This is Trumpeter's
A-7E with many modifications. The model depicts an A-7E of VA-192 as it
appeared during the Vietnam War circa 1972. I used the Black Box cockpit
interior. As always, it is beatiful and fits perfect. In fact, the
fit was so good that I didn't even glue it into the model. The AOA sensor
is scratch from brass. It is well documented that the intake is misshaped
and after filing and sanding, I still didn't like it. So, the solution was
to use a FOD cover. However, I didn't want to use an ordinary store-bought
after market boring FOD cover. Instead, I made my own with
epoxy-sculpt, lead foil and solder. Since it had the intake cover I had to
do the same for the tailpipe.
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I modified the weapons pylons by
drilling out the appropriate openings and adding sway braces, arming wires, etc.
The bombs are Snakeyes made by taking the rear portion of the CAM set and adding
them to the Tamiya Mk. 82s. The Rockeye CBUs are also from CAM.
Notice, one of the Sidewinders is
an early model AIM-9B and the other a later AIM-9D. This was done because
there was a temporary shortage of later model Sidewinders in 1972 due to a
higher than anticipated useage by the Fighter guys. I made my AIM-9B from
the Tamiya Sidewinder with a scratch-built seeker head. Notice, it is
pointing toward the sun! I entered this model in the recent Indy show and
it didn't win a damn thing. Send me an E-mail and I will tell you why!
Stewart
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