Review: MAGIC FACTORY 1/48 Douglas A-4M Skyhawk
Having built a number of A-4's over the years in 72nd and 48th scale. Those kits, Fujimi, Monogram, Hobbycraft and Hasegawa pretty much had the same philosophy of assembly with some minor differences, for example the Hobbycraft kit nose gear has the wheel as a separate part whereas the Hasegawa kit has the wheel moulded in as a single unit. But regardless the fuselage halves were left and right in either scale, again some minor differences around the intakes. More details from one kit to another, different noses usually separate from the main fuselage to represent the version you wished to build.
Magic Factory has totally changed how to build an A-4. The moment you pop the lid and look at all the parts that are contained in the kit. The A-4 is mostly a simple attack jet, sub sonic, designed for ground attack, this version capable of carrying a heftly load of bombs and rockets, and strafing. Unlike the much more complicated F-14's, Intruders and Phantoms of the day, this kit is like from the Douglas factory with all the detail parts that are involved in building this kit. Now how labor intensive and fiddly it will be is the question. Will it fight you like a Kitty Hawk kit or will it be more like Tamiya with lots of parts that will go together like their Tomcats and F-4.
The box is quite large that lead you to think, like the Corsair, are there 2 kits in here?
Nope just one A-4. And a lot of extras included. Grabbing a 1 48th scale Hobbycraft A-4 as an example.
So without further adieu, lets go take a look what is in the box.
POPPING THE LID
First look is an errata sheet in regard to the seat and pilot. A top the first set of sprues.
THE DOCUMENTS:
The instruction book is under all the plastic and PE at the bottom of the box. Included is a large fold out marking sheet that details both schemes that are available in the kit. One side is a USMC A-4M VMA-131 the other side has the scheme for a Naval Weapons Evaluation Facilities A-4M in a special Black and White scheme
Ordnance and drop tank markings are also shown on the sheet.
The paint chart is also listed for the recommended colors to use as well as listing AK, Gunze (Mr Color) and Tamiya and their equivalent paints to use.
Page 1 step 1 starts with the seat which looks pretty detailed out of the box. The fun begins here.
Step 2 is the cockpit tub and Instrument panel. The parts map shows the number of sprues, PE and the other bits supplied in the kit.
The main decal sheet at first glance is in register, the markings look to be correct and the dk blue on the national marks as well.
Chrome mirrors are provided as stickers to apply on the rear view mirrors. A small fret of PE is also included. Not shown is a masking set for the canopy and clear parts.
THE PLASTIC.
The first sprue is the LH fuselage half and immediately notice that it is not a typical A-4 half we have encountered before. For example this sprue from the Hobbycraft Isreali A-4 kit.
The interior seems to have no details but this will be added as separate parts later on in the build. This is not just a cockpit to assemble and then mate the halves type kit, far from it.
I believe these are weights for the nose that MF provides.
The next sprue is actually several sub sprues that are together but are of different sections of the aircraft. Sprue F, G, H and J.
Sprue J contains a couple of instrument panels, one of 3 nose cones that are in the kit. Leading to believe that more variants are planned. Cockpit side panels and what I think is the tail rudder tip of the tail..
Sprue F have more instrument panels, one for the use of maybe Quinta details, while the other is fully detailed to use your skills to detail with paint and techniques.
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- 1. Side consoles
- 2. Dash panel coaming
- 3. Fully detailed IP
Sprue G contains the rudder, another tail tip and a section of tail?
Sprue H, contains another style rudder, a pair of nose cones and 2 style of tail rudder tips.
So as far as I can tell there are several nose cones in the kit that I have previousley stated that MF has more versions planned in the future. So there are some extras in the kit,
Not only the nose but at the vertical tail as well with different styles provided.
Cockpit wise several versions of the Instrument panels are provided as well.
The next Sprue "U" has the intake ramps, main landing gear struts, intake fan and exhaust nozzles, engines and all kinds of bits and pieces.
The avionics hump is 2 pieces and will attach to the spine of the main airframe.
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- 1. Avianics hump RH side panel, nicel details Well done
Tail extension and exhaust shield which is unique to the A-4.
Nice feature is the intake cone which in this scale you can get a glimpse of it through the intakes, maybe, and the intake engine fan.
I believe this is the first kit of the A-4 to offer an engine. If anyone knows other than the mentioned kits, including ESCI, anyone else do an A-4, I think Hobby Boss does a series not sure if an engine is provided.
Excellent detail on this bulkhead.
The tail pipe and exhaust nozzle.
The exhaust turbine and fan.
Intake ramps and interior of the intakes
Sprue "D" contains the seat parts, side cockpit interior panels, The forward nose section of the fuselage halves, interior dive brake panels, cockpit tub, rear cockpit wall, canopy inner rails.
The forward nose section halves have open access panels opened. A possibility to really super detail any interior service bays.
The dive brake interiors beg to leave in the open position when that time comes to either close them or leave the deployed.
Very nice quilting affect on the rear cockpit wall, nice touch, MF also carries this detail into each side wall of the cockpit as well..
The cockpit tub looks simple, but is the basis for the attaching parts that will bring this cockpit to life.
Very nice touch to supply the inner side rails under the canopy.
Sprue "E" is where we get into the wings, gear doors, gear bays, really niceley detailed parts make up the main gear bay and nose bay as well.
The vertical tail side panel has some really nice details and riveting,
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- 1. Vertical tail panel
- 2. fine counterflushed riveting details
The nose wheel bay is beautiful and the details are very good for plastic. No need for a resin replacement.
The main gear doors are nice in and out.
The inner slat detail panels.
Sprue "C' is the wing sprue that has upper and lower wing panels, main gear bays, slats and flaps,
The lower wing and upper panels are loaded with fine details and rivets, nice that the wing fences are prominent on the upper panel.
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- 1. The wing fences are well done
- 2. Also a bane for decals to settle within the fence detail
The details within the main wheel bay again a perfect start for the superdetailers, or as they are they are very well done.
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- 1. I really like the details done here by MF
The lower center filler panel, with the gun shell chutes in place nice.
Sprue "M" is one of 2 that have the drop tanks.
Sprue "Q" is a black vinyl set that conatins the main and nose tires. I might op for some resin wheels instead.
The next set of sprues will cover the ordnance and weapon stations that the A-4 can carry.
Sprue N which is one of 2 have the rocket pod.
Sprue "P" contains the triple and multiple ejector racks, bomb racks, and sway braces.
Next are the bombs, Mark II with conical fins, or snake eye retarding tails.
Finally the clear sprue, containing the windscreen, canopy and lamps.
Again lots parts in this kit. A brand new mold with a lot of great possibilities. Do we need another A-4, price wise it up there with any Hasegawa 1/48th kits. I say why not, we are not done with the F-4 with slew of recents from Tamiya, Zuike Muira and Meng. With more coming, Is it a good kit on the sprues it looks good, I have not seen one built yet, but then I haven't looked. Hope to see one built on Imodeler, it will be awhile before I can get started on this with so many projects on the bench at the moment.
Fly Navy
Thanks for this detailed review, Chuck!
Thanks Spiros, appreciate that
Nice review, Chuck, thanks for taking the time to share it with us.
Thanks George, something new with a different way to build a Skyhawk. Quite looking forward to taking it on.
Thanks for sharing the view on this kit, Chuck @uscusn
Looks like to be a wonderful set.
Thanks John, it may be awhile before I can start on it.
Great review, Chuck.
Looks like the kerosene builders will like this one.
Lol, one of those kits that can go either way, being a bit over engineered, compared to current kits available, though I have not seen what is in a Hobby Boss kit and it's breakdown.
It's definitely a product of its time. One thing I like about this kit is the one piece exhaust tubes.
I'm still hoping they do a F4U-4.
I agree with your F4U choice, Dan
I 3rd that Dan, hopefully something in the works.
All three nose cones are for the A-4M. Clean one is early, also works for Es and Fs. Nose with ECM
blisters is later. Finally some A-4Ms were fitted with ARBS hence the ECM nose with the hole.
One of the instrument panels looks to be for the E/F.
Good gosh is that a mess of parts. Proof will be building it.
Thanks for the clarification David, usually I will get some reference on the subject I will build. I did not get that far as yet. And yeah tons of parts on this baby. Actually I might leave the kit handy once I am done with the F-104's I might get started on it.
Why, for the love of Mike, would they include vinyl tires in the year 2024? Vinyl tires have a long & sordid history of reacting very badly with styrene.
Everyone keeps thinking of the AMT wheels. I have 20 year old Trumpeter kits with rubber tires that still present no problems.
Vinyl tires are normally not a problem with plastic, unlike the AMT tires which were rubber not vinyl and suffered a chemical reaction to the plastic and melt it. The only issue I have had is that they will split like they did on my Fujimi 72nd F-14 that has been on the shelf over 20 years. But other models that still wear vinyl tires so far that still are intact is on the Academy 35th scale Hummer. That kit has been on the shelf for over 20 years as well. Revell also on their soft armor kits like the MAN 5ton truck use a different type of vinyl/rubber tire and so far they are ok.
Thanks for the review, Chuck.
The surface detail is too heavy-handed for me, plus I did all the Skyhawk versions with Hasegawa kits. 🙂
Thanks Tom, Have to admit it is a bit heavy handed. Surprisingly I have not had the pleasure to build a Hase Scooter yet, though I do have a couple in the stash. I am a bit behind on the Douglas hotrod.
The Hasegawa kits are nice. They're even re-popping some - the A-4C is once again available. I picked one up at EvilBay for a nice price.
Why oh why do manufacturers think they need to add all those rivets...Great review, but for me a hard pass. As much as I love that black and white scheme, I can't get past the rivets.
Chuck @uscusn
I just got one in myself since Sprue Brothers had that sale last weekend.
Magic Factory has an interesting 'oopps' with their A-4M so be wary. I refer to Step 8 where they have us glue on the radar altimeter fairing under a wingtip. I had to look at my Monogram, Hobby Craft, and Hasegawa kits along with opening Fox Two No.3 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk: The A-4 'Ahit' in Israeli Air Force Service just to make sure I was not hallucinating.
Magic Factory has us install two radar altimeter fairings under the wingtips. There are two separately molded fairings on the C tree, C22 and C23. Only use C23. But wait there is more, where each fairing is supposed to go, a little raised area was molded to the wing surface.
But there are gobs and gobs of parts. Each MER has multiple parts. The bridle hooks are far more robust than the ones in the Hasegawa kits. If you are building an early A-4M or maybe an A-4N use part E46 instead of E47. E45 and E44 are the wing root fairings if no 20mm cannons are installed.
Hi David, thanks for the heads-up. I will make note of your pointers. There is a ton of parts, just in the wheels bays alone are separate models. What do you make of the different approach on the fuselage?
Trepidation about fit and alignment of said fuselage bits.
Exact same feeling AKA Kitty Hawk Jaguar