This is the 1/72 Hasegawa “A3D-2 Early Version” kit done up as one of the few squadron-service A3D-1 Skywarriors in dark sea blue. The model emulates the Whale in a B&W photo in Squadron/Signal’s “A-3 Skywarrior in Action” book. Barely visible in the photo is some sort of colored design on the tip of the fin, but since the fin is folded over, you can’t see it in total. After some research, Norm Filer and I decided on what the design probably looked like, and he made a nice custom decal for me on the Alps printer.
The kit comes with a resin “pointy” nose and tail turret. I wanted the model to look as the aircraft did in the photo: all folded up. Wolfpack produces a wing-fold set (quite good!), but I had to scratchbuild the tail fold. Most of the markings (insignias, lettering) came from the spares box. The unique intake markings were fashioned by cutting up 1/72 F-8 Crusader intake chevrons and white striping.
Enjoy!
