Revell 1/48 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
Here for your review is the Douglas company's replacement for the old AD Skyraider. Developed by Ed Heinemann he focused his design on small size, light weight, and complexity of the design to full fill the Navy's specifications. Caring two 20MM cannons and five hard points the A-4 was able to carry the equivalent bomb load of a B-17. And since it had a small delta wing it didn't require folding wings thus saving weight. Over 3,000 of these little guys were produced and used by about every free world country. It carried several nicknames, Scooter, Kiddiecar, Bantam Bomber, Tinker Toy Bomber, and Heinemann's Hot Rod. None the less I always thought this was a good looking A/C.
Picked this kit up at a show in a plastic bag with no instructions or decals. But it was complete and only cost $5. What's not to like here .Went on line to Revell and printed the instructions and found some decals from MAW titled Hard Corps Scooters. Used Model Master Gull Grey enamel in a rattle can and some Tamiya pure white. Build mostly out of the box, now bag, the only enhancement was to the seat and some spare decals for the Sparrow missiles, Only issue I encountered was attaching the bombs to the center hard point. No locator pins are provided, so you end up trying to place an oval object to a flat center line. Not nice to treat old guys this way, causes me to drink more Kentucky Bourbon than I need. Oh yes, I somehow was able to put some stress cracks in the canopy, but consider her done.
Nice Scooter there Tom.
Nice little build...I like it.
Nice clean build.
Tom, good job on the "rescue", she's a good kit, and cheaper than the Hasegawa, though neither seem to be currently available.
If you can find the Monogram/Promodeler release, with the Blue Angels boxart, that's reboxed Hasegawa.
The missiles are Shrikes, antiradar, she's configured for SEAD.
Great to see one, a favorite of mine.
I stand corrected on the missiles, the instructions really don't tell you what your loading on her. However, they show you could build her as either a Blue Angle or John McCain's plane. I did the latter. more than likely they are Shrikes.
Hello Tom, nice build on that Revell Scooter. Always good to see one of those older kits nicely done.
Thanks Jim, Just can't pass up some of those older kits I never got to build.
Hello Tom,
Monogram, the way to go.
Old box, but solid and you excecuted it just right.
Nice work on the old Monogram A-4! I built this kit myself many years ago.
It's a good looking plane, right enough, and your model is good looking, too, thanks for sharing.
Liking this one. Skyhawks are like Easter eggs - they come in all colors lol. I've still got four more unbuilt single seaters and an OA-4M that I started converting into an EA-4F two-seater from VAQ-33. Good kit, good times.