1/48 A-7B VA-93

[Stikpusher]

So my last updates for Thursday were delayed due to some shenanigans on Postimage. Thank goodness that they passed and my BP returned to normal.

Anyways, a few bits of small progress were done...

First up, I filed slots in the pylons for Stations 3 & 6 to accepts the sway braces on the Rockeyes



Then I trimmed and filed down the sway braces that I added for the Aero 5-1A launchers for the Shrikes that will go on Stations 2 & 7



I also filed slots into those pylons, which I should have done before I glued them onto the wings to make that task far easier.... It I did not take any photos of them at that point... and then I glued the launchers onto their pylons. Positioning is all best estimate based off of less than ideal reference photos...



and I also drilled out the bores for the 20mm guns using my pin vise and some micro bits



No work done Friday due to errands, but yesterday I did add the gunsight lens



And this morning, since he is something of a weapons specialist, Klaus inspected...



Klaus approves

More tomorrow... I now have to dip the canopy, mask it, glue it in place, and get ready for main painting...

[Stuart]

Fantastic progress Carlos!

[speedgraflex]

I stand with Stuart and Klaus: fabuloso! Particularly the gun sight. Great color depth. Brush painting rules when it comes to adding depth to the color; yours looks like it has a hint of blue at the bottom.

[LyleW]

That is so sharp I cut myself! Looking really good, too!

[BlackSheep214]

Bravo, Carlos...Bravo!!!!

[Stikpusher]

Stuart, Bruce, Lyle, Tom, thanks for looking in and your kind words. I’m happy to have you guys following along.

Today was lots of little things getting to the point where I can start painting in the next few days.

First up, I had to modify the upper main gear doors. The kit part has them molded as a single piece, when in reality it has a separate narrow section over the main gear strut, and a wider main section, so I measured and cut



then glued the narrow section in place.... as well as the main gear lower doors and the nose gear doors





I’m leaving off the remaining upper doors, like the inboard pylons to ease painting in that area a bit.

Now this kit also has an ECM bullet antenna molded at the base of the rudder (circled area), but the A-7B did not have this feature, so I removed it





I also began painting the ordnance



and I dipped the canopy in Future



I’ll let the canopy dry and cure overnight, then mask and install it tomorrow... main paining to begin the day after....

[BlackSheep214]

My guess after priming, White will be painted in fuselage bottom, wheel wells, struts and intake mouth first?

[Stikpusher]

My guess after priming, White will be painted in fuselage bottom, wheel wells, struts and intake mouth first?

Yessir! I just want to use one white for the exterior and wheel wells, and another more pristine white in the intake. Linebacker was an intense period of an air campaign and I want my build to show some of that stress look.

[Bolleken]

Lovely old Monogram... And a very very good job Carlos. Keep on great work.

[Stuart]

Lovely stuff!