Bandwagon 106 Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 Bit of a late start this one. Hasegawa's A-4M Skyhawk. This one is a later boxing with markings for VMA-311- a light attack squadron in the USMC. The sharp eyed amoungst you might notice a Walleye training round on the centreline (like the Corsair in the background!!) A glimpse inside the box-lots of plastic The marking sheet and the decals. Two hi-viz versions and a lo-viz one for those who like grey. However, I am at a loss which one to choose! Just to make things a little more difficult, here are some decal sheets I have. At left-Cutting Edge decals for VMAT-102 and VMA-331. As Andy (Smuts) discovered, the Hawks are a training squadron, but just look at that lovely tail! Also, the BumbleBee (VMA-331) is a Super Mike, which means hevyweight landing gear (not included in this kit, but not to worry-I have "The Last Skyhawk" boxing which does!) In the centre is a Superscale sheet with markings for VMA-223's "Bulldogs" which has a black and yellow tail and VMA-211's"Wake Island Avengers" which has a red and white rudder and a large badge on the side. (A red lion super-imposed over Wake Island). And at right is a second Superscale sheet with two options for VMA-311's Tomcats. One is the same as the kit and the other has a fantastic red and yellow tail, complete with pawprints on the rudder... Then there's VMA-214's "Blacksheep".... Anyway, that can come later. Onto the plastic. Overview of the parts, don't worry,there is another sprue for the other tail plane! The similarities with Andy's kit(A-4E/F) are clear, just as the differences are too. The slat actuators have some protection, with thickened sprue around the leading edges. Specific parts for the M model. A new hump, larger nozzle for the J-52-408 and matching intakes (also a feature on some Echos and Foxtrots), new IP, nose and ECM / RWR antenna along with the Hot Dog tail pod. The Mike also featured a true HUD, and these parts are present too, along with a new canopy and windscreen. The squadrons I can choose from for this kit go back to WWII, and earlier models of the Skyhawk served with them in the Vietnam conflict, often in a CAS role. Although the Mike never served in anger, the squadrons trained for CAS on a daily basis. The legacy lives on today with Harriers and a lot of units transitioned to this aircraft in the late 80s and 90s. Not too sure what weapons to use just yet, perhaps some Snakeyes, rockets, AGM-65s...that Walleye is looking tempting though! Here's a taster for number two for this GB Hasegawa's AV-8B+. As well as VMA-513, it also includes the Blacksheep... Thanks for looking, best get started! Joel
DaveJL Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 Nice one mate, look forward to seeing it. Always tempted to get a Scooter myself! Dave
Bandwagon 106 Posted July 14, 2012 Author Posted July 14, 2012 Thanks Dave, looking forward to getting in to it. The Hasegawa Skyhawks are really very good kits, lots of detail, version specific parts and the aircraft itself is a legend. Unusually, Hasegawa haven't adopted a "make do" attitude for this kit. Over the years, the family has been covered pretty well. All options for the E/F were covered from the get-go-bent and straight refuelling probes, avionics humps, chaff and flare dispensers (or not), J-65, J-52 and J-52-408 tailpipes. Different noses have been included and some overseas varients have parts in resin, specifically the A-4N and SU. (Lots in the case of the former!) This is a really great site for all things Scooter!- http://a4skyhawk.org/ Joel
DaveJL Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 Thanks Dave, looking forward to getting in to it. The Hasegawa Skyhawks are really very good kits, lots of detail, version specific parts and the aircraft itself is a legend. Unusually, Hasegawa haven't adopted a "make do" attitude for this kit. Over the years, the family has been covered pretty well. All options for the E/F were covered from the get-go-bent and straight refuelling probes, avionics humps, chaff and flare dispensers (or not), J-65, J-52 and J-52-408 tailpipes. Different noses have been included and some overseas varients have parts in resin, specifically the A-4N and SU. (Lots in the case of the former!) This is a really great site for all things Scooter!- http://a4skyhawk.org/Joel Was always the Israeli 'N' that I wanted to go for Dave
CatcliffeDemon Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 I was in a couple of hobby shops in Tokyo today and I vowed that I'd get myself this kit if I saw it on the back of the Skyhawks in this GB. Sadly, none were found on the shelves!
Bandwagon 106 Posted July 14, 2012 Author Posted July 14, 2012 Was always the Israeli 'N' that I wanted to go for Dave It looks really nice that one, just very expensive over here at the moment. Closest I have been to it is looking at the instructions on 1999.co.jp! Credit to Hasegawa though, they covered all the mods really well. Gareth, get a Skyhawk if you can - if you like the Crusader, you will really like the A-4s!. Joel
smuts Posted July 15, 2012 Posted July 15, 2012 Hi, nice to see more Scooters & Marine birds too......really peed that I can't seem to find any for a Nam A4E/F Andy.
Bandwagon 106 Posted July 15, 2012 Author Posted July 15, 2012 Hi Andy, I know Fox One did some decals for Vietnam era Marine Skyhawks at one time, also Hasegawa released an E/F version with markings for USMC units which served in country-namely VMA-211 and 311. The exact aircraft depicted are a little later than Vietnam (about 1974 onwards). Joel
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