1/48 Hasegawa A-4M Skyhawk

Gallery Article by Rodrigo Rendon on July 23 2019

 

      

This is my A-4M Skyhawk diorama. I used Eduard photo etch cockpit, Eduard Mk 82 bombs, Eduard Zuni rockets, True details ESCAPAC ejection seat, and Verlinden NAS Flight Line Equipment No. 286. 

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The engineering on this kit is superberb; I truly enjoyed this build! I only needed a small amount of putty where the wing joins the fuselage. Weathering was done with pastel chalks, Tamiya panel line enhancer, and artist's oils. The base is insulation foam board covered in Tamiya Diorama Texture paint. The base is painted with Model Master Concrete #4876 and Aged Concrete #4875. 

The diorama was built for my co-worker who was VMA-214's Operations Chief when the Blacksheep were stationed in Iwakuni, Japan in 1979-1982. The Japanese torii gate was made from balsa wood purchased at my local art supply store and the Master Sargent challenge coin was purchased on Ebay. Torii gate signs and rising sun decals where custom made on a laser printer. The green portion of the base is framed in brass trim painted in Model Master semi gloss black. 

Rodrigo Rendon

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Photos and text © by Rodrigo Rendon