DONE @p.3 +++ 1:72 A-7N Corsair II of RNZAF 2 Squadron, 1993

[rickshaw]

I've noticed this in your other builds, Dizzy.  What is the white cloth-like covered string-like stuff you use for your nose weights, please?   Do you know where I could get some from?

[Dizzyfugu]

You are not the first one to ask. It is a lead weight band for curtains - available (here in Germany, at least) in several formats and strengths. You find it at DIY stores, and also in department stores with haberdashery, normally on spools. Not expensive, the fabric cover keeps everything together and adds surface for glueing it in place (I use white glue in roder to vaoid any chemical long-term reaction). You can peel the lead beads (on a string) from the fabric tube, too, if space is scarce.

[Rick Lowe]

Interesting, I didn't know that was available separately... I will have to see if I can find it. Thanks 

[rickshaw]

You are not the first one to ask. It is a lead weight band for curtains - available (here in Germany, at least) in several formats and strengths. You find it at DIY stores, and also in department stores with haberdashery, normally on spools. Not expensive, the fabric cover keeps everything together and adds surface for glueing it in place (I use white glue in roder to vaoid any chemical long-term reaction). You can peel the lead beads (on a string) from the fabric tube, too, if space is scarce.

Thanks, Dizzy.  I've found some downunder and are about to order it.   

[Dizzyfugu]

More progress concerning the airframe:


1:72 LTV A-7N "Corsair II", aircraft '(NZ7)031' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 2 Squadron; Ohakea AFB, 1993 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 LTV A-7N "Corsair II", aircraft '(NZ7)031' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 2 Squadron; Ohakea AFB, 1993 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 LTV A-7N "Corsair II", aircraft '(NZ7)031' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 2 Squadron; Ohakea AFB, 1993 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 LTV A-7N "Corsair II", aircraft '(NZ7)031' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 2 Squadron; Ohakea AFB, 1993 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

No big issues so far, fit is partly excellent, and lots of details, e. g. in the landing gear wells.. Personal mod are the lowered flaps.

[nighthunter]

I'm jealous, Thomas, stole one of my ideas, lol.

[Dizzyfugu]

LOL, I could also blame KiwiZac for the same, since the idea for thsi one has been lingering for some years - happy that it finally got "triggered". Anyway, it is IMHO always a good sing when the same basic concept pops up in different minds - it is always funny to see the interpretation. This one will look pretty different from KiwiZac's build with lots of bombs and an SEA scheme, still it's an RNZAF A-7, and I think there's room for even more variations of the theme. A two-seater, for instance?

[zenrat]

As i've got one of these i'm glad to see it coming together so nicely.
Although I may have to invest in a resin cockpit as that canopy looks very clear.

[Captain Canada]

Looking good ! Love the Corsair and can't wait to build one.

[Dizzyfugu]

The cockpit itself IS very good. The real downer is that just any instrument is missing. There's an aftermarket set for these Hobby Boss kits, but I would not make this extra investment. I am just disappointed that neither decals nor any reference pics are included, you have to help yourself.  The clear parts are very pretty thin and translucent, though, and there's ample space inside so that a cockpit on display can be turned into a real looker.

[nighthunter]

What about an All Green A-7N(D) with the USAF topside refueling port, advanced avionics, etc? All I'd need are RNZAF decals and the A-7N kit of course, lol.

[KiwiZac]

LOL, I could also blame KiwiZac for the same, since the idea for thsi one has been lingering for some years - happy that it finally got "triggered".

It's the same weird thing you often see with Hollywood - creative types independently come up with very similar ideas around the same time. Deep Impact and Armageddon, and Volcano and Dante's Peak come to mind

I'm always happy to trigger a Dizzyfugu build!

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you, and you are not the only one. There have been, for instance, several PantherG builds, based on profiles - this one here is just a good coincidence. Without your A-7 build, this one would certainly lay dormant for several more months, if not years. And, after all, it's about creativity and the idea behind the model, not about competition. 

As a side, note, photo shooting has started.

[Dizzyfugu]

What about an All Green A-7N(D) with the USAF topside refueling port, advanced avionics, etc? All I'd need are RNZAF decals and the A-7N kit of course, lol.

Well, provisions for an all-green RNZAF A-7 are there in my build: the machine will carry a single drop tank in the foliage green tone (FS 34079 on the A-4Ks, AFAIK), as a little twist to the overall look. Should be an interesting option, even though I doubt that anyone except the USAF used or wants to use the dorsal boom-type refuelling technique. Hence, I'd rather put my bet on the USN system that is much more frequent.

Besides, an impression from the painting process; RNZAF, yet ...different, even though inspired by real world RNZAF machines. ;-)


1:72 LTV A-7N "Corsair II", aircraft '(NZ7)031' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 2 Squadron; Ohakea AFB, 1993 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Dizzyfugu]

More WiP from the painting phase, before the (Tadah!) final story can be told:


1:72 LTV A-7N "Corsair II", aircraft '(NZ7)031' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 2 Squadron; Ohakea AFB, 1993 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


I wonder if anyone recognized the source of the colors and the scheme? Basic tones are Humbrol 163 and 164 (RAF Dark Green an Dark Sea Grey) and Revell 57 (RAL 7000). All tones are guesstimates from real world pics of the benchmark aircraft, though.

Some post-shading, after a light black ink wash:


1:72 LTV A-7N "Corsair II", aircraft '(NZ7)031' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 2 Squadron; Ohakea AFB, 1993 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The yellow sealing on the canopy was created from thin decal strips. The Hobby Boss kit actually comes with decals for this detail, but I did not trust them. They come with a lot of transparent film, and on the clear parts and the complex 3D curvature of the canopy I rather applied every single strip separately. Sounds like a chore, but was easier than expected. 

More decal follow... The Kiwi roundels come from a new Xtradecal sheet, the tactical codes were all created from single letters:


1:72 LTV A-7N "Corsair II", aircraft '(NZ7)031' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 2 Squadron; Ohakea AFB, 1993 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

...and eventually the kit is complete, including the ordnance of an OOB FLIR pod and a drop tank (in the aforementioned overall foliage green), plus a pair of OOB Sidewinders and a pair of GBU-8s from a Hasegawa US bomb set:

...
1:72 LTV A-7N "Corsair II", aircraft '(NZ7)031' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 2 Squadron; Ohakea AFB, 1993 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Beauty pics were partly taken  without external loads, so that these were added later...


1:72 LTV A-7N "Corsair II", aircraft '(NZ7)031' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 2 Squadron; Ohakea AFB, 1993 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

...and for the final picture set I re-opened the maintenance hatches, a neat detail of the kit. They were painted in a bright zinc primer green, and the interior details again emphasized thorugh a local black ink washing:


1:72 LTV A-7N "Corsair II", aircraft '(NZ7)031' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 2 Squadron; Ohakea AFB, 1993 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Ready for the final step.