Subject: Re: A-7E Article
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "J Wolstenholme" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2012 21:03:20 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: J Wolstenholme 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2012 2:47 AM
  Subject: A-7E Article

  1:32 Trumpeter A-7E VA-72 Desert Storm

  by J B Wolstenholme

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  For this project I used the excellent Zacto intake, windscreen and canopy correction sets (thanks Chris), together with the Aires cockpit and gear bay sets.

  I have corrected as many aspects as are known to me and within the realms of my modelling skills. This entailed either scratch built components, or a rework of the kit parts, over a period of some 18 months, excluding a break to digitise my vinyl record and tape collections!

  Aires

  - Correct Aires cockpit rear RH console for –E, rather than –D.

  - Add missing detail to Aires seat.

  - Correct/add detail to aft MG Bays.

  Kit

  - Add windscreen air ducts

  - New lengthened and repositioned nose pitots

  - Enlarge vents to port nose.

  - Add missing probes and antennae to front underside fuselage.

  - Reshape gun trough and make blister panel as one panel, instead of a   

    separate stuck on piece.

  - Reform trough shape of launch bar housing and modify launch bar.

  - New missile rails.

  - Try to incorporate a ‘pinched’ look to fuselage at rear of canopy requiring  

    modifications to both fuselage and Zacto canopy frame. 

  - Rebuild and detail nose leg, adjusting length for correct sit of model. This 

    was my preferred option rather than modifying the main gear. Nose wheel  

    tyres modified so as not to look like a 4WD.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg

  - New gun gas purge door and ram.

  - Lengthen airbrake and bay which is too short, adding detail to bay.

  - Structural work to inside of fuselage at airbrake position to correct what is an 

     otherwise poor fit of the fuselage halves.

  - Form new dorsal and ventral nav lights and mountings.

  - Open all cooling inlets/vents, adding mesh where applicable.

  - Strengthen wing joints for extended wing positions.

  - Form main gear legs from combined plastic and metal parts with added 

    detail and eliminate spliced joint to rear strut.   

  - New fuel vent; kit part looks more like a UHF aerial.

  - New ventral ECM canoe housing; kit part too small and wrong shape.

  - Reposition and re-size air starter panel.

  - Remove raised LORAN to fin.

  - Reduce width of rear fuselage (tail cone) which is too wide relative to depth.

  - New turbine exhaust and lengthened jet pipe.

  - Add frames to inside of rear fuselage/tail cone, including new pivot mounts 

     for  tailplanes; kit provision inadequate.

  - Add chaff/flare dispensers at rear underside.

  - Tailplane fuselage fairings corrected so as not to go underneath tailcone.

  - Replace ECM antenna to fin top rear for correct orientation.

  - Modify 4 No outer wing pylons to hollow aspect and all pylons to have the

    correct  orientation of ‘apertures’ and ‘resets’

  - Remove raised panels to nose and re-scribe areas which were 

    incorrect  when compared with photos.

  - Modify drop tanks to correct length, diameter and detail

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg

  In addition to the correction aspects I endeavoured to recreate the impromptu onboard paint job with corrosion treatment touch-ups, hydraulic oil staining etc. 

         

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here 

  I am grateful for the technical input from Tom (Superheat), Mark (mhoupt) for specifically taking photos of the rear MG bays and to David Brown’s photos on Airfighters which helped resolve some painting issues

  A selection of higher res. photos can be seen here:

  http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=214546&st=0 

  John Wolstenholme 2012