1/48 Matchbox AD-5

1/72 Fujimi AD-6

Gallery Article by LET

The Republic of South Viet Nam begin received the Skyraider from USN to replaced the aging Bearcat on 1960, they’re including some of AD-5 along with the AD-6, later they recalled A1-H and A1-E. Those birds where belong to 514, 518, 522, 524 and 530 Squadrons, their air base spread around of 4 air divisions: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th in the country.

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1/48 Matchbox A1-E

The KITS:
1. We built this AD-5 from a basic MATHCBOX 1/48 kit, and decided cover the “blue room” with putty and modify just like the “G or W” version, Actually VNAF didn’t have the G or WE, it had been shot up very bad and didn’t have the replacement  canopy, so they ended up borrowing some parts from the bone yard …

The Grey/White scheme from USN and sported with black/yellow checker band you  never missed them from 10miles away that belong from 522 Sq. 3rd Air Division at  Bien Hoa air base. See photo directly below.  

2. We also built the AD-6 from the 1/72 FUJIMI kit, painted with SEA standard camouflage.  It also sported with this 522 Sq. checker band, this kit is very crude… But what the heck we picked up from a show cost just 3 green bugs and give this bird a good home! 

Yes! they was all serious Air Warriors during that period of VIET NAM war!…

Note: (Even in the last hours of the war, they fight to parishes, defending against the North onslaught of the rest of the South in Arp/75! …We need a re-confirm from those former VNAF guys!) 

Voila, We have a set of Skyraiders: a camouflage A1-H and A1-E with VNAF colors. Hope you enjoy it, especially from the former VNAF guys and their former SPAD drivers! Stay tune: a color full  “petite” Dragonfly A-37 next?

LET

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A1-E at Bien-Hoa Air Base