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AMX in 1/72 scale: modelling report
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In 1980 Brasil joined the AMX program with EMBRAER and the A-1 was developed to be used by the Brazilian Air Force "Força Aérea Brasileira". The EMBRAER version is different: the U.S. M61 cannon was at the time not available for export to Brasil so it was fitted with 2 DEFA type 554 30mm cannons. It got some other systems and could fire Piranha MAA-1 missiles and got larger internal fuel tanks. Still, externally it looks very similar to the Ghibli but with a few different (gun hatch) panel liens. It had different external wing fuel tanks as well.
(In 1985 I was as aeronautical engineering trainee at EMBRAER but did not have a camera to take photos of the A-1 prototype being in the test hangar. Look for great memories here...).
The A-1 replaced the Brazilian Air Force AT-26 (MB-326) and 51
A-1A and 8 A-1B trainers were put into service.
Some 43 jets were modernized A-1M standard from 2013. These got additional ECM, "glass cockpit" and can deploy other weaponry. Designated A-1M, externally some ECM bulges are seen of the fuselage and it has a different "glass" main instrument panel.
The 1/72 A-1 is made by conversion of the Italeri AMX kit and is not that difficult, with mainly adding the 2 visible DEFA gun fairings.
A few A-1 models will be made: A-1A, A-1B trainer and A-1AM "modernized".
Each A-1 has 2 DEFA canon fairings that are different as compared to the Italian AMX. These were made from 2 halves from bombs found in the spares box. These were simple crafted on the lower nose and some white glue faired these in (or use putty). The access hatch panel line for each DEFA canon runs a bit different, this can be rescribed or suggested with a soft pencil.
(The re-enforcement etched metal plates found in the kit were not set on the first A-1. Also, stores like Orpheus pod are not applicable. Same with the under wing fuel tanks, these are larger and different).
Each model made got after assembly first a base grey paint coat airbrushed with Revell 75 steingrau. Any flaws were repaired, mainly a bit more sanding at the fuselage halves' joints.
The first EMBRAER A-1 model of the Brazil Air Force / "Força Aérea Brasileira" was made in the old scheme of A-1 coded "5524" of 1/16 Gav. Adeplhi at Santa Cruze 1995. It has also a badge.
The paint scheme comprises probably the colours: FS36187 upper grey and FS36493 lower grey. I had a HATAKA acrylic paint set but was not happy with thinning these the paints and had troubles. So I airbrushed instead a mix of Gunze Sangyo Mr Hobby acrylic: 95% H317 FS36231 and 5% black. For the lower surfaces Gunze H338 FS36493 was airbrushed.
After the paint scheme had been applied, the detailed parts like the landing gear were installed as described on page 1. (note: it is better to do that after decalling).
The Brasil A-1 decals are available from aftermarket brand Liberty models. But these I could not find, so I custom designed at home a decals sheet. These are than laser printed, including the white colour. If you want a Brasil A-1(M) decal print AIPD-41, check out my decals page here...
Before setting the very thin decals on the model, a gloss varnish coat was airbrushed to avoid "silvering". A fine scissor is needed as each custom printed decal needs to be cut out.
I could not see if the nose badge is present at both sides, I only set it at port. (if you have any info, let me know).
The A-1 stencilling details are unknown to me. But the custom decals "sem passo" were set instead of the NO STEP kit decals #13. Only a few stencils were set from the kit like #5, #17, #12 #20, #21 and bits of #8 and #9. The low visibility lights were also put as yellow kit decals, note the tiny ones at the wing tips.
The final details were now added. I assumed that the ejection seats are similar as those in the Italian AMX and the kit parts were installed. In the cockpit, on the instrument panel and side consoles the customized decals were set, assuming these to be similar to the AMX.
The vulnerable refuelling probe was set now at this stage and hand painted as were the various antennas and pitots. There is a "Força Aérea Brasileira" title at starboard below the probe.
A few different nose panel lines near the DEFA canons were suggested with a pencil and a little wash applied e.g. to the recesses of flaps, spoilers and gear doors.
When done, the model got a semi-gloss varnish coat to get an even sheen and to protect the decals. A mix was airbrushed of Johnson Floor Care/ Future thinned with Gunze Sangyo acrylic Levelling thinner but now with 5% mixed in Tamiya Flat Base X-21 to make it a bit duller. The anti-collision lights were painted.
The wind screen and canopy frames were hand painted in the upper grey colour. The canopy was set open: inside the canopy an extra cross bar was added aft of the seat from scrap and a rear view mirror.
BRAZIL
[area: 8,515,767 km2 | population: 212 million | capital: Brasilia | GDP USD 7,000 nominal per capita ]
In the 1980s, EMBRAER developed types like the (Shorts) Tucano advanced trainer and the AMX attack aircraft with Italy, locally designated A-1.
Look for more information about the Brazil air force the F-5E page here...
... set in a scenery...
The wing tip launchers later got a few AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles:
Assembly was done as described above, again with the 2 DEFA canon fairings of the A-1.
The camouflage scheme of the FAB airbrushed:
overall Gunship grey FS36118 with Gunze Sangyo Mr.Hobby H305;
gunship green upper patterns are FS34092 through a mix of 50% H301 FS36081 and 50% H309 FS34079.
The pattern was hand masked during airbrushing.
Decalling was done with the custom made decals after the model was airbrushed with gloss varnish to avoid "silvering". If you want a Brasil A-1(M) decal print AIPD-41, check out my decals page here...
The scheme is for a A-1B code "5659" of 1/10 Gav Esquadrao Poker as based on Santa Maria in 2006. I set 3 pairs of the low visibility national brazil stars. The "Força Aérea Brazileira" title at starboard below the probe was set after the refuelling probe had been installed and painted.
Setting the detailed parts like the landing gear was done as described on page 1 as were the inboard wing pylons.
The model got a final semi-gloss varnish as described above.
Some instrument panels decals were set as was the HUD. The pair of seats were installed after they got some harness straps.
The wind screen and open canopy frames were hand painted in the upper green colour and two tiny mirrors installed. The large canopy was set open.
The wing pylons were set after these had gotten custom warning markings. I was not sure about possible armament but I set a few CBU-12 bombs found in the spares box. That completed this nice model.
Italeri kit assembly was done as described above with adding the 2 DEFA canons but also now 2x2 ECM fairings on the fuselage of the -M: on aft fuselage in front of each tailplane and in front of each intake. These fairings were made from plastic card, sanded in shape and blended in with putty.
I assumed that the structural plates on the upper fuselage were also fitted in the A-1M though this was unclear to me. Italeri provides photo-etched plates but I used thinner tape slices.
Also a sort of FLIR nose fairing for the A-1AM was made from card situated forward of the refuelling probe at port (not yet seen in the photos).
The camouflage and patterns look similar as shown on the model shown above. The custom made decals were applied and are for a A-1AM "5504" as flown by 1/10 Gav.Poker at Santa Maria. Check out my decals page here...
In the cockpit are now digital displays, these were suggested with paint. For the HUD I used the small kit part. There are a few different antennas on the upper A-1AM fuselage surfaces, these were made from thin card. (part #21A was not used). On each ECM fairing a small white-black dot was painted and some white panels of the upper fuselage. The model got a final semi-gloss varnish as described above.
The windscreen and canopy frames were painted in the camouflage colour and canopy was set closed, it fits OK.
A Lightening III laser designator pod from the kit was installed at the lower center line. The Italeri ELBIT Lizard 2-3 bombs were airbrushed green-brown and installed under the wing pylons of the A-1AM.
... set in a scenery...
That completed a nice bunch of AMX and EMBRAER A-1 1/72 models.
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Created this page May 23, 2024