The
Skyraider is arguably the longest-serving propeller fighter-bomber ever to have
been built: designed at the end of the World War II, it reached the field too
late to take part in that conflict, but would soon be used extensively in the
Korean War in the 1950s and then in the drawn-out Vietnam War in the 60s and
70s.
The 6 US Navy Skyraiders were sent for the first time to the VNAF (Vietnam Air
Force) in September 1960 to replace the old Grumman F-8F Bearcat, 25 more
aircraft following in the Spring 1961 and VNAF had used a large quantity of this
aircraft till the end of the Vietnam War, even though the Vietnamization Program
called for replacement of the Skyraiders by Northrop F-5 and Cessna A-37 jet
aircraft. The first AD-6 Skyraiders (later known as A-1H) of the VNAF 1st
Fighter Squadron began combat operations from Tan Son Nhut AB in May 1961.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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If
you’re a Skyraider fan and looking to dress it up, well VNAF-MAC (Model
Aircraft Club) has a set that is a “must have” - The VNAF Skyraider in early
days – Part 1. This set contains 1 large sheet and a colourful decal placement
sheet with a great write-up of the First VNAF Squadrons that were in combat
operations in Vietnam. In all you get enough markings for 2 different Skyraiders.
You also have an abundance of stencils and marking in this set. The painting of
the first VNAF Skyraider in early days was based on the US Navy standard: Light
Gull Gray FS 36440 over Insignia White FS 37875 scheme.
The decals are wonderfully thin and will conform and cover well as they are
printed by the Microscale Industries as the other well-known decal
manufacturers. Printed in a matt finish on quality paper, the colors are solid
and in perfect registration. I was able to use Micro Sol decal setting solution
without any problems, so yes I would say that it’s safe to use.
Highly recommended!
Francois
Contact
details
This
decal set was the first product of the VNAF – Model Aircraft Club in
Westminster, California, USA. With a group of 10 enthusiast modellers, VNAF-MAC
was first a modelling club that modellers share each other for the information,
the document and the aircraft photos then they began to do “home made” decal
by research in books, photos and received the opinion of many former VNAF
pilots. By many request of modellers, the “home made” decal system did not
meet to a larger quantity so they decided to launch on the hobby market this
Limited Edition decal set.
For
more information you can contact:
Model Aircraft Club
P.O. Box 10544
Westminster, CA 92865-0544
USA
Email:
thanphong23@hotmail.com
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