible after they are dry. Afterwards I airbrushed matt, satin and gloss varnish on different areas, depending what was used on the real model (White is gloss, grey is matt, dirt and oil is semi gloss ...) To finish I added some leaks and oil strains where I could see them on different pictures I have from Skyraiders.

The represented model is one of the earlier A-1H, and dates between Korea and Vietnam. VA-65 IIRC never flew the A-1 to war, so my aircraft is "very clean", or as clean as a Skyraider can be. They had the time to wash them on a regular basis ;-)

The ordnance is from the kits box, and I hung as much as possible to my Skyraider just to show what gave him the name "flying dump truck".

For me it was a pleasure to build this kit. I will again add the prop and the wheel bays to my next Skyraider (USAF A-1J), but the cockpit will get the cutting edge version, witch is the only one available with the Yankee
extraction seat. For the other versions, I could suggest the Aires one. And yes, the Moskit exhausts will be there, too. The Eduard PE s not really necessary, I used about 4-5 parts only.

Enjoy building!

Leander Niederhauser

Photos © 2006 by Leander Niederhauser

July 22, 2006

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