Grumman KA-6D tanker Intruder 
Manufacturer: Italeri, Italy 
Article number: 
scale: 1:72 


The original 

The Grumman A-6 Intruder comes out on a demand of 1956. The advertisement called as " type Specification 149 " could decide Grumman two years later with its design G-128 for itself. The attack aircraft project ran from now on under the designation A2F-1 and already 1959 began the building of eight prototypes. 
The U. S. Navy as well as the US marine constituted in the subsequent years 488 A-Ã Intruder, which made themselves earned in Viet Nam particularly. Due to its highly developed avionics and its high aiming accuracy it received there soon " mini B-52 " to the pointed names and functioned also as a pathfinder in mixed forces with A-4 Skyhawk and the like, which it gave the instruction to the bomb release. 
After the Intruder did already 6 years service in the Navy, this examined whether one the A-6 not also as tanker begin and so the old EKA-3B Skywarrior replace could. The first by way of trial KA-6D converted to the tanker flew on 23 May 1966. Assigned due to the successful test flights the new building of 51 machines, however short time later to neither-call. Thus 1970 / 71 only old A-Ã cells were reequipped on the status KA-6D. All bomb and weapon delivery avionics in sucked. " vogelkaefig " was removed and replaced with a hose drum device. The KA-6D can fly theoretically nevertheless further combat missions with daylight. 1971 were introduced the machine to the combat zone by the VA-176, a typical Intruder relay had into the 70igern four KA-6D tankers. Intermediate losses and wear increased the number of reequipped KA-6D to altogether 78. The machines were replaced with the end of the Intruder in the Navy by the S-3 Viking. 

The model 
First impression: 

Since I had actually ersteigert the kits without special target over Ebay, I was nevertheless surprised which in the cardboard was. Distinguished shown details, a cockpit to dream, folding, driven out Airbrakes at the trunk, and folded up bearing areas representable zugangsleitern in the cockpit. WOW! 
The 5 auxiliary tanks as well as the hose drum container are attached as specially spraying frameworks. 

Building: 

The assembly goes relatively fast and without problems. Much time one should leave with the cockpit, by the large disks is it later (all the same whether the hood is closed or opened) well observable. Since Italeri squirted the instruments raised, a good lacquer finish with the drying mark method is not a problem. The ejection seats are distinguished for this yardstick. 
The only problems resulted in the case of insert the disk, which takes the trunk off down. Here small grinding works were necessary. The beginning of the bearing areas at the trunk, particularly in the back at the engine, are something tricky, dear 3x times drying adapt before one these inserts. I must confess, which I there " bungled " have, and therefore with Putty and careful sharpening had to be corrected. 
The hochbeinige main landing gear received a brake hose on sewing thread, since this at the model can be well seen later. 
When I me somewhat more near with the KA-6D busy, I found it still as normal bomber to be out used could. I found - a Intruder with 12 Mk.82 bombs and a " oil can ", very recognizable as tankers, interesting to the thoughts under the trunk. Exactly this idea brought however much laughter and Gespoett to me into airplane forum, when I could make then however a former Intruder pilot by email for me told that exactly this am quite possible and also often occurred, was certain my resolution: My KA-6D becomes a " egg-throwing kerosene milk sow "! 
I found the MER (multiple Ejector rack) as well as the Mk.82 bombs in the Grabbelkiste. 
One should consider however with this kit always well, at which point in time one cultivates which sections. The model is by the folded bearing areas, driven out Airbrakes and the folded up ladder starting from a certain manufacturing phase only very badly into the hand to take without the something is damaged! I assembled therefore at the beginning of only the trunk and painted the " individual parts " separately. 

Lacquer finish: 

Most Intruder flew with a painting from two colours, and so also my. The lacquer finish is at all no problem. Like always I used colours of Humbrol. First I painted the top side, and after this was maskinged with tape the lower surface. After also all small articles were painted, I covered the model with a layer gloss lacquer. 

Decals: 

The Decals is printed very clean and lets two machines represent. 
On the one hand a KA-6D of the VA 196 " Main Battery " of 1991, 
and on the other hand a KA-6D of the VA 95 " Green Lizards " of 1993. 
I decided for the first machine. This relay was the first Navy relay, that was reequipped at the west coast on the Intruder, and flew it also longest. 
The Decals is to be processed excellently, partly something softeners is needed. After a repeated layer lacquer was also aged the Mpodell with water-colors from my old school paint box (has meanwhile over 10 years on the embossment). Subsequently, a sealing layer mattlack followed. 
I cultivated the remaining sections only now. 

General impression: 

An insanity model! I find, the Intruder amazing am nevertheless actually as large (more largely than a Tornado): well the wings to be folded can do that - saves workstation on the aircraft carrier - and also in the domestic showcase.