1/72 McDonnell-Douglas A-4K Skyhawk - Your Favourite Aircraft of All Time GB

[A4K]

User Name: A4K
Name: Evan
Category: 2 - Intermediate

Kit: Italeri A-4E/F Skyhawk
Scale: 1:72
Subject: A-4K in original configuration and scheme, serial TBD, No.75 Sqn. RNZAF.
Accessories: none; scratchbuilding.


This is my 'all-time' favourite aircraft, and one of the reasons I joined the RNZAF.

They served our (now disbanded) Nos.2 and 75 squadrons from 1970 to 2001, when the entire Strike Wing was scrapped as a cost-save measure. (Way to go, politicians)
After a 10 year debacle over sales rights, a number of the now deteriorated aircraft have thankfully been donated to various museums in New Zealand and Australia.

A Hungarian friend kindly gave me the model, already made and the worse for wear after a lengthy time in his attic...but atleast it's an A-4!
Refuelling probe and most of the undercarriage are missing, one wing warped, and forward canopy ruined; scratchbuilding a plenty - this will take time.
Roundels and fin flashes will come from a Ventura set, other markings converted from spares box items or hand painted.

Pics:
1) Major kit parts seperated and cleaned of dust.
2) Remaining parts seperated, decals and paint removed with nail polish remover.

 

[brucejscott]

Looking good Evan. Nice choice and rapid progress.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Me thinks you're going to have a ball (all be it frustrating at times) with this one Even.

 

[Wurger]

Some of work will be needed on that model. But all looks very good though. Keep working Evan.

 

[Airframes]

Looking forward to the transformation Evan.

 

[Rogi]

I can't wait for the new hawk

 

[Hotntot]

Nice start.

 

[A4K]

Hey, thanks guys! Will be some work, but hope to do a good job of her.

And many thanks to Wojtek (Wurger) for fixing the thread title for me!

 

[Wurger]

No problemo my friend.

 

[Crimea_River]

Looking forward to this Evan.

 

[A4K]

Cheers Andy!

 

[Airframes]

You going to build it gear up, in flying attitude, Evan?

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Looking forward to this Evan!

 

[A4K]

Cheers Aaron!

Had considered it Terry, though usually prefer gear down on my models. Will leave that decision open for now, depending on what I can manage.
Wish I had my stuff here which is stored in NZ - got all the spares I'd need (including markings) there...

 

[T Bolt]

It should be an interesting build Evan

 

[Wayne Little]

Sweet Evan, look forward to it!

 

[parsifal]

Evan, good luck with this, I have confidence it will turn out just fine.

Im very interested to watch how you transform a humpback version to the A4G/K standard. I want to attempt a g subtype, but can only find Hump back versions here in Ozs. From Ive read getting the dorsal shape right is a bit tricky. Would love to see how you do it....

 

[A4K]

Thanks Glenn, Wayne and Michael!

Mike, actually I was going to keep her in original configuration with the avionics hump. All but 10 of our A4s were purchased new, with humps fitted to the single seaters (sans equipment - pilots stored their luggage in them!). The humps were only removed in 1986/7 with the first 'Project Kahu' (Hawk) update, with the exception of course of the A-4Gs we got from you guys which never had them fitted.

And what scale are you looking for? In 1:72, Esci did an Aussie A-4G and Blue Angels A-4F, both straightbacks sans hump, as was the Fujimi A-4E/F Agressor, and Hasegawa A-4E/F, the hump provided as an optional component in the latter.
In 1:48 Hasegawa, Italeri, Esci, Monogram and Revell all made A-4E/Fs, all straight backs with humps as optional extras I think.

(No progress yet on the kit btw, been working on the watercolour painting.)

 

[Wayne Little]

Your off the hook then Evan, 'cause that watercolour painting is excellent!

 

[A4K]

Thanks mate, glad you like it!
Did some final corrections today, pic of the finished work on the 'show us your artwork' thread.