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Eric Galliers
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Trumpeter 1/32 A-4G Skyhawk

February 7, 2016 · in Aviation · · 13 · 4.2K

Here is my newly completed of the Royal Australian Navy, 1982.

I built this model as a tribute to my good mate Bruce Chapman who passed away recently. He was a big fan of the Skyhawk and was always talking about how he would have approached the construction of this kit. I have incorporated most of the mods that he suggested (plus a few more!).

I chose to finish this model as one of the aircraft flown by John Bartels during his time in the RAN and in particular during one sortie where he flew a strike mission against a retired ship.

Additions:

AMS resin Seat, intakes and wheels.
Fisher Zuni rocket pods
Academy MK-82 bombs
Aires cockpit and wheel wells.

Modifications:

Scratchbuilt re-fuelling probe
Modified pylons
Shortened main undercarriage by approx 4 mm
Scratchbuilt launch cable hooks
Various vent pipes added with microtubing
Wiring conduit added to the nose gear
Brake lines and wiring added to the main undercarriage
horizontal stabilizers re-positioned along with the hole between them cut.
various sight gauges added to the fuselage
All vortex generators thinned.

Finish:

Custom mixes of Gunze Sangyo colours.
Self made masks for serials, nose numbers and roundels.
ALPS printed pilots names.

Reader reactions:
14  Awesome

11 additional images. Click to enlarge.


13 responses

  1. This looks great!

  2. A great looking Scooter. It's a fitting tribute to your friend. Well done!

  3. Stellar build, sir...a fine piece of workmanship. A nice job indeed.

  4. Your mate would be proud very nice build

  5. Great work nice build and camo scheme - nice to see an aussi scooter !

  6. Very well done - some of the pics could be "walk-around" shots of the real Scooter! A great-looking scheme too - makes me want to go out and find a 72 scale version to add to my collection (I've only built one Skyhawk, and don't have any in my stash).

  7. Very nice Eric. A great looking model and a wonderful scheme. You really did a great job on this.

  8. A very fitting tribute and memory to your friend, great work.

  9. A great tribute and a fantastic build !

  10. That's outstanding! Great matches for the camo colors.

  11. Eric,
    Absolutely stunning. A fine tribute to your friend.

  12. Eric, that's one smart,tight build. Your time and efforts show and they paid off.
    Two thumbs up.

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