zebra Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 I'm going to attempt to complete 2 Skyhawks in the STGB - a bit of a tall order given the builds I have planned in Anything But Injection and Unarmed, but here we go anyway... First up is a 1/48 RNZAF A-4K Kahu. Since the ANZAC GB is going on at the same time I'm going to put this build in there as well. Maybe I'll alternate posts between here and the ANZAC GB. I'm using the Hasegawa 1/48 A-4E - here's the box shot: Decals will be from Gekko Graphics. Not entirely sure which scheme I'm going for but plenty of time to decide. First issue here is that this kit doesn't include all the parts you need to make it a Kahu, so I'm going to have a go at 3D-printing them. I've made some progress today on the instrument panel and HUD - here's the CAD render: Pretty happy with this so far. Should look good enough with a few Airscale instrument decals. cheers Julian 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 A very nice project Julian, welcome to the GB mate. I do like the Kahu Skyhawks, the Euro one paint scheme helps to make them look quite mean and I quite like the later single green scheme too, much easier to paint! Your IP and HUD look very good and knowing how popular Kiwi A-4's are you could probably start up a business selling them. I have no doubt that you know your way around the Kahu and Kiwi A-4's in general but this site can be quite useful; http://hamfisted-modeller.blogspot.com/2020/06/modelling-rnzaf-skyhawk.html Looking forward to this one, should be great. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted March 7, 2021 Author Share Posted March 7, 2021 21 hours ago, modelling minion said: A very nice project Julian, welcome to the GB mate. I do like the Kahu Skyhawks, the Euro one paint scheme helps to make them look quite mean and I quite like the later single green scheme too, much easier to paint! Your IP and HUD look very good and knowing how popular Kiwi A-4's are you could probably start up a business selling them. I have no doubt that you know your way around the Kahu and Kiwi A-4's in general but this site can be quite useful; http://hamfisted-modeller.blogspot.com/2020/06/modelling-rnzaf-skyhawk.html Looking forward to this one, should be great. Thanks! Yes that site is really good, and there's a link to a very comprehensive set of walkaround photos. Instrument panel - plus RWR and VOR/ILS antennas - are printed out now. In keeping with my alternating between this and the ANZAC GB thing, you can see a photo over in the ANZAC GB. cheers Julian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneheadff Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 Can't await to see the instrument panel!!!! Just one thing...From what I remember the Gekko instructions say that the Kahu upgraded airframes didn't have the hump anymore and were painted overall green. So actually no Euro I camo for your bird 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneheadff Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 On 3/6/2021 at 1:21 PM, modelling minion said: http://hamfisted-modeller.blogspot.com/2020/06/modelling-rnzaf-skyhawk.html Wow...great reference site!!! Thanks for sharing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted March 7, 2021 Author Share Posted March 7, 2021 37 minutes ago, coneheadff said: Can't await to see the instrument panel!!!! Just one thing...From what I remember the Gekko instructions say that the Kahu upgraded airframes didn't have the hump anymore and were painted overall green. So actually no Euro I camo for your bird Euro I is definitely an option - the Gekko instructions call out which ones were Kahus and there are definitely Euro I birds amongst them. I am still a bit torn though as one of the all green options has a bit of a patchwork of different shades and things like ailerons and an undercarriage door that came from Euro I aircraft, which also appeals to me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 I like the fact that there are quite a few pictures of RNZAF A-4's in different schemes where there are mix and match panels from other schemes, adds a nice bit of variety. Another tick for the all green option is that when the paint was first applied it didn't adhere very well so you get quite a bit of weathering, especially on the leading edges. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 11 hours ago, modelling minion said: Another tick for the all green option is that when the paint was first applied it didn't adhere very well so you get quite a bit of weathering, especially on the leading edges. And I think some of them got a bit more variation in the paint from the leading edges being repainted in a darker shade. Right now for all that I like the Euro 1 options, I'm leaning towards an all green bird with a patchwork of different shades and some bits in other colour schemes - from memory NZ6201 fits the bill. 13 hours ago, coneheadff said: Can't await to see the instrument panel!!!! Here you go: I'm not very good at painting details, this is one of my better ones. I'll be adding Airscale instrument decals for as many of the instruments as I can. cheers Julian 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneheadff Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 19 minutes ago, zebra said: Here you go: Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!!!!!!! Would you mind selling one to Germany or sharing the file? 😁😁😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 That really does look very good Julian, you could definitely market that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneheadff Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 19 hours ago, zebra said: Euro I is definitely an option - the Gekko instructions call out which ones were Kahus and there are definitely Euro I birds amongst them. I am still a bit torn though as one of the all green options has a bit of a patchwork of different shades and things like ailerons and an undercarriage door that came from Euro I aircraft, which also appeals to me. I just found my Gekko decal sheet and those late Kahu without hump and Euro I camo are really looking special 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Wow that’s super cool making your own IP! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share Posted March 9, 2021 Thanks everyone! On 3/8/2021 at 9:31 PM, coneheadff said: Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!!!!!!! Would you mind selling one to Germany or sharing the file? 😁😁😁 On 3/9/2021 at 3:49 AM, modelling minion said: That really does look very good Julian, you could definitely market that. The thing about marketing it is that I can’t vouch for its accuracy and it rivals Aires parts for poor fit (a bit of thinning down of the fuselage parts and a little sanding to make the bottom of the IP coaming narrower is all it needs though) so I wouldn’t want to market it. Happy to share the file though. Might have to look into Creative Commons licensing! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted March 14, 2021 Author Share Posted March 14, 2021 Got some Airscale decals onto the instrument panel today. It's looking pretty good. But you'll have to take my word for it for now as the photograph I took of it was rubbish! 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 24 minutes ago, zebra said: Got some Airscale decals onto the instrument panel today. It's looking pretty good. But you'll have to take my word for it for now as the photograph I took of it was rubbish! Don't worry Julian we believe you, we've all been there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davek72 Posted March 17, 2021 Share Posted March 17, 2021 On 3/6/2021 at 11:45 AM, zebra said: I'm going to attempt to complete 2 Skyhawks in the STGB - a bit of a tall order given the builds I have planned in Anything But Injection and Unarmed, but here we go anyway... First up is a 1/48 RNZAF A-4K Kahu. Since the ANZAC GB is going on at the same time I'm going to put this build in there as well. Maybe I'll alternate posts between here and the ANZAC GB. I'm using the Hasegawa 1/48 A-4E - here's the box shot: Decals will be from Gekko Graphics. Not entirely sure which scheme I'm going for but plenty of time to decide. First issue here is that this kit doesn't include all the parts you need to make it a Kahu, so I'm going to have a go at 3D-printing them. I've made some progress today on the instrument panel and HUD - here's the CAD render: Pretty happy with this so far. Should look good enough with a few Airscale instrument decals. cheers Julian Hi J. I have a nice resin printer but have no idea how to use cad. What did you use? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted March 18, 2021 Author Share Posted March 18, 2021 15 hours ago, Davek72 said: Hi J. I have a nice resin printer but have no idea how to use cad. What did you use? Dave Hi Dave - I'm using OnShape. It's web-based, free to use (but your work is public - which I'm fine with), there are good help pages, and I've found that once I'd got on top of the basics it's pretty intuitive to use. Since it's free and you don't even need to download any software I recommend giving it a go. Just check your computer meets the minimum spec (I think it needs at least 8GB memory). I use a Mac and found it didn't work well with Safari but works just fine in Chrome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davek72 Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 9 hours ago, zebra said: Hi Dave - I'm using OnShape. It's web-based, free to use (but your work is public - which I'm fine with), there are good help pages, and I've found that once I'd got on top of the basics it's pretty intuitive to use. Since it's free and you don't even need to download any software I recommend giving it a go. Just check your computer meets the minimum spec (I think it needs at least 8GB memory). I use a Mac and found it didn't work well with Safari but works just fine in Chrome. Thanks J. Also a Mac user so I will give it a go. D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 Pressing on with assembly of the fuselage: more tomorrow cheers Julian 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Yet more excellent work Julian, not a seam line in sight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 5 hours ago, modelling minion said: Yet more excellent work Julian, not a seam line in sight. You're not looking closely enough! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 Wings assembled - just posted a photo in my A-4M thread, won't repeat it here. The only difference between the Kahu and the M is that I've repositioned the anti-collision light on the Kahu as it needs to move across to the other (right) wing. more soon Julian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 2, 2021 Author Share Posted April 2, 2021 Got a few things done today: Seat and IP in the cockpit, intakes done and wings on. With a bit of luck I'll get a coat of primer on it tomorrow. cheers Julian 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted April 2, 2021 Share Posted April 2, 2021 And this one looks just as good as your A-4M, very nice progress. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneheadff Posted April 2, 2021 Share Posted April 2, 2021 Looking great Julian! Just one thing...I think you have to remove the reinforcement plates on both intakes. Alex 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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