Kit: No. 61055
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Tamiya, distributed by Tamiya America, 2 Orion, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-4922, 800-826-4922
Price: $30
Comments: Injection molded, 111 parts, decals.
Douglas' Skyray was a real hotrod. It held time-to-climb records for several years, could go nearly supersonic on the deck, and had a roll rate of 800 degrees per second! Its dizzying performance was mirrored by its dazzling design.
But when the "Ford" came along in the late 1950s, newer and better fighters were on the horizon. By the mid-1960s, F-8 Crusaders and F-4 Phantoms were the only fighters found on American carrier decks.
Tamiya's new Skyray features crisply molded parts with recessed panel lines. A few ejector-pin marks and mold seams require cleanup. Options include underwing rocket pods, fuel tanks, Sidewinders, and a "Navpac," which housed navigation gear that couldn't fit inside the airframe. The kit's highlight is the option of posing the wings in the folded position. Separate inboard "trimmers" and leading-edge slats allow these to be raised or dropped.
The cockpit detail is good, but there is no harness for the seat. That's because a decent pilot figure fits there. Markings are provided for Marine squadrons VMF (AW)-114, VMF(AW)-115, and the spectacular Navy VF(AW)-3 scheme I chose.
The instructions include a brief history, 14 assembly steps, and a Tamiya color list. One problem here: The top color is described as USAF light gray; it should be Light Gull Gray (FS 36440).
Parts fit is excellent - sometimes even too snug. The main part of the fuselage is split horizontally with the upper and lower wing panels, while the forward fuselage is split vertically. This seam inside the small vent on top of the turtle deck behind the canopy is difficult to fill.
I followed the instruction assembly sequence, but left off the stores, landing gear, and canopy until all the painting and decaling were done. The directions to paint gunmetal on the turbine fan on the front of part A33 in step 5 comes too late, as you've already painted that part white in step 4 - a reminder to study the plans carefully before beginning. If you choose to fold the wings and raise the slats, you must cut a few tabs from the wings. The tail-bumper wheel can be posed down to keep the model on its nose gear.
I noticed an error in the painting instructions. The elevons should be white on top, not gull gray. Outside of the gray-over-white scheme, there is little else to paint on the exterior. All the star-spangled blue trim for the VF(AW)-3 bird comes as decals. Even the antiglare panel and wing walks are decals. They all fit nearly perfectly, but getting the red decals around the intakes and the banners on the wing tanks was a bear. Light applications (avoid puddles) of Solvaset helped them snuggle down.
While the two-part canopy invites you to pose it open, the plastic is too thick to allow the little tabs to be positioned correctly. No hydraulic jack is provided for the canopy, either.
I spent 18 hours on my Skyray. The model measures a couple of scale inches long in span and short in the fuselage, but it looks just like a photo of this plane on the cover of the January 1986 IPMS Update. Steve Ginter's Naval Fighters No. 13, Douglas F4D Skyray is the best reference on the Ford. The only trouble beginners will have will be decaling. This model was a pleasant vacation: a kit with near-perfect fit and eye-popping finish.
- Al Jones