The A2D-1 Skyshark is an injection-molded plastic kit in 1:72 scale from the Ukrainian maker Clear Prop Models in the Advanced edition: an American carrier-borne turboprop attack aircraft with contra-rotating propellers whose development ended in failure.
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This injection-molded plastic kit in 1:72 scale captures the production A2D-1, that is a machine from the short completed series, not the original prototype. Clear Prop Models is a Ukrainian maker and its kits come out in two levels of equipment: Advanced is the richer box for more experienced modelers, while the Starter leaves out some of the accessories. This box is the Advanced one and holds ten sprues (one of them clear) with 234 plastic parts, an extensive photo-etched fret of 83 parts, two decal sheets and a color assembly guide. Markings are prepared for four machines.
The Douglas A2D Skyshark was meant to be the turboprop successor to the legendary Skyraider for the decks of American aircraft carriers: faster, with substantially more power and with contra-rotating propellers, two propellers on one shaft turning against each other. The heart of the project was the Allison T40 engine, in fact a pair of coupled power sections driving a common gearbox. It was precisely that engine that sank the whole program. The T40 was notoriously unreliable and its clutch did not work as it should: when one section failed, the other went on turning it over and used up most of its own power, and the machine became barely controllable. A test pilot was killed in one of the first trials. Development dragged on, jet attack aircraft reached the decks in the meantime, and in 1954 the Navy canceled the program. Only twelve machines were built, two prototypes and ten production examples, out of an original order for several hundred. The Skyshark therefore never flew into combat; what is left of it is a fascinating dead end of technical development.
The kit is detailed, and a fret of dozens of parts makes it work for more experienced hands: expect dry runs of the parts and patience over the cockpit and the landing gear wells. Glue the plastic with thin cement for plastic and the photo-etched parts with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). The pair of contra-rotating propellers calls for care over the orientation of the blades, so do not swap the front and the rear one. Put weight in the nose. Spray the dark navy blue finish with an airbrush in thin coats over a primer; large single-color areas come to life with a light lightening of the centers of the panels and a fine wash into the engraved lines. Apply a gloss coat under the decals and even the surface out at the end with a matte or satin clear coat.
The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.
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