SPA Modeler

Not the worst resin kit I have done, but there were moments. The vacform canopies were not the best fit, but enough fiddling got them close. The decals were very thin and liked to fold on themselves, I think they were done on an ALPS and I redid a couple on my laser printer. Alclad 101 Aluminum rubbed with SNJ aluminum powder was used for the metal parts, Alclad white aluminum for the fabric covered areas. The interior of the A-18 was not replicated very well, with a solid floor that did not come close to fitting, but there were very nice PE seats included. The A-18 had no floor, just runners for the pilot's feet. The gun receivers were visible below them on both sides of the pilot. Must have been exciting to fire all four. The engines were well cast but were more like an R-985 than an R-1820 in size, so I replaced them with un-geared R-1820's from Mark Tutton, aka Starfighter Decals. Very nice engines.

There should be external hinges on the rudder like the P-40 but my plan to put them on after decaling got changed by the nature of the decals. The kit comes with a large loop antenna but it was not usually on the operational airplanes.

The best reference I found for the A-18 was an article in the December 1971 Wings by Walt Boyne.

I wish I has a P-36 in 1/72 to pose with it, the P-39 is the closest I could come age-wise, and of course the Bell YFM-1B Airacuda, like the A-18, another design based on mistaken conceptions and whose time was past before it ever arrived.

That’s another good looking build John. It sure looks like a nice twin light attack type from the late pre war era. Gonna have to read up on it now...

That looks really cool and great paint job

Looks great. But how many aircraft did Curtiss name Shrike?

Technically this is the Shrike II, following the earlier A-8 and A-12 single engine Shrikes. Perhaps Curtiss intended that the Shrike name be used in the same manner as Hawk, which spanned early biplanes through the P-40 series, John.

That is a rarely modelled aircraft. Very cool to see one build!

The first time I saw a picture of this aircraft I thought it was a Ki-45 Nick. The trend for heavy twin engined fighters was a big one in the thirties but only a few where successful.

I c,an only echo (echo,echo, echo,echo) ...see what I did there?
Anyway, John, that is a beauty!

Thanks, everyone! Drinks all around!

That's a great looking build!!

Wow John, what a sensational model! I learned something again today since I'd never heard of this plane before. Beautifully done John!