New Skyraider from VQ Warbirds is Awesome!
 

It has been a while since I've posted anything on here but wanted to share my experience building this new skyraider for a customer. This is based of the regular ESM Skyraider, but done in the Southeastern Asia color scheme. One of the really nice aspects of this plane is it comes with decalse (water transfer) for several different scale planes to choose from. This is a great idea so that you don't have to have too many of the same plane and folks can join together and build different types.

This also comes with an ordnance package that I will be applying to this model. You can have the tanks, but then go with either rockets, rocket tubes, or bombs. Again, another great upgrade from VQ Warbirds. For those who are interested in all the specs and details, here is the link to their site.

[h=1]http://www.vqwarbirds.com/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=938&osCsid=0 ac35e0dd7d3cb3cf47b01e42159b48b[/h]
The first thing I do is set all my parts out. Another good idea is to get a trey from Walmart in the fishing section. These little clear treys can be used for all the "parts" that come with the kit.

The first thing I always do is mount the engine. Mainly because without the rudder or stab in place, I can set the plane on her tail and play around until I get it 100% correctly. In this case, I used the new EME 35. You can see it here:

http://www.vqwarbirds.com/product_in...7b01e42159b48b

They also make an auto start version, but I decided to opt out of this one. I've known these engines to be very powerful and I didn't want to have a ton sticking out of the bottom. For the power and the relatively small size, I thought this would be perfect. The mounts that come in the engine are nice, but they caused the engine to stick out too much. So, I decided to just mount the engine old school and broke out the wood!
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The next part is one of my favorites. When I build a plane for a client, I feel that it needs to have a nice cockpit. Even though the Skyraider is relatively small, that doesn't mean you can't go all out. VQ Warbirds also provides a cockpit kit for this plane. I used most of the kit just as they requested. I did however add a few tiny details to make it pop. I then installed their jet pilot because the suit so closely matches. Once I put the canopy on, I could just imagine the plane getting complete.
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Look'n good!!!!

I don't know if you have ever placed a drop of finishing resin in each of your gauges and let it cure. It makes the instruments stand out and really look good. I've done it on many of my planes and I really have liked the result. Makes them look like they have the lenses and the instruments
do not fade in the sunlight. You have a really nice plane going there. Those Sandies saved a lot of our soldiers in Viet Nam.

Jack Devine

How good are the plastic parts? VQ has furnished really poor plastic cowls, wing tips and other assorted parts to the extent that I got rid of a Zero kit w/out building it, pure junk!

The kit I had seemed to be reasonably well constructed otherwise.

Gizmo, I agree with you that the really early stuff was sub par, but the new ESM stuff through VQ is much MUCH better. I can take close ups of anything you want. Just let me know. I love this hobby and love spreading WWII aviation. This one is really nice. I currently have their mig-3, raiden (I wrote an article on model airplane news magazine December 2015 on these two), as well as their B-25. We do a lot of airshow flying and it is a great way to quickly build a nice plane. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2147050http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2147052http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2147053

New plane=Sleeping on the sofa! Actually just bought a new Inversa and can't afford anymore planes, engines, etc. My father flew Corsairs in WWII and Korea and Skyraiders also. Will follow your post, have always liked the AD and who knows.
Your photos show a much improved plane from what I had.

Thanks

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Sorry its been a while since I've posted anything. Got super busy but now back on it! I decided to put the plane on its wings to give me some much needed excitement. I am going to now start looking at how I will be making my wing tanks removable etc. Should be interesting. Will probably go ahead and weather the fuselage because I love doing that. We will see....

Elect. Power
 

Has any one used Elect. power for the A1-Skyraider from VQ Warbirds? if so what Motor & ESC, is there a hatch for placing the Battery.

Tailskid ever get your SBD back in the air? I'm waiting for some cooler weather before I take out Number 2 & working on a C130 (ws 103 ") will be in "Fat Albert" Blue Angels scheme,
Semper Fi
Joe

Sure did...in fact I flew it today (and took out the landing gear blocks:()....DLE35 pulls it around just fine! It is just a heavy plane and of course I blew the landing - flared too soon.

Jerry