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In-Box Review
148
VNAF: Douglas AD-6 Skyraider - Part 1

by: Francois Buis [ FBUIS ]

Six 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.

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 colorful 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 Grey FS 36440 over Insignia White FS 37875 scheme.

The two aircraft covered in this set are:
- VNAF AD-6 Skyraider Bu N° 135224/A of the 1st Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam in 1961
- VNAF AD-6 Skyraider Bu N° 135237/Y of the 514th Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam in 1962

The decals are wonderfully thin and will conform and cover well as they are printed by the Microscale Industries one of the 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!

This decal set was the first product of the VNAF – Model Aircraft Club in Westminster, California, USA. Which is a group of 10 enthusiast modellers, VNAF-MAC was first a modelling club that modellers share information with each other, using documents and the aircraft photos they began to do “home made” decals. They have now decided to launch into 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: [email protected]
SUMMARY
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 Vietnam War in the 60s and 70s.
Percentage Rating
90%
  Scale: 1:48
  Mfg. ID: VNAF-MAC 001
  Suggested Retail: $10.00 USD
  PUBLISHED: Jun 03, 2006
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 73.33%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 90.00%

About Francois Buis (fbuis)
FROM: AIN, FRANCE

My first built kit was an 1 :72 B-58 Hustler at age of 9 in the sixties, a gift of a military advisor in Vietnam. Through the seventies, I had built some aircraft and AFV: Monogram, Revell, Hasegawa, Tamiya, etc. till I was called on duty at 19. By many change in life and job, I abandoned this hobby...

Copyright ©2021 text by Francois Buis [ FBUIS ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.


   
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