1/48 Italeri A4 Skyhawk

[Avgas]

An old Esci rebox, raised panel lines in places, not much detail but looks like a straightforward build.



In the box we have the instructions which are the usual Italeri one piece fold out jobs. No colour.









The sprue bags. One has a single grey plastic sprue and the transparency sprue and the other has two sprues.



The decals have options for four different versions, RAN A4G 805 Sqdn, USN A4E VC-2 'Blue Falcons', USN A4F VC-5 'Checktails' and USN A4F VA-55 'Warhorses'. The VC squadrons were fleet requirements reserve squadrons so probably carried little hardware normally apart from the tanks. I believe the RAN A4G was fleet defence so probably carried AAMs so I'm going to have a go at the VA-55 one as there's some bombage supplied to hang off the beast. It's actually the one on the box art. VA-55 did 7 cruises to Vietnam and the one I'm building is from USS Hancock (or Hancok as Italeri spell it) in 1972. Masks were extras bought in. By the way the weird 'melted' looking decal lower right is supposed to be like that as it fits over the refuelling probe.



The A4 was the smallest jet to operate off of a carrier but could carry up to 8,000 lbs of ordnance in it's later versions. Although getting old as far as the US Navy was concerned by 1972 it certainly showed it's potency in the Falklands War ten years later being flown by Argentinian pilots.

[Avgas]

So a little update. Have done the 'pit. Very basic but then the only option is to have the lid shut so there's not much point IMO going daft on the details. I'm not one for spending time on stuff that no one will see.

The basic pit. The side decals are too long for the panels but no one will notice once the lid is on.



The decals looked way too 'Black and white' to me so on with the oil. I use these two for just about everything.



And the oily pit. The front panel decal lifted a bit but it's back down now.



Dry fit is perfect. Must be doing something wrong!!



In fact contrary to my own advice I thought that the sticky up plate on the right hand seat armrest needed doing something doing to it, so I drilled a hole in it and put a couple of yellow stripes on as I think it's the emergency manual release device for the harness.



And then I thought that a harness release ought to have a harness so five minutes with some Tam tape and brown oil wash later. Aaaargh...I'm turning into a modeller, someone help me. This forum has a lot to answer for.

[Avgas]

Got the wings and intakes glued up this morning. The intakes are a very good fit. Dry fit of the wings reveals a not too bad a gap on the fillets. Not much filling and sanding to be done here. The fit so far has been good, although the plastic is quite hard. This kit doesn't have much in the way of locating pins either, it's a case of sliding stuff into the corrrect place.

[Avgas]

Got the avionics hump on and glued the wings and tailplane on. Made the mistake of putting the pylons on the wing without checking the decal call out, realised I had put pylons on when I should have put them over the decal. Not that it tells you this in the instructions of course. Luckily I managed to pull off the pylons without leaving their locating pins behind after a bit of wobbling around. Phew etc. Have to say so far the fit of evrything is quite acceptable although the detail isn't what you would expect these days. The engine nozzle is a bit laughable but then it's an old kit.

[Avgas]

Canopy masked and on, primed and pre'd. Going to let it harden off for a day.



In the meantime I'll get on with the ironmongery.

[keithinflorida]

Looking good so far. Always had a soft spot for the Skyhawks.
I here you about becoming a modeler. This forum and specifically Paul have a lot to answer for.

[Avgas]

Quick update. Just at the decalling stage. Had a bit of seepage under the canopy when I sprayed it, it's not too bad but I'm a bit annoyed... . Also lost a landing gear bit, God knows where that's gone but anyway, I got the bottom decalled and weathered separately as it's a gloss finish. Not much in the way of decals on the bottom.



I then did the top side, the wing decals have to sit on the wing fences so it's getting copious amounts of Microsol to try and make them sit down. I've a feeling they are just going to look a bit gash, not a lot else I can do really.



I made a start on the fuselage side. I don't know if this is a one off but some of the decal numbers don't match and the aircraft in their instruction sheet doesn't look anything like mine in terms of panel lines etc for lining up the decals. Almost as if it's another kit. Still, not a big problem. Another couple of hours should see all the decals done, a coat of gloss and a weather. I'm brush glossing this one for a change, which is why the canopy is already unmasked.

[Avgas]

Weathered and varnished. Got the legs and bomb stuff to hang off it and she's a goer.

[Avgas]

Calling this done. Finished kit on reveal page. http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 45&t=15169 Not a bad build, plenty of inaccuracies in the instructions but apart from that simple and straightforward.