1:48 Hasegawa A-4C Skyhawk
Here’s my attempt at Hasegawa’s A-4C Skyhawk. It’s the best-detailed 1:48 Skyhawk available now, though quite expensive and hard to find now. It’s an out of the box build, except for the True Details ESCAPAC aftermarket seat I added. I used kit decals to finish it the markings of VA-15 Vallions deployed aboard USS Forrestal, on their 1969 Mediterranean crusie. For weapons, I wanted something different, so took a bit of artistic license and educated guess and loaded it with a B43 nuclear weapon on the centerline pylon.
5 additional images. Click to enlarge.
George Williams said on June 7, 2013
It looks like a proper airplane to me!
Drew Tarter said on June 7, 2013
Thanks!
Craig Abrahamson said on June 7, 2013
That turned out really well, Drew (as did the photos)…nice job all around.
Drew Tarter said on June 7, 2013
Thank you, Craig!
Jack Mugan said on June 7, 2013
Drew…..Pretty nice Scooter, clean build and a nice scheme. I like it a lot.
Drew Tarter said on June 7, 2013
Thanks, Jack – your Tigercat still has me shaking my head in awe.
Rick Wilkes said on June 7, 2013
Excellent job Drew model and photography.
Drew Tarter said on June 7, 2013
Thanks, Rick!
Tom Cleaver said on June 7, 2013
Yeah, the Hasegawa Skyhawks are a great starting point for a good model. You definitely made the most of the opportunity.
Drew Tarter said on June 7, 2013
Thanks Tom – as always, I appreciate your comments.
bob mack said on June 8, 2013
what a lovely scheme and model
Drew Tarter said on June 8, 2013
Thanks, Bob!
steven a weinmann said on June 8, 2013
fantastic job Drew the gear bay is beautiful
Drew Tarter said on June 8, 2013
Thank you, Steven!
Anders Isaksson said on June 8, 2013
Wow, that is an excellent Skyhawk you have there. Thanks for sharing.
Drew Tarter said on June 8, 2013
Thank you, Anders! Your work is superb.
Stephen W Towle said on June 8, 2013
One word ” Professional .” Other words that come to mind, inspirational …causing a viewer/modeler to want to go to the LSH and get one.
Strong work Drew.
Drew Tarter said on June 8, 2013
Thanks, Stephen, I appreciate your comments. Your P-47N is a work of art!
Editor said on June 10, 2013
Drew, great job on this Scooter, very attractive-looking and well presented. Don’t we just love the Navy grey/white period? I can imagine all the time spent on decalling, red trim etc. – but looking at the results, it all pays off.
Drew Tarter said on June 10, 2013
Thanks – yes, the colorfiul gull grey over white period is my favorite. Some of the squadron markings were really flamboyant.
Chuck A. Villanueva said on June 11, 2013
Can’t add much more that what has already been said Drew, other than Bravo, and yes the Hase A-4C is one of the harder and expensive A-4’s to get. You picked a scheme that you don’t see to often, actually don’t remember anyone doing this unit at this time period. Good choice. Very colorful and interesting as well. Even the Hobbycraft kit though easier to find and less to pay for, but you still have to search for it. Thanks for sharing a well done A-4 Skyhawk.
Chuck
Fly Navy
Drew Tarter said on June 11, 2013
Thanks for your comments, Chuck. I’ve built the Hobbycraft A-4C as well, and finished it in the kit markings of the jet flown by LCDR Ted Swartz, who downed a Mig with Zuni rockets! I did LOTS of upgrading to that kit, and may post some pics of that build later.
Gábor Szabó said on November 7, 2017
Great little scooter. I’m working on currently the spiced up Eduard version (however that’s an A-4F) and this is a lovely kit IMHO (I mean the Hasegawa plastic). Too sad that these early variants are more and more hard to find around (even the Hobbycraft version). You made a beautiful work here and the nuke You added makes the “bantam bomber” really evil 🙂
Drew Tarter said on November 7, 2017
Thanks for your comments, Gabor. You’re right, the C and B versions of the 1/48 Hasegawa Skyhawk kit are really hard to find now. That’s a shame, because the C variant of the Skyhawk did a considerable amount of the bombing for the Navy over North Vietnam. I’d love to add one or two more A-4C’s to my collection, but at eBay prices, I’ll have to pass! By the way, you do some incredible work! Your floatplanes are simply stunning, as is that Curtis Condor! Well done, sir!