This model is based in the old
and very well known Douglas A-4E/F Hasegawa kit in 1/32 scale.
At last now there´s an available conversion set that allows the modeller
to make the "C" variant of the famous Skyhawk. The Condor Decals
conversion set provides both resin pieces and a decal sheet to make two
very different options, an US Navy aircraft in Vietnam, LTCDR T. R. Swartz
plane, the only Skyhawk that achieved an aerial victory in that conflict,
and in the other side three different argentine aircraft employed during
the Malvinas / Falklands War.
Click on
images below to see larger images
For the Argentine version, the
characteristic antennas and lumps are included. Also, a set of weighted
wheels with the ray rim of this version.
The Hasegawa kit is not precisely
state of the art, specially when compared with the 1/48 Skyhawk series
from the same manufacturer, but it is very good for what anyone can expect
from a late 70s kit. We'll have
to wait for the promised Trumpeter kit to see if it can fulfill our
expectations.
Anyway, even being so old the kit did not gave me too much trouble, and as
you can see in the accompanying photos, the conversion set blended in very
well with the plastic pieces.
The model is basically 'Out of the Box' even being a conversion project,
just a few hydraulic lines were
added to the landing gear, the landing light connection cable, the dorsal
light was replaced, as the ejection seat with a resin one.
Once the basic build and interior painting was done, the project begin to
take shape. I decided for the
C-318 Argentine option, an easy but eye-catching scheme, that was freehand
airbrushed with a fine
nozzle.
The demarcation line between upper & under colors is a straight hard line,
as the black areas on the nose and antiglare panel, so this was a masking
job.
Basic colors: the aircraft undersides are painted in a 50/50 mix of
Camouflage Grey and White, the light sand color is a mix of 45% Pale Stone
and 55% White, in both cases Modelmaster references. The dark brown areas
are done in Humbrol 118.
The wheel wells are painted with Humbrol 65 and the identifications bands
in Molak 189.
The decals for the Argentine version are really very few, and therefore
very easy to apply, so the decalling phase is really an quick job. Once
applied, the model was weathered with ink applied with the airbrush.
The final finish is almost satin, with the exception of the nosecone which
has a very noticeable glossy hue.
Bibliography:
- “A-4P/C Skyhawk - Fuerza Aerea
Argentina - Cettolo, Marino, Mosquera & Nuñez Padin”
- “La Guerre des Malouines - Salvador
Mafe Huertas - Jets”
- “Centro de Estudios Históricos de la
Fuerza Aérea Argentina”
- “A-4B/C Skyhawk – Fernando Benedetto
– Destroyer”
Even when the kit does not offer high
detail standards, and should not be considered as a contest model due to
the future kit announced by Trumpeter, I think it is still a valuable
project all modellers interested in 1/32 scale: the Skyhawk was a little
aircraft so it's a good choice for a introduction in this scale.
Fabian
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images below to see larger images
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