Mark Halseth’s model is the 1/48 scale Tamiya VA-176 A-1H Skyraider

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Very few prop planes have ever shot down a jet in combat and the Showcase Model of the Month for November is one of those rare examples.  Piloted by LtJG Tom Patton this VA-176 A-1H Skyraider from USS Intrepid was on a RESCAP mission on 9 Oct 1966 to locate a downed pilot in North Vietnam when their section was jumped by four MiG-17’s.  LtJG Patton was able to gain an advantage on one of the MiGs using his superior maneuverability and stitched it with his four 20mm cannon.

 

Mark Halseth’s model is the 1/48 scale Tamiya Kit built mostly straight from the box. Here I’m going to switch person and say that the writer was also the lucky winner this month. I preshaded the model with Tamiya NATO black and sprayed Model Master Gull Grey and White in thin coats.  Then I mixed a lighter Gull Grey and sprayed the center of the top panels to bleach them. After a gloss coat I added kit decals, sealed them with another gloss coat and did a panel line wash. I sealed that with a flat coat and went to oil paints for further streaking, staining and bleaching.  Exhaust stains were added using the airbrush.  To finish I added the wire antenna and static dischargers.  

 

Thanks to my fellow club members for recognizing this model.