1/48 Tamiya F4D Skyray

Gallery Article by Max Tollens Jr. on Nov 10 2009

  USMC Birthday 2009 

 

The Tamiya F4D Skyray was fairly simple to build, the only areas that were difficult were inside the intakes as the seams are tough to eliminate.  Because of an accident involving one of my sons knocking it over, the pitot on the tail as well as the probe that should be in front of the windscreen.  It was built OOB with the exception of the decals; I used a combination of Aeromaster Sheet #48541 and a Meteor Productions Markings sheet. 

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I airbrushed Testors Gull Gray on top and Insignia White on the bottom, then masked and airbrushed the nose with Flat Black.  A bit of weathering was done using watercolors.  The aircraft represents a machine from The Tigers of VMF-542.  As an alumni of VMA-542, the first fleet squadron to receive the AV-8B II Plus, there was no doubt which markings I would use.  The decals went on well with some Microsol; only one issue with the wing walk decals not lining up correctly at first.

Happy Birthday Marines!  Semper Fi!

Max Tollens Jr.

Photos and text © by Max Tollens Jr.