This is the Monogram offering of the
A-1H Skyraider modified to represent plane #572 "Paper Tiger II" of
VA-25. I did not modify the basic kit or it's inaccuracies per se
other than cutting off the molded on munitions and flash suppressors on the 20mm
guns. I used 500 lb bombs from the Monogram F-84F and the WWII style 500lb
bombs from my spares. For the SPB (special porcelain bomb) I modified a 1/48th
plastistruct toilet to represent a flushometer and cast it a copy of in Durnhams
wood putty.
I made the brackets from a bent piece of pie tin (apple as I recall) and
attached those to the pylon. Only later did I find out that the the porcelain
bomb also had a fin attached to the outlet ring. I preshaded the panel
lines with Model Master black enamel and finished the rest of the aircraft off
in Model Master enamels. The exhaust stain is ground up pastels.
The decals come from the Aeromaster sheet, which includes the VA-25 emblem for
the SPB.
Click on
images below to see larger images
In September of
1965, Lt. Col. Stoddard flew A-1H #572 "Paper Tiger II" on a bombing
mission in North Vietnam with a special bomb to celebrate the 6 millionth pound
of ordenance dropped on North Vietnam. There are a few wonderful stories
floating around on the net about this bombing mission and the people involved. I
did have the opportunity to have a brief discussion with one of the deck hands
that was there through someone else. I learned quite a bit from that
conversation. There is a good web site dedicated to this event at :
http://www.midwaysailor.com/midwayva25bomb/
Bud
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