1/48 Matchbox A1E Skyraider

Gallery Article by Darius Aibara on Nov 12 2003

 

The 1:48 Matchbox range, although limited, did provide some US Navy aircraft not kitted (until recently) by other manufacturers. These included the Kaman Seasprite, NA Fury and the A1E Skyraider. In common with their other kits this one is moulded in different colours of plastic with some recessed panel lines but with minimal detail in the cockpit and undercarriage bays. 

 

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This was one of the earlier kits that I built and so it originally suffered from a poor paint job (no primer used in those days) and silvered decals. An article in FSM about the first tour of the USS Enterprise in 1962 showed photos and artwork of VA(AW)-33 A1E's with painted over rear canopies and a column of stars on the rudder. I decided that my A1E was due for a major overhaul and duly modified my earlier efforts. The kit decals that I had used were for VA(AW)-33 (without the tail colour) and so I carefully painted over the silvered decal areas of the unit markings, and the rear canopy.

I used spare decals from a Monogram F8E for the rudder stars with other letters and numbers coming from the spares box.  I added detail to the main gear legs using spare bits and plastic stock.   An overall coat of satin varnish sealed in the decals.  Exhaust stains were added using drafting ink smeared with a tissue wad.

Darius Aibara

      

Photos and text © by Darius Aibara