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Jim Sullivan
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1/48th AMT AD-4W Skyraider

August 19, 2020 · in Aviation · · 24 · 2.3K

This is my third model in support of the Korean War group build.. It's a 1/48th AD-4W . The kit was an AMT branded version of the original model. It was a basic kit with few frills but the shape was good and the plastic well cast with very little flash. Pretty thick sprues too which reminded me a lot of what you see in kit. That made trimming off the small parts quite interesting. The cockpit was lacking in detail as were the wheel wells. I spruced them up a bit and added set belts to the pilot's seat. GSB Model Master enamel was used...that's some mighty fine model paint. The kit went together well and the instructions, though primitive, were pretty good. That honking big radome went on well but some locating pins surely would have been nice. All in all however, not a bad kit. The final photo is a shot of the Skyraider I was modeling.

Hope you like her.

Reader reactions:
10  Awesome

6 additional images. Click to enlarge.


24 responses

  1. Looks great, Jim! You don't see this version of the Skyraider done to often.

  2. AEW in Action...looking for Migs hanging around at night or some of those bedcheck PO-2s. Very nice build Jim. Excellent paint and markings. Nice weathering-those exhaust stains really show up well. Yep another nice build for sure and will really grace the Korean War Group Build Pages.

  3. I think the Skyraiders are some of the best that ESCI created. Blue Skyraiders look really cool.

  4. 🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
    This is a nice job on a very rarely seen Skyraider version Jim.
    Very well subtle weathering, for sure this will make for a very interesting inclusion to the Korean War model group.

  5. Great build, Jim.
    Not seen very often, this Skyraider with dome.

  6. That's a great model of a rare subject, Jim.
    I love the subtle yet effective weathering!

    • Thank you Spiros. It probably should have been a bit more dirty since it often flew off airstrips rather than carriers. I just hated to dirty up that GSB paint finish.

  7. I agree with all the above comments Jim: Not too 'Raider's out there...but your's is an excellent example...guess I should show mine one of these days!
    Your long time friend...Rodney

    1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

    • Hello Rodney and thank you for your comments. That was a fine Skyraider you shared with us. You Sir are a master modeler and I've always been inspired by your museum quality builds. Keep the pictures coming.

  8. Well done Jim, looks good even though that's one god awful looking A/C, IMHO. I guess that's what happens when you load her up with lots of bulky radar.

    • Hello Tom and thank you for your comments. I'd have to agree that the AD-4W wasn't a real thoroughbred like other Skyraider versions but she did do a fine job in her assigned AEW role.

  9. I kinda have to agree with Tom above - what a pregnant whale with that radome! But your model is really nice, and of an unusual subject, which always scores points with me!

    • Thanks Greg, I've had that kit for years but held off building it. When Louis set up the Korean War group build that sort of motivated me to dig it out of ye ole stash and have a go at it.

  10. Jim, Very nice. I too like these in Blue. I wonder how much that big radome effected performance?

  11. Hello Terry and thank you for your comments. No doubt that honking big radome and all the electronics equipment plus the two operators slowed that big bird down a bit.

  12. Hi Jim,
    Always good to see the "Guppy" skyraider.The radome caused a number of aerodynamic problems. After these were solved by the engineering dept. the AD-3W could begin flight testing.
    Some of the first carrier pilots to operate the type were utterly amazed, when they found it the most easiest of all Skyraiders to be brought aboard the decks.
    (Book: Douglas Skyraider by B.R. Jackson /1969 Aero Publishers.)
    Regards, Dirk / The Netherlands.

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