1/48 Hasegawa A-4F Skyhawk - FINISHED 9/28

[doogsatx/]

I recently started up ANOTHER jet build. The X-47 looks like it's going to be placed into mothballs due to just terrible decals, and the F-4B is on hold, since it and the Intruder at the same time is just too much to keep track of. I wanted something a bit simpler I could just have fun with, and a fortunate encounter with a Furball Aero-Design decal sheet at the LHS gave me the inspiration I needed to pull the A-4E/F kit off the shelf.

I'll be doing this one as a USMC low-viz Skyhawk from VMA-142, the "Flying Gators", circa 1984.



I wish the fit were just a little better, but I like the way the intakes are designed, with the separate forward lip that makes it easy to deal with the paint demarkation. Not that it matters too much - you can barely see inside the things once the fuselage is closed.



The gear bays have a staggering amount of detail compared to most injection gear bays I've seen.



The cockpit is...decent. But it's so buried that who cares? I'm going Quickboost for the bangseat, but it hasn't arrived yet.

[doogsatx/]

Last night I closed up the fuselage. But first, a test-fit complete with landing gear to make sure I had enough weight pegged for the nose.



The fit, overall, is good, but frustrating at a micro level, making sure panel lines line up and such. Especially at the nose. I found I had to remove several locating pins. Thankfully, MEK is a very hot solvent that works aggressively and cures quickly, so I was able to go in sections and get it mostly right.



The top hump was a bear as well. Had to use a spreader toward the back of it. And putty will certainly come into play where it links up with the tail.







More soon! This one's going fast, and makes a nice break from the more complicated Corsair and Intruder kits.

[wbill76]

Scooter's coming together pretty good there Doogs.

[TRM]

Another fine showing Doogs!! Looking great!!

[dupes]

I was pretty surprised when doing mine that the fit was not as top-notch as expected for one of Hasegawa's "top tier" kits...fuselage halves especially.

[wing_nut]

Being a fan of your work and you're doing my favorite fast mover... I'll be watching.

[doogsatx/]

Jul 14, 2014 11:31:19 GMT -5 dupes said:

I was pretty surprised when doing mine that the fit was not as top-notch as expected for one of Hasegawa's "top tier" kits...fuselage halves especially.

Agreed - and it's even more surprising given how extremely competent the detailing is in certain areas of the kit.

I will say I'm happy I snagged this one for $25 at the LHS...seen plenty of Skyhawks commanding $50+ online, which just seems laughable (same reason I haven't bought more Hornets).

[doogsatx/]

Got a start on painting the Quickboost seat last night. Gunze C317 Gray + Mig AMMO Green Khaki + Vallejo Black Gray, so far. Lots more work to do...

[TRM]

The seat is shaping ups Doogs!!! Every little bit adds that much more to it!! Nothing better than bonding with a little plastic on a Sundae Morn!!!

[406 Silverado]

Spent a lot of time up close with the A4's back in El Toro Ca.
Looking good Doogs. She has some long slender legs ey. Once the drop tanks are on she'll look better.

[doogsatx/]

Not too major of an update...got the wings installed last night. Good fit there all around. Working on detailing out the ejection seat. Really not looking forward to cleaning up the various seam lines on the fuselage!

[deafpanzer]

Now its starting to look like Skyhawk!

[doogsatx/]

Well...I've taken the Scooter as far as I possibly can before having to descend into the fill-and-sand suck. There are still plenty of bits and bobs to attach, but they're the kind of things that don't play well with sanding sticks.







Have to say...VERY happy I'm going canopy open, since the alignment with the windscreen is dreadful.

[wbill76]

I can see what you mean with the open canopy decision! Also gives you the perfect excuse to show off the cockpit interior at least.

[Leon]

Looking really good Doogs.Great decision on the open canopy.

[venom1]

Coming along nicely Doogs. I have one of these in my stash, so am paying attention to all the problem areas. Of which it appears there are a few. Considering the usual quality from these guys, I expected a little better. Bastiches.....

Look forward to the next bit!

Cheers,

Sam

[doogsatx/]

Back in the saddle after a week in Florida (including a nice detour to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola...more on that in a bit)...decided to give the A-4 some love.

Seam work really needs to happen before I can move on to some of the smaller antennae and whatnot.



Covering up with some black primer shows that, overall, the putty did its job.



Still some additional cleanup (and in many cases just more sanding follow-through) needed.

[Leon]

Nice work on the seams Doogs,coming along nicely.

[deafpanzer]

Heard great things about the museum in Pensacola... glad you had good times.

Looking real good...

[doogsatx/]

Closer and closer to paint...

[406 Silverado]

Getting there. Looks good in the primer already.

[doogsatx/]

Another thing. This kit continues to be wildly inconsistent. Blah cockpit, and then some of the best gear bays I've ever seen in injection plastic. Frustrating fuselage fit, and then amazing wing-to-fuselage mount up. Excellent wing detail and...

Simply godawful drop tanks. Poor fit of the main halves, which end up significantly smaller in diameter than the tail plugs (which contain some nice detail you get to say goodbye to as you sand).

Thankfully resin replacements exist - ordered some Red Roo 150-gallon Scooter tanks this morning.

Beyond the tanks, I'm still mulling ordnance. Weirdly a lot of the low-viz Marine Scooters seem to sling AIM-9s on the outside pylons. I may go along with that, with six Mk.82s on a MER along the centerline.

[doogsatx/]

Have the main craft all primed up. Still have a few bits to go...wingtip light inserts and canopy and such that need to be sorted and masked. But while I'm doing those I figure I can tackle the landing gear and gear bays.

[deafpanzer]

Looking good!!!

[wbill76]

Got to love those photos...you know you're in the groove when your LAV wheels show up as scattered background for an aircraft build!

[Leon]

Looking really good in primer Doog.

[dupes]

Aug 23, 2014 19:22:29 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

Got to love those photos...you know you're in the groove when your LAV wheels show up as scattered background for an aircraft build!

Hahahahaha true!

[modelfreak72]

Looking Good Doog! Looks like I'll have to add an A-4 to my list!

[doogsatx/]

Got the gear bays (and the gear struts, wheels and gear door insides) painted white last night.

Have to mask the various clear parts + bays, and then I'll be able to move on to the real paint job.

[TRM]

Nicely done Doogs!! The bays just Pop with a coat of white!!!