Fulton Recepcion inspired me to
build all the a model of each type of aircraft flown by VMF/VMA/VMA(AW)/VMFA(AW)-225.
Early in their history they were known as the Vagabonds and later became the
Vikings.
The first model I finished was the 1/48 Academy (mostly) F4U-4B. I managed
to find a good picture of one of their post-war F4U-4s in the In Action book, so
I based the model on it. I drilled out the holes corresponding to the .50
cal gunports and ejection holes. The kit cockpit and mainwheels
were swapped out with True Details replacements. The kit engine was
replaced with an engine from a AMT F7F kit. The wing-root oil cooler
inlets, pitot tube, and propeller were replaced with corresponding parts from
Hasegawa/Pro-Modeler F4U-5N. The gear doors, rocket stubs, and antenna
masts likewise came from a Tamiya F4U kit. The canopy and windscreen
were replaced with vacuform versions from Falcon. (The vacuform F4U-4/4B
windscreen from Squadron does not fit the wider Academy kit.) The markings
were cobbled together from various sheets.
The second model I
finished for this project was a 1/48 Tamiya Skyraider. The squadron flew
both the AD-4 in gloss sea blue and AD-6 in gull gray over white. I chose
to build the model as an AD-4 in the former scheme. It was built largely
out-of-box with some exceptions. The seat and canvas cover behind the head
rest came from an old KMC resin set. The rotating beacon on the tail, one
antenna behind the cockpit and two antennas ahead of the tail wheel were
removed. I didn't bother to sand off the armor plating around the cockpit
because photos I found didn't show whether or not it was present. The
inboard wing pylons were modified to the AD-4 style. The droptanks were
modified Tamiya F4U centerline tanks. The markings were again
cobbled together from various sources. The stars on the tip of the tail
and wingtips were custom-made by Mike Grant.
This Hasegawa A-4C
was built built almost out-of-box except for a Cutting Edge ejection
seat. The decals were again cobbled together except for the Mike
Grant 'CE" tail codes and 'VMA-225' squadron codes.
I am currently working working on a Monogram A-6 Intruder and a Hasegawa F/A-18D
is waiting on the yet-to-be-built shelf.
Happy Birthday Marines - former and current, especially those deployed and under
fire.
John
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