Tamiya's 1/48 scale
A-1H Skyraider

by Bob Herbert

Tamiya's 1/48 scale A-1H Skyraider is available onine from Squadron.com

This is Tamiya's 1/48 scale A-1H Skyraider

During 194,3 the U.S. Bureau of Aeronautics considered combining the roles of torpedo bomber and dive-bomber into one aircraft. Several manufacturers, including Douglas and Martin, were requested to develop a large, single-seat attack aircraft.

Douglas' development started in early July 1944, and all the long efforts of engineers made the first prototype's first flight possible as early as March 18, 1945.

Despite of the short period of the development, flight trials proved the airframe's flight characteristics satisfactory and the aircraft was rated very highly. In May 1945 a letter of intent for 598 production was signed. The name "Skyraider" was officially approved for the aircraft in February of the following year, and the distribution to units was started at the end of the same year.

The Skyraider was powered by Wright R3350 radial engine yielding 2,800 horse power and equipped with three large dive brakes on the fuselage. The Skyraider had a number of types, from the AD-1 to AD-7, recording grand total number of production of more than 3,000. Among them, AD-6 was the most produced variant. The AD designation for the Skyraider was changed in 1962, and the AD-6 became the A-1H. Noted for its durability and a large capacity for external stores, the Skyraider was well liked by its pilots and crewman.

The seatbelts were my first “scratch build” attempt and for the belts I used folded aluminum while the buckles were made with 5 amp fuse wire (copper might have been better)

I used Raw Umber artist paint for the exhaust stain as I felt the rusty brown might be more appropriate (maybe not?)

I thought about more weathering but I am still learning techniques and thought that maybe this could represent a modern “airshow” variant

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2008 by Bob Herbert
Page Created 30 October, 2008
Last Updated 30 October, 2008

Back to HyperScale Main Page