that is really looking great Eric, @eb801. I like the scheme and how you got it on the plane. It looks like the decals did great which is always my big challenge. Its going to be a great build.

Amazing steps, Eric @eb801
The misty dust effect does look really nice, just like the result on your sliced G.
Nice finding on the vents as well.

Thanks for the encouraging comments @gblair, @tcinla, @luftwaffe-birdman, @johnb and @tjenks.

Yes these AMT/ ERTL Havocs are fun to build and, considering the age of the tools, are still very contemporary kits and well worth your time. This is my second.

Hey Spiros @fiveten - Those faired over cowl vents are very realistic looking because that is a photo of the real thing. I am keeping these Red Roo replacement cowl vents open since I went through all the trouble procuring them not once, but twice.

That's some solid progress, my friend @eb801! Coming together really nicely!

Thanks Pedro @holzhamer and Spiros @fiveten for checking in.

The Problem With the Kit Landing Gear

As I venture further down this Havoc rabbit hole, I continue to find more errors with the AMT/ERTL A-20 kit. Modelers have been noticing that after the kit landing gear is installed, the stance of the A-20 is too low especially in the nose. You can try and correct this but no matter what you do, including moving the gear forward and all that - it won't solve the problem. Whoever initially designed this kit must have decided to use the Dayton U.S.Air Force Museum's "Little Joe" for reference. (That's my belief. I have no proof.) Big mistake, because the oleos on that plane are completely collapsed as the hyrdraulic oil has been drained, so the plane sits low as it can go. Short of someone redesigning a corrected gear set, there is no solution other than mind numbing,corrective surgery, not worth anyone's time unless you are a maniac for punishment. The only Havoc/Boston replacement gear out there is the white metal Scale Aircraft Conversion set and all they did is duplicate the problem ones in this kit.

Here's a couple of photos of the oleos under normal hydraulic pressure:

Now here's "Little Joe's" nose gear over at Dayton's U.S. Air Force Museum:

And then take a look at the AMT/ERTL's nose gear. Notice the similarity? Trust me, the kit main oleos are also squashed.

The only solution I can see is just leave the main gear be and move the nose gear forward a tad and angle it a bit and call it a day. That day is forthcoming.

Too bad they made this mistake, Eric @eb801
Surgery does indeed mean a lot of work to correct it.

From my own (limited) experience SAC only gives us white metal copies of the plastic parts it meants to replace. That’s ok if what the modeler looks is a more solid landing gear, but when the plastic has shape issues it’s just a missed opportunity from their products to deliver added value imo.
And Eric, thanks for pointing this up. I guess if I come around to build my Havoc one day I’ll reshape the oleo and scissor parts

Exactly, Tom @tcinla! I already did a few days ago after reading what you did with “Buffalo Dave” several months ago. I’ll post the results real soon. Your solution is definitely the easy way out.

The other methods that Pedro and Colin mentioned are very doable and accurate, but I just want to get this build over with once and for all and get a move on to the next kit. Like you said, no one will really notice