Hobby Boss 1/48 A-6A intruder

[robemcdonald]

Having really enjoyed building the 1/48 Tamiya F-14A I thought I’d try my hand at another US navy Cold War jet. Initially I thought of an F-4, but have decided to hang on until the new Tamiya kit.
The A-6 has always been one of my personal favourites, so after a bit of research on scalemates and you tube I decided the hobby boss kit looked like a good option.


So far I’ve got as far as opening the box. One immediate disappointment is the white metal landing gear inner structure of the earlier kits has been replace by plastic. Hopefully the assembly will be strong enough.

I’m going to make a start tonight, but wanted some opinions on.

1. Wings folded or not?
2. If not folded do I show all the flaps and slats open?
3. The kit has a radar, so do I show the radome open? (I think no on this, but could be persuaded)

[MissChief]

Is it going to be displayed as if on a carrier deck? If so you could do the wings folded and radome open?

[generationx]

Interested in this, especially what you think about the HobbyBoss quality as I’ve never tried them.

By the way, let’s see wings folded and radome open!

[dr_gn]

If the flaps and slats are really well detailed I’d show them deployed, otherwise wings folded, just for a change.

[robemcdonald]

I did think about doing one with flaps and slats and the other folded, but it feels wrong.

[dr_gn]

robemcdonald said:

I did think about doing one with flaps and slats and the other folded, but it feels wrong.

I was going to do that on my recent Curtiss Helldiver model. You can cover pretty much any scenario under the term "maintenance", but yes, it just looked wrong.

[robemcdonald]

generationx said:

Interested in this, especially what you think about the HobbyBoss quality as I’ve never tried them.

By the way, let’s see wings folded and radome open!

I have actually built a few hobby boss kits before. The quality isn't up there with Tamiya, but better than the likes of Revell and Tamiya. So far this kits looks pretty nice (although I haven't actually started it yet)
What you can't deny is the value for money they represent. From a Japanese company this kit would probably cost twice the price.
I am going to make a start on the cockpit this evening.

I think I'm going to go Radome open and wings folded.

[Yertis]

robemcdonald said:

The quality isn't up there with Tamiya, but better than the likes of Revell and Tamiya.

You meant to say 'Lindberg' or 'Aurora' didn't you.

[robemcdonald]

Work is really kicking my butt today, so decided to do half hour at lunchtime to reduce the blood pressure.

Started with one of the seats.




Here’s a pic of the ejection seat sprue from the Tamiya F-14a (same / very similar seats)


The level of detail is very similar. The finish is better on the Tamiya parts with little clean up required.

[anonymous-user]

I’d either have it with everything possible open like this so you can see in the cockpit and radar plus wing roots etc



Or in the landing configuration with hook down and flaps plus speed brakes open etc.

Like this

[robemcdonald]

Another bit of lunchtime building.

Did a quick job on the seats. One problem is a complete lack of decals and painting instructions.

According to the instructions everything is flat black....

I’ve built enough MK5 seats to know that isn’t right.

I raided the decal box for something that looked okay. I think I’ll get away with it.



Not my best work, but I want to build a well used looking aircraft.

[anonymous-user]

Googling a6 intruder cockpit seems to show all kinds of seat colour combinations with some even with orange seats and all sorts. Looks like many are extra cushion covers.

Yours look great though.

[robemcdonald]

Thanks.


One area where the hobby boss kit is very strong is the instrument panel.



Really nice defined detail.

Looks good painted.



Might get the cockpit finished this evening.

[robemcdonald]

I didn’t quite manage to finish the cockpit. I still have the pedals and joysticks to add.

I decided to dry fit the parts so far together. I have to say I’m quite impressed with the detail and think it turned out nicely.





Have to say the painting instructions are virtually non existent. I have been looking at references on line.

[Squirrelofwoe]

That cockpit looks superb

[Dr Jekyll]

Squirrelofwoe said:

That cockpit looks superb

+1

I sometimes wish a manufacturer would do a series of large scale kits of cockpits. Unless you can climb round a real one a kit cockpit is the best way of seeing what it's like.

[anonymous-user]

Dr Jekyll said:

Squirrelofwoe said:

That cockpit looks superb

+1

I sometimes wish a manufacturer would do a series of large scale kits of cockpits. Unless you can climb round a real one a kit cockpit is the best way of seeing what it's like.

If you’ve got a VR headset some of the 360 cockpit photos are awesome and very immersive.

[dr_gn]

Dr Jekyll said:

Squirrelofwoe said:

That cockpit looks superb

+1

I sometimes wish a manufacturer would do a series of large scale kits of cockpits. Unless you can climb round a real one a kit cockpit is the best way of seeing what it's like.

ESCI do (or did) a range of 1:12 jet cockpits (F-16 & F-104 IIRC, maybe more)

[r159]

dr_gn said:

Dr Jekyll said:

Squirrelofwoe said:

That cockpit looks superb

+1

I sometimes wish a manufacturer would do a series of large scale kits of cockpits. Unless you can climb round a real one a kit cockpit is the best way of seeing what it's like.

ESCI do (or did) a range of 1:12 jet cockpits (F-16 & F-104 IIRC, maybe more)

Italeri do a Redbox of the F-104. Still available for £30.

[robemcdonald]

I managed to get the cockpit done!

To be honest I went a bit “Jazz” with the rear deck, it’s meant to be just grey....





It’s easy to see why 1:48 is a popular scale. Great detail and not too large.

According to the instructions my next job is the undercarriage... I’ll think about that tomorrow.