ESCI | No. 4045 | 1:48 | Douglas A-1H Skyraider

1
March 22, 2024
2022/23: OOB build of the vintage '70s ESCI 1/48 kit.
2
March 28, 2023
So I thought I'd build another ESCI from my stash, see what I could make out of it. Beginning the build... A bit of scraping and gap filling around wing root...
3
March 28, 2023
Sanding centre seam. Obviously it's not a Tamiya kit! The Corsair in the background is nearing completion also.
4
March 28, 2023
Cockpit and Vallejo filler being used. Underside has had a primer coat applied.
5
March 28, 2023
Further (more aggressive) blending of seams...
6
March 28, 2023
Primed and more filling tweaks...
7
March 28, 2023
Post panel line shading. I will dull this back down somewhat.
8
March 28, 2023
Further post shading and hardpoints attached.
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March 28, 2023
The light isn't great, but you can see the shading has been overpainted.
10
March 28, 2023
Scribing external tanks.
11
March 28, 2023
Engine work...
12
March 31, 2023
I'll tidy this up!
13
March 31, 2023
Looking better.
14
March 31, 2023
15
March 31, 2023
Nose attached and general tidy up all round...
16
April 11, 2023
Top colour applied. I'm using Hataka Light Gull Grey again.
17
April 11, 2023
Masking for nose cone and for metallic leading edge.
18
April 12, 2023
Smoothing out finish.
19
April 13, 2023
I will also smooth down nose join.
20
April 13, 2023
Heavier panel line post shade being applied to the flat colour, I'll blend this back quite a lot.
21
April 14, 2023
Some problems on this build when removing the tape - I will resolve.
22
April 14, 2023
Retouching white.
23
April 14, 2023
Cleaning up the white.
24
April 17, 2023
Masking and painting black.
25
April 17, 2023
Beginning to look more like a Skyraider colour scheme! 👍
26
April 18, 2023
Touch-ups on paint issues, painting leading edge silver and also decided to add a non-reflective black to the top of external tanks. Instructions do not denote this - but what the hell!
27
April 18, 2023
In the end I hand painted the silver leading edge.
28
April 21, 2023
Silver leading edge...
29
April 21, 2023
30
April 24, 2023
Masking for the curve on fin, used a circle template and masking tape to make shape...
31
April 24, 2023
Trouble with primer (again!) this is unusual for me.
32
April 24, 2023
33
April 26, 2023
Initial shading and detail for wing and touching up overspray on rear fin.
34
April 26, 2023
Decided that I'd add steel detail to nose as on other leading edges - just for interest 😉
35
May 15, 2023
Picking out some of the detail kit has... And also working on adding shade, dust, dirt and grime directly to paint prior to a varnish coat and subsequent weathering.
36
May 15, 2023
I've seen some VERY dirty Skyraider images! Keeping it fairly restrained for now as I'm working directly on my un-varnished 'nude' paint work.
37
May 15, 2023
38
May 17, 2023
39
May 22, 2023
Gloss coat prior to some decal action...
40
May 23, 2023
Remedied the earlier paint primer issues and now ready for some weathering/staining and further propeller destruction!
41
May 26, 2023
Let's see how well the original decals hold up...
42
May 26, 2023
Few splits and cracks here and there... Of course I am always extra careful when handling.
43
May 26, 2023
First few on - not too bad. I can do something about that film in a few days when I'm sure everything is dry.
44
July 27, 2023
I'm not a huge fan of lots of microsol/set, it can over soften/destroy aged decals. Usually the issues are remedied by just water and being extremely delicate... Though I do also use decal softener when needed.
45
July 27, 2023
They're not adhering too well, carrier film is also pretty thick. The 'bee' split both sides in at least five places, however I've persevered and got a decent(ish) result. I encounter these issues a lot when building these old kits and utilising the original decals - but that's kinda the whole point of what I try and achieve - using everything that's original.
46
July 27, 2023
Decal action continues, several daily applications of Decal Fix later...
47
July 27, 2023
Pretty happy with the undercarriage and general dirt at this stage. Rear wheel isn't that well molded though.
48
July 27, 2023
I know, I know the wheel wells should be white.
49
July 27, 2023
I couldn't resist painting red on flaps either, it's all completely historicaly inaccurate!
50
July 27, 2023
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August 1, 2023
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August 1, 2023
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October 30, 2023
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December 14, 2023
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December 14, 2023
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024
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March 22, 2024

Comments

102 1 February 2023, 11:44

Neil
Hi Roland 🙂 welcome!

29 March 2023, 20:07

Guy Rump
Looking good! 👍

30 March 2023, 07:16

Neil
Hi Roland and Guy, welcome aboard mates! Great to have your interest 🙂

31 March 2023, 10:11

Rui S
Looking good 👍 I'm in 😎

1 April 2023, 02:46

Neil
Hello Rui 🙂 hope you're well. Thanks for dropping by mate, great to have your interest 👍 thanks to others for the likes also 👍

1 April 2023, 11:58

Mona
👀 🙂

1 April 2023, 13:35

Neil
Welcome Mona 🙂

2 April 2023, 11:16

John
Looking good! Once again you are doing an older kit justice 👍 How many of these ESCI kits do you have in your stash anyway? 😉

11 April 2023, 14:04

Neil
Thanks John 👍 very kind... The answer is... Too many! I think I may have a problem! 😆

12 April 2023, 23:35

Skyhiker
Looks mighty fine

13 April 2023, 22:54

Neil
Thanks Skyhiker 👍

16 April 2023, 09:40

Villiers de Vos
Very nice paint work.

25 May 2023, 08:58

Mr James
Nice nice nice, great skills on display

26 May 2023, 13:03

Neil
Thanks Villiers & Mr James - very kind 🙂

1 June 2023, 11:59

Chan Li
Harmonious and neat, with reasonable weathering so far.

2 June 2023, 12:32

Neil
Cheers Chan Li! 👍 I'm sure I'll do my usual and ruin it soon enough with too much weathering! Haha! Though tbf not sure you can over-weather/grime a Skyraider?

6 June 2023, 13:15

Rui S
Beautiful weathering 👍

1 August 2023, 20:27

Neil
Hi Rui 🙂 You're super kind. Thanks very much, someone with your skills commenting on my efforts at weathering is much appreciated 👍 Propeller, canopy and most of it is now complete, just got to add the ridiculous exhaust staining these things get and then we should be there 🙂

30 October 2023, 10:59

Treehugger
Any idea if the 1000 lbs bomb can be fitted plausibly under the center pylon?
The build guide states the two bombs can go onto the other two pylons in place of the other two fuel tanks.

Edit: Oh, wait this is not the Tamiya kit apparently, heh the decals looked the same.

30 October 2023, 11:30

Villiers de Vos
Very nice effects.

30 October 2023, 15:54

Chan Li
looks good! I should be back building some aircrafts too!

2 November 2023, 02:45

Neil
@Treehugger, yes, sorry mate, I can't advise. As yet again I'm building an older 'crappy' ESCI kit! Though to be fair this one ain't too bad 👍 I'm sure someone with more knowledge than I will be able to offer help though, I've seen a fair few mates build the better Tamiya kit...

2 November 2023, 10:28

Neil
Thanks very much Villiers and Chan Li 👍🙂

5 November 2023, 20:32

Rando
Watching this one! Also building an old Navy kit with raised lines.

8 November 2023, 22:58

Neil
Thanks Rando! 🙂 I've seen your great work too 👏

10 November 2023, 12:54

Jan Eifel
Nice Job!

10 November 2023, 12:56

Neil
Hi Jan 🙂 thanks very much for saying that 👍 very kind.

11 November 2023, 18:54

CaptGPF
For all the primer failures you have had to endure, this is turning out great! Only advice I can give on the primer is washing that parts prior to priming, as well as de-tacking the tape.

13 November 2023, 17:23

Thomas Bischoff
built this back in the eighties - the kit is not bad for its age and you turn it into a beauty 👍
… and I love your attitude to historical accuracy - lol

13 November 2023, 20:04

Neil
Hi CaptGPF, thanks very much for feedback and suggestions. I'll take them onboard. I do wash kits first and I've also got some de-tacking cloths. But for the most part I tend to save 'em for decorating the house/gloss work 😄👍 you're very kind to say encouraging remarks.

15 November 2023, 21:24

Neil
Hi All, Have added final reveal imagery for this one also...

As I already said on my Corsair, I have a bit of a soft spot for Esci kits. In my youth a 1/72 scale Esci was an affordable choice for me, so I still enjoy building them in this larger scale very much... I endeavour to build these oldies as 'tight' as I can and to have some basis of modern style weathering, etc. Not always an easy task when dealing with older raised panel line kits and poor fitment.

Thanks to all who took time to comment on my efforts and who liked. As always you're very kind to comment on my fascination with building an 'oldie' rather than putting my efforts into building a modern kit! I also apologise in advance for utilising my usual disregard for complete historical accuracy. I am aware that the wheel wells shouldn't be zinc chromate green, I just wanted to break up the grey! As others have said before... My model, my way! Haha! 😉 👍

22 March, 13:55

CaptGPF
Wow! That really turned out great! Chan nailed it - the weathering is just spot on ('not heavy or too light), and adds to the worn look.

22 March, 14:03

James C
Thats a beauty! 👍

22 March, 16:56

Christoph Schnarr
Very nice, Neil 👍

22 March, 17:39

Neil
Thanks very much mates! 😁

22 March, 22:03

Guy Rump
Great job Neil! 👍

22 March, 22:06

Grant Lehman
thats a beauty... I have this kit... how was the bee decal ?? any tricks to it?

22 March, 23:46

Neuling
Excellent work!

23 March, 08:40

Neil
Thanks Guy, Grant and Neuling 👍 very kind of you 🙂 @grant: my only tip would be no solvent softener use, if like me you intend use the original decals. They're over 40 years old and just won't stand up to a lot of fiddling and shrinking due to a setting agent. Plus it's quite a large decal. So I cut in half before wetting and got it to settle that way. It took a bit of care, and you can see a join if you look super close. But then I build these oldies out of the box with an understanding that they'll never be perfect! 👍

23 March, 12:24

Daniel Schlosser
Hello Neil, you Esci-Kit turned out very,very well!!! Awsome!!! I am building the same kit in the AD 6 Able Dog version right now. Hope mine will be as cool as yours. Again: very good work especeally on these old kit!

23 March, 13:17

Neil
Hi Daniel 🙂 thanks very much! I will check out your model definitely. I'm sure your build will be awesome work also 😉 thanks to all who have recently liked too 👍

23 March, 20:59

Album info

The Douglas A-1 Skyraider (formerly known as the AD Skyraider) is an American single-seat attack aircraft in service from 1946 to the early 1980s, which served during the Korean War and Vietnam War.

Douglas A-1H Skyraider

69 images

1:48

Completed

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Devotion Movie Group Build

1. March until 31. December 2023

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