A-6A Intruders to Isreal

[RPadavan2]

During 1979, numerous terrorist attacks were made against Israel.  Under pressure from the US, and under threat of having Egypt pull out of the Camp David peace accord talks, Israel held off on full scale retaliatory strikes.  Many viewed this as a weakness on Israel's part and attacks increased in 1980.  After taking office in 1981, President Ronald Reagan revisited a 1960's request by Israel to purchase A-6 Intruders (the request was declined and the A-4 Skyhawk were sold to Israel instead), and political pressure was put on the US Congress to approve the deal.  Late in 1981, the sale was approved and the four A-6As to be used for pilot training (the remaining 20 of the 24 were for operational squadrons) were pulled out of storage in Arizona to undergo testing and reactivation.  While this was happening, four Israeli pilots and navigators, as well as a ground crew  were flown to Navy and USMC bases in the United States to start training to fly and maintain the aircraft.  The remaining 20 aircraft (all A-6E Standard) would undergo renovations in the US to ensure fly ability, then disassembled, crated and shipped to Israel, as well as spare parts.  Once in Israel, the aircraft were fitted with Israeli avionics.  Upon graduation initial batch of pilots, navigators and ground crew trained in the US were used to ferry the four trainers to Israel, in Israeli colors and US markings.  Once in Israel the aircraft were repainted with Israel insignia and converted to Israeli standards.  Early in 1984, the first Intruders were declared operational and all Intruders were operational by 1986.

The model a Dragon 1:144 A-6E intruder (Desert Storm) kit.  Painting started today due to the rain.  Unfortunately there will not be any pictures until the rain lets up.  Although the rain will give me more time to paint the model.

More to come, mainly pictures......

[Old Wombat]

Sounds good!

I'm waiting.....

[PantherG]

So...once time I have sketched Israeli Intruder....

[RPadavan2]

Sorry, I haven't been on the boards in a couple of days.  But that down time was not wasted.  I have made some work on the model.





After assembly started, I noticed some fit problems with the fuselage. At first I thought I had too much weight in the nose and that was preventing me from joining the seams. Half the weight was taken out and the seats/pilots were also removed until the fuselage was joined. It still required putty to close the gap. So far everything else is coming together without issues. The options for the load-out is limited, three drop tanks, 12 iron bombs and 2 Harpoons (according to the directions, the Harpoons are not for the model as marked). I wanted the model to have more armament so I raided a Dragon F/A-18E Super Hornet kit and took two of the laser guided bombs to add to the A-6 (the LGBs are part of the "parts not for use" for the 18E).







Going to start working on the camouflage scheme starting Wednesday.  I have also pulled some images for DIY decals, in addition to the decals from my stash.  I really wasn't ready to print out more decals, but after viewing the models done by others and posted on their blogs, and they gave me ideas.  This might also motivate me to finish another decal project I am doing for a friend.  In the process of doing the decals for this model, I will also get some for the next IAF project I have planned.  I have a feeling I will have the painting done and have started on another model before I get the decals done for this one.  Although, if I have too many more sleepless nights, I might be done sooner than expected.

[RPadavan2]

Finished!  Some minor fit problems.  Not sure why the nose halves did not want to join.  Ended up taking out half the weight I put in, and at one point even took out the two crew members.  Halves still did not want to meet up.  Some filler putty, sanding and repainting and it was done.  Next fit problem was the canopy.  It is too small to cover the cabin area (not sure if that is a result of the seem not joining together or not).  As a result, I have a gap under both side rails.

Here is my finished A-6E Intruder in service with the Israeli Air Force!

[Spey_Phantom]

like it, a lot 

[anthonyp]

Love this so much!!!  I've got an A-6D (no tanker mods) set for the IDF, only because I took the KA-6D stuff, transferred it to another build, and have the A-6D leftover.

[NARSES2]

Nice one 

[Army of One]

Like it......like it lots.....great load out as well....H