Hellenic Air Force A-7E Tiger Meet 2007

startet this little project in the last days

Aires resin cockpit with pe parts

Nice details but hard to paint through the sidewalls are complete with the cockpit tube.

Hellenic air force uses the late SJU-8 ejection seats.

The 300 gallon drop tanks from the kit are imho to large so i used some spare tanks from fujimi A-4 kits and modified the center fin.

A little confusion with the A-7 versions. The HAF A-7 is named A-7H but is a former A-7E from USN. But some details are more a A-7D like the wheels. So i had to modify the wheels to.

Also noticed some differences from the kit instructions to the real aircraft. Had to add parts E22 and E35 from the kit and some scratchbuild antennas.

Only two small ejector pin marks on the undercarriage covers, thank you HBB!

Fuselage joint

Improved the stabs with metal rods

Wings are ready, a small gap at the flaps is filled with gunze surfacer

Prepared some additional details: pitot tubes, some antennas...

and the exhaust for the air-conditioning turbine

additional details at the bottom side.

finished the HUD

Black base...

white and a clear coat ... ready for decals.

Starting the decal sessions.

After my not-so-fun experiences with the Hobbyboss decals at my HH-60J project, i was surprised about how good this big decals were lay down. God job HB

I think, this could be a perfect base for the jet. Let's see after some wash and weathering.

It's done. Enjoy the final reveal.

Comments

53 21 February 2023, 15:55

Maciej Bellos
Hellenic Air Force Corsairs are from two batches. The first were bought in the late 70s and were modified Es (hence the designation H, for Hellenic) with the most notable modification being the removal of the inflight refueling system. The second batch were second hand US Navy Es, which were delivered a couple of years after the end of Operation Desert Storm. I am almost certain that the aircraft you are building is an ex USN bird. I will check my books for that.

Obviously following with interest.

21 February 2023, 21:23

Falk Röllig
Thank you and yes you're right. Buno 158825 is an ex navy jet

LTV A-7E-CV Corsair II/Bu. 158825
1975-80: VA-86 as AJ-413.
1984: VA-82 as AJ-307.
1986: VA-105 as AE-402.
10/1990: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
10/1994: Sold to the Greek AF.
2005-07: 335 Mira.
2008-09: 336 Mira.
2009: 335 Mira.
2014: 336 Mira.

Maybe they bought a lot of spare parts too. Therefore the "D" wheels.

22 February 2023, 04:34

Maciej Bellos
Thanks for the confirmation Falk! I have a few of pics back from 2016, when the aircraft was on static display during the 2016 Athens Flying Week. If you are interested, send me a PM.

Looking very good so far!

22 February 2023, 11:04

Patrick Hagelstein
That cockpit looks awesome already! 👌🏼

22 February 2023, 11:36

Falk Röllig
Thank you Maciej and Patrick

23 February 2023, 15:30

Roy McKay
Watch the film The Final Countdown. When the A-7 lands using the barrier there's great shots after it stopped with the rescue crew ftom all angles. And prominent are "D type" main wheels which makes me think there were more than one type of "navy" wheel.

Your model looks fab by the way.

1 March 2023, 21:48

Falk Röllig
Thank you Roy. The Final Countdown's A-7 "412" is also in my stash, maybe as a following project. I started the decal sessions today, they lay down very well.

5 March 2023, 18:02

Roy McKay
As a matter of interest the Airfix A-7E has the same type of wheels.

5 March 2023, 23:19

Falk Röllig
Decals sessions finished. Next ... wait 24h to let the decals set. And then ... clear coat!

11 March 2023, 13:42

Maciej Bellos
Excellent!

11 March 2023, 14:27

Falk Röllig
In the last days i tested some washes. I started wit a dark brown wash but wasn't satisfied. At the end i used a neutral grey wash for the black and yellow parts and a medium grey wash for the white parts.

17 March 2023, 06:11