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IsraDecal

1/32 Israeli Air Force A-4 Ahit decal sheet

product # IAF-57          A-4E/F/H & TA-4H/J/F

$25.00 from IsraDecal

Review by Steve Bamford on Sept 7 2007

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This new decal sheet from IsraDecal includes markings for 1/32  A-4's with 7 different Israeli Air Force Squadrons and the Israeli Air Force Flight School, and there are enough markings to make a variety of Skyhawks that served with those squadrons and the Flight School. 

Due to the fact there is no 1/32 A-4N/M kits, this set refers only to the A-4E/F/H and TA-4H/J/F Israeli Skyhawks

The first squadron featured on this decal sheet is The Flying Wing squadron.  This squadron operated A-4E's in their early years.  Later they got the more advanced A-4Ns.  Along with the single seater planes they operated two seaters as well.

The second squadron featured on this decal sheet is The Smashing Parrot squadron.  This squadron was formed in Etzion AF base in the Sinai peninsula in 1976.  The squadron operated A-4Es and A-4Ns for 2 years before converting to the Kfir C2.

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The third squadron featured on this decal sheet is The Batering Ram squadron..  This squadron was formed in 1978 operating A-4Ns and later A-4E,F and H Skyhawks.  The squadron was closed in 1984.

The fourth squadron featured on this decal sheet is The Valley squadron.  The Valley squadron is the first A-4 Skyhawk in the IAF and was formed in Ramat-David AFB in 1967.  the planes arrived on the last day of that year.  The first planes were of type H and were at first numbered with 2 digits.  Later the digit 1 was added to the first two.  After the war they got the 2XX prefix.  The squadron operated the A-4Ns as well before starting to operate the Kfirs.  A-4H #03 was the only A-4 in IAF service to shoot down enemy planes and the 2 kill markings are included on these decal sheets.  

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The fifth squadron featured on this decal sheet is The Flying Tiger squadron.  This squadron was the second A-4 squadron and was formed at Hatzor AF Base.  Shortly after the squadron moved to Hatzerim and became the first fighter squadron in that base operating at first at first the A-4H and later the A-4F and E.  These were moved to the Battering squadron as soon as they acquired A-4N's.  Today they operate this type along with TA-4J and H.  In 2005 the new 'Improved Ahit' was introduced, adding special markings to the planes.  For this squadron you get a decal for a ship kill marking.  There is a great looking Tiger decal (see further below) that is included for the tail of the Tiger Squadron aircraft. 

The sixth squadron featured on this decal sheet is The Knights of The North squadron.  The Knights of The North squadron started operating the A-4's in 1972 with E type in their service.  In 1977 they got the H type from the valley squadron that started operating the Kfir.  Until 1980, when they converted to F-16A/B Netz, the squadron was operating the A-4N as well as a few two seaters for training.  The Knights of The North squadron operated A-4E's in their early years as A-4 operators.  LAter they got the more advanced A-4N's.

The seventh squadron featured on this decal sheet is The Golden Eagle squadron.  The Golden Eagle squadron was formed in 1973, in Etzion AFB, before the Yom Kippur War but was activated only after the war.  The squadron operated A-4E's until 1976 when they transferred their A-4E's to the Smashing Parrot squadron and received new A-4N's.  The squadron moved to Ramon AFB in late 1981 and operated the A-4's until 1986 when they converted to the F-16A/B Netz. 

The Flight School started operating the A-4 in 1972.  At first they operated the TA-4 for training but later they got the older types like the A-4E.  Since then all types of A-4's were in service with the school.  

The instruction book includes plenty of small black and white photos showing decal placement.  As well as 4 view line drawings showing decal placement.  Sadly there are only 3 colour photos to give you a hint of the camo used on these A-4's.  The experienced modeller of Israeli aircraft will know what the camo colour and camo patterns should be.....a less experienced modeller will need to acquire more research material to complete model.  The reason for this is this decal sheet actually gives you enough markings to build any A-4 Skyhawk in Israeli service.  To try to provide colour drawings for every A-4 in Israeli service would be impossible.

The decals are beautifully printed on 4 decal sheets to create your own 1/32 Israeli Air Force A-4 .  One complete set of stencils is included on this decal sheet.

I LOVE the colourful camo used on the Israeli Air force A-4's and this decal sheet will permit you to build whatever Israeli A-4 appeals to you.

Steve

I would like to thank IsraDecal for providing me with this review sample.

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Photos and text © by Steve Bamford

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