Douglas A-4 Skyhawk STGB Chat

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Decided I will add a second build but will need to wait until April. Im going to replicate this photo.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sea_Vixen_of_893_NAS_and_VA-55_A-4E_in_flight_1964.jpg

 

Turns out the 1/72 Hasegawa kit comes with the A-4 markings, and Ive got the Sea Vixen in the stash and the decals for 893 Sq. are at this very moment on there way from the U.K. Though I’m not sure if it will be wheels up or down, I haven't done a wheels up build since high-school. To give you an idea when that was Dire Straits “Brothers in arms” was brand new the same year.  
 

Dennis

Edited March 7, 2021 by Corsairfoxfouruncle

[modelling minion]

9 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Im going to replicate this photo.

That would be a great project Dennis, we can wait until April.😉

[Anatol Pigwa]

I amtempted to slot in, before the "main dish", this little Italeri kitty:

 

 

However it would be in the guise of Bu# 150001 A-4E from the VA-152 with a straight refuelng probe. 

 

I am mostly wondering about the loadout of this plane. Italeri provides only the LAU-3 Lauchers which are poured onto the pylon (sigh...) OTOH I have not seen an operational US Skyhawk loaded with LAU 3s on any station. Where those used at all? What kind of mission and additional loadout would would be suitable for the kit (The LAU's on pylon 2 & 4 as well as the tank on pylon 3 are a given).  .

 

 

 

[modelling minion]

1 hour ago, Anatol Pigwa said:

I amtempted to slot in, before the "main dish", this little Italeri kitty:

 

 

However it would be in the guise of Bu# 150001 A-4E from the VA-152 with a straight refuelng probe. 

 

I am mostly wondering about the loadout of this plane. Italeri provides only the LAU-3 Lauchers which are poured onto the pylon (sigh...) OTOH I have not seen an operational US Skyhawk loaded with LAU 3s on any station. Where those used at all? What kind of mission and additional loadout would would be suitable for the kit (The LAU's on pylon 2 & 4 as well as the tank on pylon 3 are a given).  .

 

 

 

Feel free to start another thread for this one, we can work out the weapons for it as you go along.😉

[spejic]

6 hours ago, Anatol Pigwa said:

OTOH I have not seen an operational US Skyhawk loaded with LAU 3s on any station. Where those used at all?

 

The 19 rocket launcher like on the box picture? Probably. I did find a picture of Marine A-4F being readied for a sortie at a ground base in Vietnam and there was a loading vehicle with these rocket launchers suspiciously close. I couldn't find any evidence of them being used by the Navy. They are more a Air Force and Army weapon.

 

But it's not difficult to cut off. You can use one of those photo-etched saws which are very thin or a standard razor saw. Or you can use repeated passes with a hobby knife. You will be tempted to brute force your way through, but don't - that's how you get uneven cuts and the tip of the knife flying into your eye. Repeated passes, first light pressure to define the cutting line and then with moderate pressure will get you through eventually.

 

Or if you want to get creative, you can blank off the front and add fins to the back and turn them into Mk52 mines, because they are very similar in size and shape.

 

6 hours ago, Anatol Pigwa said:

What kind of mission and additional loadout would would be suitable for the kit

If it's a ground support mission, the weapons could be almost anything. You can put single 500lb bombs or napalm or 9-shot rocket pods or Zuni rocket pods or more of those 19-shot pods if you have them.

 

[stevej60]

Wonder when one of these will turn up?

https://modelingmadness.com/review/viet/previews/709.htm

[modelling minion]

28 minutes ago, stevej60 said:

Wonder when one of these will turn up?

https://modelingmadness.com/review/viet/previews/709.htm

They are out there! Saw one on a certain auction site only today, I left it there!!

[klr]

On 3/10/2021 at 6:01 PM, Anatol Pigwa said:

I amtempted to slot in, before the "main dish", this little Italeri kitty:

 

 

However it would be in the guise of Bu# 150001 A-4E from the VA-152 with a straight refuelng probe. 

 

I am mostly wondering about the loadout of this plane. Italeri provides only the LAU-3 Lauchers which are poured onto the pylon (sigh...) OTOH I have not seen an operational US Skyhawk loaded with LAU 3s on any station. Where those used at all? What kind of mission and additional loadout would would be suitable for the kit (The LAU's on pylon 2 & 4 as well as the tank on pylon 3 are a given).  .

 

 

 

According to this 1967 document (10 MB PDF), the LAU-3 (and LAU-10) could in theory at least be carried on any of the 5 pylons:

http://www.alternatewars.com/SAC/A-4E_Skyhawk_SAC_-_1_July_1967.pdf

 

EDIT: This is specifically for the E, but presumably the loadout options would all be valid for the F as well.

Edited March 14, 2021 by klr

[Anatol Pigwa]

Indeed it could @klr:

 

 

I was wondering though if it was used operationally by the USN and found this little gem on skyhawk.org

 

From the VA-212 "Rampart Raiders"  log (I will be building a machine from this unit):

 

"May 1, 1966: Lt. R.H. Mansfield ejected (BuNo. 151179) and was rescued by a Navy helicopter after firing a rocket  from a LAU-3 which either hit his Skyhawk or fodded the engine while attacking a truck convoy 10 mile S of Vinh."

 

This proves to  me conclusively that the Navy used the LAU-3 on their Skyhawks.

 

However I have other plans for my build  

 

Edited March 14, 2021 by Anatol Pigwa

[spejic]

6 hours ago, Anatol Pigwa said:

This proves to  me conclusively that the Navy used the LAU-3 on their Skyhawks.

 

 

I think the question was more if the weapon was used operationally, and so would be appropriate to put on an aircraft with line markings and not a test or demonstration aircraft. We know they used the 7-rocket launcher, and they are very common on post-Vietnam A-4's.

 

But I was finally able to find a picture of a Navy A-4 with the 19-rocket launchers being used operationally:

 

(public domain image)

 

That actually looks like a pretty interesting weapon load.

 

[modelling minion]

9 hours ago, spejic said:

That actually looks like a pretty interesting weapon load.

It looks set to ruin some poor Fan Song radar operators day, similar loads were carried by USAF Wild Weasels.

[Valkyrie]

I’m just setting up the summer modelling bench and shall be along shortly....SWMBO “suggested” I move my operation from the study to the garage...she doesn’t know why I was so keen....more space dear.....

 

[modelling minion]

Yes more space, and the odd liquid refreshment. 😁

[stevej60]

Irons in the fire for a twin seater again the Kangnam kit is on hold really poor fit issues at the moment not the best start for this GB kind

of wishing I'd pushed the boat out for a Trumpeter 1/32 kit now ready for the GB's kick off.

[modelling minion]

Oh dear Steve, I really am very sorry to hear that the modelling gods have deserted you with your Skyhawk builds.

Hopefully something will start to go right for you with your builds soon.

[stevej60]

1 hour ago, modelling minion said:

Oh dear Steve, I really am very sorry to hear that the modelling gods have deserted you with your Skyhawk builds.

Hopefully something will start to go right for you with your builds soon.

Thank's Craig I'm cracking on with the Airfix kit as it's one of my favourite's if an E/F comes along for the set of Aussie decals I have

I'll build one I've a bid in on another but there's a few others interested but I'm not chasing silly prices.

[fmichelsen]

Hello everyone

Is it still possible to join in on this GB. I've never tried being a part of a GB before, it was only recently I discovered all the many great GB in here. I decided that this one, is the one that i find must interesting. I haven't bought the model yet, but I will, as soon as I get a "go" from in here! I might just buy one anyway, love the looks of the A4  

[modelling minion]

12 minutes ago, fmichelsen said:

Hello everyone

Is it still possible to join in on this GB. I've never tried being a part of a GB before, it was only recently I discovered all the many great GB in here. I decided that this one, is the one that i find must interesting. I haven't bought the model yet, but I will, as soon as I get a "go" from in here! I might just buy one anyway, love the looks of the A4  

You are most welcome to join us on this GB, especially as this is your first one.

Loving the looks of the A-4 is a good sign, you are in good company. You are also our second Dane taking part so you are in good company there too as Paul ( @Dansk ) is a top modeller and enthusiastic member of our Group Build community.

[fmichelsen]

11 minutes ago, modelling minion said:

You are most welcome to join us on this GB, especially as this is your first one.

Loving the looks of the A-4 is a good sign, you are in good company. You are also our second Dane taking part so you are in good company there too as Paul ( @Dansk ) is a top modeller and enthusiastic member of our Group Build community.

Nice! - Thanks for a quick reply

I will be back soon with more info on what kit, and the scale it will be in. 

[modelling minion]

1 minute ago, fmichelsen said:

Nice! - Thanks for a quick reply

I will be back soon with more info on what kit, and the scale it will be in. 

You are most welcome.

I look forward to seeing which kit you will be joining us with.

 

Craig.

[Dansk]

On 3/28/2021 at 9:21 PM, fmichelsen said:

You are also our second Dane taking part so you are in good company there too as Paul ( @Dansk ) is a top modeller and enthusiastic member of our Group Build community.

Thanks mate 👍 I’m not Danish though Craig, but I have lived here half my life.

[fmichelsen]

I found my kit the other day. It is a Italeri 0A-4M Outlaws in 1/72 scale. After a bit of research, I learned the kit was produced back in 1988, same as me  . I guess it will be build OOB  I will start a WIP soon

[fmichelsen]

39 minutes ago, fmichelsen said:

I found my kit the other day. It is a Italeri 0A-4M Outlaws in 1/72 scale. After a bit of research, I learned the kit was produced back in 1988, same as me  . I guess it will be build OOB  I will start a WIP soon

Okay, maybe it is just me being a noob, but how do I start my WIP 😬 - problem solved

Edited April 1, 2021 by fmichelsen

[modelling minion]

1 hour ago, fmichelsen said:

Okay, maybe it is just me being a noob, but how do I start my WIP 😬 - problem solved

Glad you solved the problem, and don't worry we have all had to cross that hurdle of the first WIP.

Off to look at yours now.

[klr]

Sigh ... I don't know what happened to the last few weeks, but I need to catch up. So I' m working on all four of my Skyhawks at once. The contrast between the various cockpits is marked. Even the two Italeri kits (A-4M and OA-4M) are quite different.