1/144 Aéronavale EA-6B Prowler

[Cliffy B]

Here's my entry for the GB; one of DMLs 1/144 EA-6B Prowlers in Aéronavale livery during the 1st Gulf War in 1991.

Why a Prowler?  Well I was looking through my stash for French roundels and only came up with 2 sets; 1/72 French AF and 1/144 French Navy.  Upon opening a box to look for suitable kits the DML Prowlers happened to be on top so I took it as a sign  

Here's a profile of what she'll look like when completed.

Grumman EA-6B Rôdeur: Flotille 16, FN Foch (R-99) Opération Daguet 1991 (Code name for the French force sent to Desert Shield/Storm)



Here's my progress so far; cockpit is all finished with scratchbuilt details.





The pilot's instrument panel is attached to fuselage pieces so that will have to wait to get attached.  The others are all glued down and ready to go.  I drew up some simple graphics in Adobe Illustrator with the cockpit layout drawings for the Prowler's Detail and Scale volume and printed them on regular paper.  After gluing down they look pretty decent in my opinion.  Thoughts?

I built ejection handles out of a loops of 30 gauge steel floral wire I got at Michael's.  They come in 1/4 lbs. roles for a few dollars and believe me, there is A LOT on one role.  The stuff comes in various gauges (thicknesses) so if you need some wire I'd go root in there.

The reason for all of this is simple, I cut the canopy already in order to display the cockpit.  I haven't done that yet and wanted the challenge or detailing the cockpit.  Only thing left to build are the 2 pistons that raise and lower the canopy.

So there you have it, enjoy!

Any thoughts, ideas, comments, etc... are appreciated as always.

-Mike

[ysi_maniac]

This project looks nice.

[ChernayaAkula]

Whoa, those instrument panels look very, very good! 

Can't wait to see more!

[Taiidantomcat]

Hard to believe that is 1/144!

[Cliffy B]

Alas, after some more work this little bird will not be completed in time for the GB.  Ran into some problems with getting the wings to have the proper dihedral (when dry fit they want to angle UP   and no they aren't upside down) and then life got in the way so this one will get finished later on.  I'll post some more recent photos later this week.

Mods please move this the "Current and Finished Projects > Aircraft" section.  Thanks!

-Mike