Douglas Skyraider AD-6 Attack Aircraft
Tamiya Douglas Skyraider AD-6 Attack Aircraft
$34.40
A-1H Skyraider VA-176 MiG Killer

The Tamiya US Navy version of the Skyraider is every bit as good as the USAF kit but also shares the same faults i.e. undersized propeller and no cover for the canopy opening mechanism. It has the correct spoked wheels and smaller tailwheel of the naval version. If you want to use this kit to build a Korean War AD-4 make sure to check your subject aircraft as the prominent external armor plates were not used until late in the conflict. The ordinance in the kit is very good and correct for a Vietnam-era load. As I mentioned in an earlier review of the A-1J kit there is no provision to build it with folded wings so you will have to find an aftermarket solution or scratch build the fold mechanisms. For those that are wondering what the difference was between the H and J models of this plane it was essentially for a suicide mission. The A-1J had a strengthened wing, uprated engine and a different bomb computer to allow the carriage and release of a nuclear weapon. The idea of using an attack bomber with a top speed of 320mph to deliver a nuclear weapon just seems crazy but the Cold War mentality left nothing to chance. I replaced the kit propeller with a OOP Cutting Edge resin correction prop made for this kit and a Quickboost 48-490 cockpit sliding enclosure boot to go behind the headrest. I used the decals for VA-176 Thunderbolts, Lieutenant William T. Pattons' MiG Killer. Lt. Patton was responsible for one of two gun kills of by Skyraiders during the Vietnam conflict. I did my model in the standard gull gray and white with silver-gray Corro-gard on the leading edges of the wings and stabilizers. The decals need to be handled carefully to prevent tearing or wrinkling. I will say for the money it's an outstanding model and except for the items I mentioned the scale accuracy is exceptional.