DONE@p.6 +++ 1:72 YA-14A "Squatina" prototype, a stealthy USAF A-10 replacement

[Old Wombat]

Darn, I liked the triangular wing!

Same here.

[Dizzyfugu]

Nothing really new to show yet, PSR continues. I am working on the 3rd layer for the wing tips and fight against other dents and flaws all around the hull.

However, an adapter for a display holder (for in-flight scenes) has been implanted into the model's belly, and I added an edgy fairing under the nose for a sensor turret (after all, we need some target acquisition system).

[silverwindblade]

The overall shape of it puts me in mind of the Longsword fighter/bomber from the Halo franchise, albeit considerably smaller than that monster.

https://www.halopedia.org/File:H2A_-_Longsword_model.jpg

[Dizzyfugu]

Small visual update - progress is probably hard to tell...


1:72 M7 Aerosystems YA-14A "Squatina", 2nd prototype for the United States of America Air Force (USAF), during DT&E (Demonstration Testing and Evaluation) trials, 2016 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[NARSES2]

That looks razor sharp it's that shiny 

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you for the enthusiasm! Since yesterday the Squatina stands on its own (white) feet, and some more work has been done inside of the cockpit so that I can hopefully mount the windscreen soon; the clear parts will receive a coat with clear brown/yellow paint, in order so simulate some AR coating:


1:72 M7 Aerosystems YA-14A "Squatina", 2nd prototype for the United States of America Air Force (USAF), during DT&E (Demonstration Testing and Evaluation) trials, 2016 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 M7 Aerosystems YA-14A "Squatina", 2nd prototype for the United States of America Air Force (USAF), during DT&E (Demonstration Testing and Evaluation) trials, 2016 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The stance is good and should, with the wheels added, be very level with the ground. 


1:72 M7 Aerosystems YA-14A "Squatina", 2nd prototype for the United States of America Air Force (USAF), during DT&E (Demonstration Testing and Evaluation) trials, 2016 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 M7 Aerosystems YA-14A "Squatina", 2nd prototype for the United States of America Air Force (USAF), during DT&E (Demonstration Testing and Evaluation) trials, 2016 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Tophe]

looking gorgeous...

[PR19_Kit]

Very purposeful, and LETHAL too! 

[chrisonord]

That is looking very  deadly  for sure 
Chris

[nighthunter]

Thomas, are you certain you don't want to go with it being a Wayne Enterprises Aerosystems YA-14A?

[Dizzyfugu]

Thomas, are you certain you don't want to go with it being a Wayne Enterprises Aerosystems YA-14A?

LOL, yes, that's a logical alternative! 

BTW, the cockpit section has been finished yesterday - fit is not stellar.


1:72 M7 Aerosystems YA-14A "Squatina", 2nd prototype for the United States of America Air Force (USAF), during DT&E (Demonstration Testing and Evaluation) trials, 2016 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 M7 Aerosystems YA-14A "Squatina", 2nd prototype for the United States of America Air Force (USAF), during DT&E (Demonstration Testing and Evaluation) trials, 2016 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


...and then painting could finally start! For a stealth aircraft and a prototype I wanted something subdued or murky, but not an all-black or -grey livery. I eventually settled for the rather dark paint scheme that the USAF applied to its early B-1Bs, which consists of two tones from above, FS 36081 (Dark Grey, a.k.a. Dark Gunship Grey) and 34086 (Green Drab), and underneath (FS 36081 and 36118 (Gunship Grey). The irregular pattern was adapted (in a rather liberal fashion) from the USAF's early B-1Bs, using Humbrol 32, 108 and 125 as basic colors.


1:72 M7 Aerosystems YA-14A "Squatina", 2nd prototype for the United States of America Air Force (USAF), during DT&E (Demonstration Testing and Evaluation) trials, 2016 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 M7 Aerosystems YA-14A "Squatina", 2nd prototype for the United States of America Air Force (USAF), during DT&E (Demonstration Testing and Evaluation) trials, 2016 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The contrast ist stronger than expected, I hope I can tone it down a bit - it even has a Swedish look to it now?

[PR19_Kit]

- it even has a Swedish look to it now?

And that's wrong because.........? 

[nighthunter]

It looks close enough to the old B-1B Lancer scheme, from memory, though looking at the picture, the green was more green than brown

[Dizzyfugu]

The green is difficult to define - and on real world pics it shows almost no contrast to the grey. My options were Humbrol 66 (US Army Olive Drab), which would have had a more bluish/greyish hue, and the 108 I used - on a test it looked good, but I am surprised how strong the contrast to the grey became at "full scale", and how greenish it looks in the overall context! I guess I will try to mend this, I am not truly happy with the look. The undersides look much better:


1:72 M7 Aerosystems YA-14A "Squatina", 2nd prototype for the United States of America Air Force (USAF), during DT&E (Demonstration Testing and Evaluation) trials, 2016 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 M7 Aerosystems YA-14A "Squatina", 2nd prototype for the United States of America Air Force (USAF), during DT&E (Demonstration Testing and Evaluation) trials, 2016 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[nighthunter]

It does look epic