1/72 Fujimi A-6E  Part 2

With a Verlindin Resin Catapult set

by Everett McEwan

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Wing Modifications

The next big thing was the wings and the necessary modifications to the flaps to depict them deployed.  

Fujimi for some reason chose to make their A-6 kits with Slats that are deployed but not the flaps (the reason I chose this kit for my diorama).  This is a configuration that would never occur on the real plane and anyone building the Fujimi A-6 should either close the slats (I've heard this is difficult since the fit is not the best) or cut and deploy the flaps, so hopefully my modifications can help others.

I started by cutting the parts along the panel line from the two wing halves, I did this using a fresh #11 blade and a few passes of the razor saw.

That done I cleaned up the parts, and joined the upper and lower halves on both the wing and the flaps.  There will be a mis-match of the upper and lower Flap where it meets the wing (this is the section painted red in reference photos), so it needs to filled in with plastic card and sanded into shape.  

 

Also needed on the upper flap is the removal of the four ridges and glue on small plastic strips for the guides to the flap actuators.  Those four ridges can be built back up latter with plastic in the proper location as they extend with the flaps (they cover the jack screws).  On the underside there is a similar fairing that also has a white hinge, I only covered it with plastic strip because no one will see it when it is on the Diorama.  After the flaps are built up, drill four small holes where the actuators go and insert florist wire/paper clips or straightened staples.  This will provide the means of attaching the flaps and because it is malleable metal, and you can bend it to the desired angle very easily.  I recommend leaving the flaps off for painting, I glued one in before I realized this and found the other one was easier to paint off the plane.

 

    

Also needed for a cat shot diorama is to show the horizontal stabilizers/tail planes deflected for take off.  To do that I filled the slat/hole and cut off the tab on the parts, and then drilled a hole in each side and inserted a piece of Florist wire to provide a hinge in the center.  

 

Another modification I made was to replace the kit pitot tube with a needle that was filed down at end to thin it to the proper diameter.  Although this looks great I broke it off several times and had some glue build up in the process of re-attaching it again and again (I should have left it off). 

Other than that the kit was built up normally and went together very nicely with a good fit on everything.   Next time I'll discuss the painting of this model.

Everett

1/72nd Fujimi A-6E With a Verlindin Resin Catapult set diorama  Part 1 1/72nd Fujimi A-6E With a Verlindin Resin Catapult set diorama  Part 3 1/72nd Fujimi A-6E With a Verlindin Resin Catapult set diorama  Part 4 1/72nd Fujimi A-6E With a Verlindin Resin Catapult set diorama  Part 5

Photos and text © by Everett McEwan