Erik, all the US Navy shipboard aircraft had the ability to kneel when taxiing either on the boat or at the air station. Aircraft such as the P-3 did not have that ability as it was not required. From the Grumman Panthers to the current F/A-18's as far as I know each had that as a standard feature. The Royal Navy F-4's were more prominent in their stances when ready for launch off the cat, the US Navy F-4's were not as extended.
George this is a technique I learned many years ago and don't know who it was that i got if from. It may have been from an article in a Scale Modeler magazine, it goes way back into the 70's. Long before wheel masks. Now a days I go both ways. Still use the old technique unless i have a set of canopy masks that happen to have wheel masks as well. Back to the mains mounts now.
The main gear struts are of 3 pieces. Well fitting parts that build up to a solid unit.
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1. 3 pieces make up the main gear struts
The RH main gear strut has a perfect contact point within the wheel well bay. Solid fit that should last for years.
The kit wheels have nice spoke details. And seem correct for this variant and time frame for the Sky Ray.
Using Testors Rubber Enamel in the small bottle. I will do the capillary technique as I had done with the nose wheel. Using a #1 tip sable brush, with a bit more thinner than paint, touch the edge of the rim and let the paint flow around the edge. Just a dab at different points around the the tire and almost a perfect edge around the rim.
Once the edge is set, then with a bit more paint than thinner, I fill in the areas on the tire to complete the process.
Once the paint is dry, I attach the wheels to the struts. Paint the brake calipers Gun Metal.
Now to set her on her feet once the cement dries and set.
Next up to add the final bits. Drop tanks, missiles and the canopy. The next installment of this WIP should be the final one. More to follow.
1 additional image. Click to enlarge.
