Tamiya Douglas A-4E/F Skyhawk

[MarkB15]

This my effort for this.
From a well known online encyclopedia.

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single seat subsonic carrier-capable attack aircraft developed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps in the early 1950s. The delta winged, single turbojet engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later by McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated A4D under the U.S. Navy's pre-1962 designation system.

The Skyhawk is a relatively lightweight aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 24,500 pounds (11,100 kg) and has a top speed of more than 670 miles per hour (1,080 km/h). The aircraft's five hardpoints support a variety of missiles, bombs and other munitions. It was capable of carrying a bomb load equivalent to that of a World War II-era Boeing B-17 bomber, and could deliver nuclear weapons using a low altitude bombing system and a "loft" delivery technique. The A-4 was originally powered by the Wright J65 turbojet engine; from the A-4E onwards, the Pratt & Whitney J52 was used.

Skyhawks played key roles in the Vietnam War, the Yom Kippur War, and the Falklands War. Sixty years after the aircraft's first flight, some of the nearly 3,000 produced remain in service with several air arms around the world, including from the Brazilian Navy's aircraft carrier, São Paulo.

Found this photo of the actual aircraft. Looks like weathering may be minimal.


skyhawk 2_zpsmvrsbjop by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Usual Box stuff,
Bag in the box

1_zpsxlztfco8 by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Decals, I will be making the 304 option

2_zps8nbgw8mz by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Sprue 1

3_zpsotjm5bod by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Some detail for this sprue

4_zpsbq8aj9hw by Mark Bradley, on Flickr


5_zpsw5i1azq3 by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Sprue 2

6_zps007jx8th by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Bottom wing all in one

7_zpsufjpvefk by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Reasonable bays for 1: 72

8_zpsqwllqxkh by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Instrument panel 6mm at the wide point!

9_zps9hyjsbod by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Canopy, one piece so no open option, Not brilliant photo as left in the bag

10_zpszuu8w2ne by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Instructions single 4 fold sheet , Black and white. Not a single word of English!

11_zpsv3y4vpop by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

12_zpsrd9o36zz by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

13_zpskyzosg4y by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

14_zpsvbp53lz2 by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

[arilo76]

Awesome plane mate i like the little bit of history, please keep posting

[arilo76]

Quick question is this a reboot from Italeri the Douglas A-4E/F Skyhawk?

[MarkB15]

Quick question is this a reboot from Italeri the Douglas A-4E/F Skyhawk?

Looking at Scalemates it looks like it, Original release by Italeri in 1983. Looks like it, raised panel lines and all. Still the flash for such an old tooling is minimal it may be that some of the 'New Parts' in the 1993 tooling are in this kit.

[MarkB15]

As usual the pit is first, Some shots of it primed with my wonderful Ultimate products. ps, please forgive my plugging of there products, i am not on commission. but I love their stuff.

16_zpshifxhhwd by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Please forgive the out if focus rear but my camera has gone into 'Macro' mode so very short depth of field.


17_zpsaezigp5b by Mark Bradley, on Flickr


19_zpsqzpofnhh by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

As you can see not overly detailed side walls, but as the canopy is closed I am just going to spray it and not bother about the EP marks.


20_zpsr1mc0ox3 by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

So here is the dial panel. Looks at bit scruffy, but bear in mind the whole thing is 6mm wide!


22_zpsspgcbpc2 by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Pit painted. V boring colours. but a bit of dry brushing to highlight places made it a bit better. most of it wont be seen but as they say, 'I know its there.'


23_zpsix1ht9xp by Mark Bradley, on Flickr


24_zpsvrij8tae by Mark Bradley, on Flickr


25_zps9dyonf2i by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

As this thing comes with almost a 1 piece wing, checking for tail sitting was fairly simple. It doesn't now!


26_zpsg3008x3e by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

[arilo76]

Ok that explain why it looked so familiar that one was one of my first models 23 years ago, and I am actually looking to get one of A-4 but 1/48.

[MarkB15]

So been a while since last post, Been busy, but got some modeling done and remembered to take pics.
So canopy masked up.

27_zpsgr5bktzj by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Should have read the instructions better. Apprently this version does not have the Electronics faring on the tail, and I should have trimmed it off to fit the replacement part, BEFORE gluing the halves together!

28_zps6sobqint by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

What to do, try some surgery, quite pleased with the results.

29_zpsbodou3hr by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

So had some seam lines to hide, decided to try the CNA method, got some gel which seems to give reasonable work time v results. Some gerneral shots of the areas affected.

30_zpsm74dlzoo by Mark Bradley, on Flickr


31_zpslqzynxhb by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Note the damp tissue masking! Also the big fill in the middle is the wing body join, would not sit flat.

32_zpsrxlbfspf by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

My effort at spraying the intake, getting to mask inside was fun.

33_zpsvccruq5l by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Missile pod

34_zpsaistbbdr by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Fuel tank,

35_zpsnfullty1 by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Underside after sanding the hardened glue off.

38_zpsrigtwotm by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

As you can see the intakes did not fit to neatly.

36_zpsgzspwmcj by Mark Bradley, on Flickr


37_zpsumk63oik by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

But not to bad once blended in, At least sanding off the raised panels allows them to be rescribed.

39_zpszowpuzdp by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Blured but give the idea before sanding

40_zpsrnxpq0hr by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Now re-primed and pre-shading done.

41_zpsobgjsteo by Mark Bradley, on Flickr


42_zpssal4i4dw by Mark Bradley, on Flickr


43_zpswlyby4wb (1) by Mark Bradley, on Flickr


44_zpsehntpkwk by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

That's it for now. Comments welcome.

[GarethCrossland]

Looking good!

[MarkB15]

Bit more today

Got underside sprayed. maybe should have used white primer, by the time I got a decent white Tamyia X2 the preshading all gone, will have to redo I think.

45_zpsp613lb8a by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Canopy on using PVA glue, also handy for the small gaps, excess off with a damp cotton bud.

46_zpscv7uad7e by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

Upper control surfaces also White, X2, Hinges a bit fiddly but nice sharp scalpel.

47_zpsogpvgsuc by Mark Bradley, on Flickr


48_zpsb2dbjeba by Mark Bradley, on Flickr

That's all for now, as usual comments welcome.

[arilo76]

Really cool progress mate.

[MarkB15]

Next update.

Top coat XF19 Just about got the pre-shading right, not trying for heavy on this one.




Bit better White pre-shading on the drop tank


Sample of the small stuff on the 'Cocktail stick' forest.


Nose wheel pre-wash, tried foil on the oleo.


Disaster, looks like I did not leave long enough for the paint to got off, orange peel and peeled off, repair time.


Couple of coats of Pledge






'Forest' coated as well.


Ready for the decals. The upper wing Star and Stripes would not sit into the tiny wing vanes.






That's it for now, Next up, washes and small stuff. Comments welcome.

[MarkB15]

Final for this one. Undersides added.


Hope you like it.