This was my test bed for the resin Steel Beach parts. I found a picture of this particular aircraft in the Squadron Walk-Around on the A-1. I thought it was a bit different than the run of the mill AD-5Q’s. 
Great job on the Spad. NAS Quonset Air Museum isn’t far from where I live, they have the restored one owned by the Collings Foundation on display there. Got some great reference photos of it for when I get around to my buid
Very nice work!
what parts did you add to the basic kit?
nice looking build
I used the Steel Beach set, which contains the covered rear canopy, new wheel pants, catapult hooks, wheels, the ECM antenna on the tail, the blade antennas, fuselage steps, and the round antenna underneath the fuselage.
Oh, it also comes with the centerline fuel tank.
Darren, this is a pretty sweet little build. I always enjoy seeing something new. =]
how would you rate the kit itself? I’ve heard a few different things about it, and not all of them can be repeated on a family friendly forum
There was an article a number of years back in FSM on the “conversion” of the Matchbox kit using an AM cockpit and canopy with the kit fuselage, and Tamyia wings modified for the correct wheel wells etc. IIR ESCI made a couple of AD4s in 1/48th. Bernard Fishers, the USAF MOH recipient, A1E (AD5) is in the USAF Museum in Dayton OH. There are a few of these still flying and doing the air show circuit. Great looking model. Us lowly grunts at the fire base camps loved to see these A1s overhead because they could lay down a lot of suppression fire and stay a long while. The only thing better was a “Spooky” gunship.
Very nice job!!
The fuselage isn’t too bad. The cowling is a bit narrow, though. The wings are, simply put, bad. That goes for the landing gear as well. The interior is very basic. However, once the glass is in place, it’s hard to see. I’m going to do Bernie Fisher’s aircraft for an FSM article. I’ll use the Steel Beach update set for the A-1E, swap out Monogram wings, and use the Cobra Co. interior. That should get a pretty good rendition of it. I’d use the Tamiya wings, but I don’t want to waste such a nice (and expensive) kit. I’ve got the Monogram in my stash.
I love the replaced cowl ring. Nice touch. ad a great job on a good looking bird.