[ page 3 ]
1/72 scale A-7 Corsair II (Fujimi)
Another Fujimi A-7E kit #F9 was made as seen on page 1....
The kit was similarly assembled as described on that page, but now a model would be made of a Thailand Navy A-7E aircraft.
..........
Photos are easily found on internet. The Thai A-7E also has the cable ducts (parts #50 , 51) and also the lower fuselage fairings #57 and 52. Sometimes also the missiles pylons #28 are fitted, but I did not use these.
I had to fill sink marks in the main
wheels. The rest was simply assembled as per kit and nice is that there
is an intake trunk.
Some filler is needed at the lower
wing and the lower fuselage nose section.
The standard US Navy scheme was still used by the Thai Navy, comprising Fed.Std 16440 upper and lower white 16875 surfaces (and also the upper moving surfaces).
Colours used were:
FS16875 white: Gunze Sangyo
H2 acrylic that was first applied
and after drying and masking
FS16440 gull grey : Gunze Sangyo
325 acrylic
A grey walkway is also seen on the
moving aft horizontal stabilizers.
.
I obtained decals from the Thai SIAM
decals, sheet 72026. This is a nice sheet with plenty of detail
with also stencils for the pylons and fuel tanks. Markings may vary a bit
between individual aircraft, so check photos on the internet which are
easily found nowadays.
The model was finished with the gears and as extra detail, I added the hinge mechanism in the aft portion of the clear canopy #C3 from scratch made from card and rod. This detail is well seen when the canopy is open. Also, small parts suggesting mirrors were added in the canopy frame.
A final coat of Johnson
Future varnish gave an even sheen and protects the decals.
The result is a nice little A-7E model of the Royal Thai Navy.
..
..
[ 513,000 sq.km | capital: Bangkok | 69 million inhabitants | GDP per capita $7,600 ]
Thailand is located in Southeast Asia and shares borders with Burma, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Its population is now almost 70 million, and the capital city is Bangkok.
The history of aviation in Thailand dates back over a century. In February 1911, the Belgian pilot Charles Van Den Born conducted the first aircraft demonstration in Siam (as Thailand was then known) at the Sapathum Horse Racing Course in Bangkok. The demonstration was a great success, and Thai King Rama VI was so impressed that he sent three army officers to France the following year to learn how to fly. Military aviation in Thailand began in 1913 with the purchase of several Breguet and Nieuport biplanes. Over the years, the country continued to expand its air force, acquiring more than 70 Curtiss Hawk III planes and over 84 Corsair V.93 biplanes in the 1930s, with more than 72 of the latter being built locally. Finally, in April 1937, the Thai Air Force ("Kong Thap Akat Thai") was officially established, marking a significant milestone in the country's aviation history.
For more info about the Thai Air Force look at the Fantrainer page here...
Thailand's Navy has had its own air force for many years. In the 1950s, it operated Fairey Fireflies, followed by Grumman Albatross and 10 second-hand Trackers, all of which flew from the shore over the Gulf of Siam. In 1997, the Navy took a major step forward with the introduction of the aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet, which was equipped with ex-Spanish AV-8 Harrier/Matadors. However, operations were modest, with most of the 9 Matadors remaining on shore, along with some helicopters.
In 1995, Thailand acquired 14 A-7E's and 4 TA-7C trainers from the US Navy. After being inspected and repaired at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, they were delivered to Thailand for coastal defense and sea patrol duties. They were used by the Thai Navy's 104th "White Shark" squadron of 1st Wing, based at U-Tapao International Airport in Pataya, about 150 km southeast of Bangkok, which is a former B-52 base from the Vietnam era, now a Royal Thai Navy Station.
Currently, the Navy Air Force mainly operates helicopters, but it also has a number of Fokker F-27s and Lockheed P-3 Orions in its inventory.
Nowadays, Thailand
has significantly modernized its armed forces. The A-7's were probably
not used anymore after 2007.
LTV
(Vought) A-7E Royal Thai Navy, "code 1408"
can you read this? probably royal
thai navy...
back to A-7 models in 1/72 scale...
(c) Copyright Meindert "designer"/ All rights reserved. Your comments are welcomed by webmaster
January 26, 2016