1/72 Hasegawa EA-6B

'INDEPENDENCE' VAQ-136

by Cruise Wang

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The Hasegawa model of the 1/72 EA-6B was released some years ago. This kit has special decals for for VAQ-136 of CVW-5 on the US aircraft carrier 'Independence'. The mark on the nose is the Chinese word that sounds like 'Kon' and means 'attack'. It's a nice kit for basically building. But it's not nice enough for me.  I added some easy to make details to make this plane look more great!!  First is 'the two-part wingtip speed breaks' and the second are the ejection seats. The original seats are so poor in detail so the two of them were replaced with  Hasegawa F-14A's seats (pilot and ECOM-1)and I added details for another(ECOM-2/3). 

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The ejection seats of EA-6B type 'GRUEA-7' are similar to the F-14's 'GRU-7'.  It's easy to convert GRU-7 to GRUEA-7.  I converted the face curtain Orange-Yellow handle and cut the bottom and slide side for Hasegawa smaller EA-6B cockpit. The Hasegawa's cockpit is not correct.  I suggest people make the handle from copper line from '10/100 network line', the network line can get everywhere!!

The decals are for a VAQ-136 CAG plane in July 1994. The paint used was Gunze No's 307 and 308.  I'm sorry the decals were not good to work with. I have no idea why the decals are so hard to work with.  Anyway, the kit required me to spend a lot of time to complete. I hope you enjoy the photos!! 

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This article is from 'Taiwan R.O.C.'. Enjoy!!

Cruise

Photos and text © by Cruise Wang