Val Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 So, like busses, 6 months passes by without a finished model post from me, then rather anticlimactically, two turn up at once! Manufacturer: Airfix Scale: 1/72 Type: Skyhawk A-4B Extras used: Resin seat (I think Pavla? Doesn't fit!!), Photoetched instrument panels which can barely be seen.... OOB next time me thinks... Paints: Tamiya underside, Xtracrylix top colour, and for the weathering, Tamiya smoke, Flory Models Grime wash for panel lines, oil paint, Flory's Black and Dark Dirt wash for streaks. Alclad Aqua gloss and Matt Kote also used. Build link is here, although it's not great!! Good little kit this one, fit is excellent throughout. Panel lines look ok to me, the decals are magical, only problem is all the little bits that keep snapping off (slat activators, aerials etc). That, to be fair, is more my fault than the kits, but explains where there's quite a few bits missing! Weather is possibly over the top, but I had fun!The cockpit is open to show off the resin seat, and mainly because the seat is too big for the cockpit to close, even with loads hacked off the bottom!!As usual, I haven't killed myself for accuracy, but would be very interested to learn about the mistakes I've made for future reference. Any tips and constructive criticism is welcome.It's a great fun kit, just don't bother with the after market stuff (imo). Oh, and the refuelling probe is scratch built out of a plastic tube, and using the Airfix end bit thingy, as the original snapped... Thanks for looking Val 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 That's a beauty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumbles Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 (edited) Good little kit this one, fit is excellent throughout. Panel lines look ok to me, the decals are magical, only problem is all the little bits that keep snapping off (slat activators, aerials etc). That, to be fair, is more my fault than the kits, but explains where there's quite a few bits missing! Weather is possibly over the top, but I had fun! It's a great fun kit, just don't bother with the after market stuff (imo). Oh, and the refuelling probe is scratch built out of a plastic tube, and using the Airfix end bit thingy, as the original snapped... Thanks for looking Val Lovely finish, it looks great. If Airfix ever tool an E/F fuselage for this they will make a killing. Like I said in the GB, if you aren't breaking slat rails you aren't building A-4's. I agree with your point about the aftermarket, especially where the cockpit is concerned - besides the seat there isn't much to see as it's so small. I scratchbuilt an A-4 Kahu instrument panel and HUD in 1/72 once, kinda pointlessly I realised after I installed it and it disappeared. A couple of constructive comments: -It might be just me, but the alignment in the head on shot looks a little weird - the wing looks a little too flat or something else is off. From the rear it looks fine though. -This is the second time I've seen it on this kit (and the other one was the build of this in Airfix Model World magazine) so I'm wondering if it's an instructions thing, but the demarcations for the white areas on the ailerons and elevators are in the wrong place. They should go all the way to the hinge line and up the diagonal section for the aileron, and "around the corner" for the elevator, so the entire area of the control surface is covered like so: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/A-4E_VA-164_1967.JPEG Edit: Found this - the painting instructions are indeed incorrect. I wonder how many people that's put wrong so far: http://www.super-hobby.com/zdjecia/3/7/2/2591_2_afx03029_4.jpg Other than that it looks cool, well done! Edited July 17, 2014 by mumbles 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 Thanks guys Lovely finish, it looks great. If Airfix ever tool an E/F fuselage for this they will make a killing. Like I said in the GB, if you aren't breaking slat rails you aren't building A-4's. I agree with your point about the aftermarket, especially where the cockpit is concerned - besides the seat there isn't much to see as it's so small. I scratchbuilt an A-4 Kahu instrument panel and HUD in 1/72 once, kinda pointlessly I realised after I installed it and it disappeared. A couple of constructive comments: -It might be just me, but the alignment in the head on shot looks a little weird - the wing looks a little too flat or something else is off. From the rear it looks fine though. -This is the second time I've seen it on this kit (and the other one was the build of this in Airfix Model World magazine) so I'm wondering if it's an instructions thing, but the demarcations for the white areas on the ailerons and elevators are in the wrong place. They should go all the way to the hinge line and up the diagonal section for the aileron, and "around the corner" for the elevator, so the entire area of the control surface is covered like so:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/A-4E_VA-164_1967.JPEG Edit: Found this - the painting instructions are indeed incorrect. I wonder how many people that's put wrong so far: http://www.super-hobby.com/zdjecia/3/7/2/2591_2_afx03029_4.jpg Other than that it looks cool, well done! Ahh yes, the flat wing! I'd forgotten about that! I did something very silly. I forgot to drill out some holes, so held it up to the light to try and see the holes after the wing was together. In a move of unbelievable stupidity, I held it too close to the light for too long and melted it! That's why it's flat! I know...!! I pulled it into shape as much as I could, but there you go! That you for the info on the white ailerons, I did indeed follow the instruction on that one. Thanks for the comments, very helpful, Cheers, val 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bri48 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Love the Skyhawk Val, and the airfix kit looks top notch! Lovely... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 great looking a-4, nice work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Excellent Skyhawk, Really nice work ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr B Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Nicely done...love the staining done on the ailerons .......always a treat to see scooters rgds mr b 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Looks great to me! excellent paint and weathering and one of my favourite aircraft and era,s. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonl Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 So, like busses, 6 months passes by without a finished model post from me, then rather anticlimactically, two turn up at once! Manufacturer: Airfix Scale: 1/72 Type: Skyhawk A-4B Extras used: Resin seat (I think Pavla? Doesn't fit!!), Photoetched instrument panels which can barely be seen.... OOB next time me thinks... Paints: Tamiya underside, Xtracrylix top colour, and for the weathering, Tamiya smoke, Flory Models Grime wash for panel lines, oil paint, Flory's Black and Dark Dirt wash for streaks. Alclad Aqua gloss and Matt Kote also used. Build link is here, although it's not great!! Good little kit this one, fit is excellent throughout. Panel lines look ok to me, the decals are magical, only problem is all the little bits that keep snapping off (slat activators, aerials etc). That, to be fair, is more my fault than the kits, but explains where there's quite a few bits missing! Weather is possibly over the top, but I had fun! The cockpit is open to show off the resin seat, and mainly because the seat is too big for the cockpit to close, even with loads hacked off the bottom!! As usual, I haven't killed myself for accuracy, but would be very interested to learn about the mistakes I've made for future reference. Any tips and constructive criticism is welcome. It's a great fun kit, just don't bother with the after market stuff (imo). Oh, and the refuelling probe is scratch built out of a plastic tube, and using the Airfix end bit thingy, as the original snapped... Thanks for looking Val Loving the detailed technical description! Great looking kit, love it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 thanks everyone! Much appreciated! Love the Skyhawk Val, and the airfix kit looks top notch! Lovely... Yes, it's a really great little kit, recommended! Loving the detailed technical description! Great looking kit, love it! Yeah, I'm not exactly an engineer, you probably noticed Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning88 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Lovely job 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 (edited) Thats a great build and finish! Edited July 17, 2014 by jer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Great looking model Val and you have achieved a cracking finish, the weathering looks good as well - very nicely done. I have this in a growing to do pile, I hope that I can fit it in soon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 Thanks all! Great looking model Val and you have achieved a cracking finish, the weathering looks good as well - very nicely done. I have this in a growing to do pile, I hope that I can fit it in soon. Yeah, it's a good little kit, there were no problems with the kit, just me knocking bits off! Could be a quick build, although I'm incredibly slow!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 That's a great looking Scooter you've built. I like the weathering and it does not look overdone at all on such a plane. Very impressive. I received the same model from Hannants and two slat actuators had been broken during the long postal trip... At least they saved me the pain to break them myself during the build! It must be darn impossible not to damage those things, so small they are... Well done JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 What a ting of beauty is this. Very nice finish - very nice indeed. Cheers, Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 That's a great looking Scooter you've built. I like the weathering and it does not look overdone at all on such a plane. Very impressive. I received the same model from Hannants and two slat actuators had been broken during the long postal trip... At least they saved me the pain to break them myself during the build! It must be darn impossible not to damage those things, so small they are... Well done JR Thanks! Yes, can imagine! I broke 4 of them, of which 1 I lost and nicked another from a donor kit, the fuel probe and arrestor hook! Not to mention numerous antenna that never made it back on to the kit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod bettencourt Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 What a cool little scooter. Nicely done. Rod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawel Szczudlyk Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 That's impressive. Nice painting and weathering. I like it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Moore Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Mate...that is superb work. Congratulations!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Really nice job that. Gorgeous aircraft too. Shame about the massive seat. But looks fantastic none the less 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Corvi Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Very nice work and great finish. I would like to point out a colour problem. The Airbrake area & interior of the airbrake door should be Insignia Red not white. Hope this helps You did a great job Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 Thanks everyone! Very nice work and great finish. I would like to point out a colour problem. The Airbrake area & interior of the airbrake door should be Insignia Red not white. Hope this helps You did a great job Steve Ahh cool, thanks for that info. Do you know if it would be the same on the argentinia version? I am going to make that soon! Cheers Val Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 Fantastic A-4 Val, I hope mine comes out just as well, Sean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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