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Any 1/48 TA-4SU Super Skyhawk conversion ?


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Hi all,

I wonder if there is some garage company that produces TA-4SU 1/48 conversion for Hase kit. I know mainstream resin companies didn't make any...and I find Singapore double canopy Scooters really interesting.

Thanks

P

Edited by Petarvu
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The problem isn't the part where you add an extra cockpit behind a standard A-4. The problem is that the rear canopy bulges out considerably as seen in this pic ( the lead aircraft):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/A-4SU_Skyhawk.jpg

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/AWA1/701-800/walk727_A-4_Verhegghen/33.jpg

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/AWA1/701-800/walk727_A-4_Verhegghen/34.jpg

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/AWA1/701-800/walk727_A-4_Verhegghen/33.jpg

This is to make it easier for the instructor to look outside.

For modeling, it's difficult to make such a canopy without breaking the master mold.

Plus, I have yet to see a photo of the interior cockpits of these birds ( security reasons, I guess....even though the aircraft has already been decommissioned).

Believe me, I LOVE Singaporean Skyhawks and would LOVE to get my hands on a TA-4SU in ANY scale....

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The problem isn't the part where you add an extra cockpit behind a standard A-4. The problem is that the rear canopy bulges out considerably as seen in this pic ( the lead aircraft):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/A-4SU_Skyhawk.jpg

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/AWA1/701-800/walk727_A-4_Verhegghen/33.jpg

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/AWA1/701-800/walk727_A-4_Verhegghen/34.jpg

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/AWA1/701-800/walk727_A-4_Verhegghen/33.jpg

This is to make it easier for the instructor to look outside.

For modeling, it's difficult to make such a canopy without breaking the master mold.

Plus, I have yet to see a photo of the interior cockpits of these birds ( security reasons, I guess....even though the aircraft has already been decommissioned).

Believe me, I LOVE Singaporean Skyhawks and would LOVE to get my hands on a TA-4SU in ANY scale....

Woo-hoo, that first shot is now my Desktop Background! Thanks for sharing that one.

I'd never noticed how that rear canopy bulged out, either. All I've ever seen are near-profile shots. Thanks for pointing that out, too.

Edited by DonSS3
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Woo-hoo, that first shot is now my Desktop Background! Thanks for sharing that one.

I'd never noticed how that rear canopy bulged out, either. All I've ever seen are near-profile shots. Thanks for pointing that out, too.

My pleasure :)

There was an outfit in Singapore that had one announced years ago, but it never came to pass.

I think they were called Horizon or something ( Horizon Models?). Wonder what happened to them? They just disappeared.

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I think they were called Horizon or something ( Horizon Models?). Wonder what happened to them? They just disappeared.

Some people who actually knew the guys behind Horizon Modeltech mentioned something about drinking kopi with MSD/ISD.

Mark

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The aft cockpit is a questionmark as well. Singapore is VERY protective of those birds and even a couple of ARCers who have been near them (and work with them) can NOT get pictures of the rear pits due to the security issues.

So if you want to do one, expect to do some scratchbuilding or kitbashing and understand it may never be quite right anyway. But I have seen a couple models done in 1/72 and it is quite an eye catching bird when finished.

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I would settle for not so correct rear thub. Although I am convinced there are not too many surprises inside, it's a trainer variant afterall.

Thanks for your answers!

Cheers,

P

Actually, that may not be true. Although the TA-4SU is a trainer by type designation, it is fully combat capable and from what I've gathered from people who actually worked on them, they're used in a similar fashion as two-seat F-16s and Strike Eagles i.e. with a pilot to do the flying and a WSO to do target designation and/or weapons employment.

Mark

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Actually, that may not be true. Although the TA-4SU is a trainer by type designation, it is fully combat capable and from what I've gathered from people who actually worked on them, they're used in a similar fashion as two-seat F-16s and Strike Eagles i.e. with a pilot to do the flying and a WSO to do target designation and/or weapons employment.

Mark

Ahhh....than it would require rear canopy open (dream on...)

thanks.

p

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I can confirm the obsession of Singapore AF for security as I tell it during a visit in cazaux in 2002 (see ARC article -One day in Cazaux)

Some pictures of the cockpit pit of a TA-4S wee once send on a Yahoo news group on the Skyhawk.

nothing very different from a normal single seater cockpit.Unfortunately I have lost them in a PC crash

By the way , if building a Singaporean A-4, the weathering should be minimal , never saw such clean planes ,impressive!

bob

Bob

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I can confirm the obsession of Singapore AF for security as I tell it during a visit in cazaux in 2002 (see ARC article -One day in Cazaux)

Some pictures of the cockpit pit of a TA-4S wee once send on a Yahoo news group on the Skyhawk.

nothing very different from a normal single seater cockpit.Unfortunately I have lost them in a PC crash

By the way , if building a Singaporean A-4, the weathering should be minimal , never saw such clean planes ,impressive!

bob

Bob

I can confirm it as well, we had them up at a Maple Flag and they were anal about us taking pictures of their F-16s.

They were neat freaks with the F-16s too, they were hand cleaning the brakes! They were obsessed with cleaning to a point that I felt it was a borderline disorder.

Edited by Scooby
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If anyone wants photos of the TA-4SU, do let me know. There is one on display at the RSAF museum near my home. No access to the cockpit though.

I did manage to peer into the front cockpit of a decommissioned A-4SU once before. All I can remember is that it had a HUD, UFC and 2 MFDs.

Mark

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I did manage to peer into the front cockpit of a decommissioned A-4SU once before. All I can remember is that it had a HUD, UFC and 2 MFDs.

Mark

Where is this decommisioned A-4SU located, Mark? I might want to take a look.

2 MFDs? Hmmm.....that makes me think of the A-4K Kiwi Kahus

8295790.jpg?747

Please excuse my ignorance but what is a UFC?

Since we're on the subject, I've heard the Hase kit of the RSAF Skyhawk is incorrect. What's wrong with it? From build-ups on the internet, I can see the spine hump antenna is wrong shaped. What else?

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UFC - Up Front Control.

Ok, I googled that & found these:

http://www.f-15e.info/joomla/images/stories/illustrations/technology/avionics/iff_ufc_menu.jpg

http://www.migman.com/sw/Falcon_40/pics/sp_ufc.jpg

So I take it, UFC is that thing just below the HUD with all the buttons & switches?

Well, if you remember, some of the local polytechnics received decommissioned Skyhawks for their aerospace engineering programmes...

Oh, yeah, I do seem to remember passing by SP on the MRT ( I think it was before they built Dover station if my memory is correct) & seeing a Skyhawk on top of a small hill or something. Found this on google:

DSC_0456371

You can just make out the MRT track in the background

Wonder if they're open to public? :hmmm:

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Ok, I googled that & found these:

http://www.f-15e.info/joomla/images/stories/illustrations/technology/avionics/iff_ufc_menu.jpg

http://www.migman.com/sw/Falcon_40/pics/sp_ufc.jpg

So I take it, UFC is that thing just below the HUD with all the buttons & switches?

That is where it is located on a Hornet. I would think it is similarly placed on an F-15. I worked Hornets.

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  • 4 weeks later...

HI! guys,

I am still trying to scratchbuild this model. I have some rough test fits. I know the aft canopy is pretty bulbous and I'll deal with it when I get to it but in the mean time here's a link to my progress.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2690791745539.141335.1128843353&type=3&l=f7fb139cf6

Hi all,

I wonder if there is some garage company that produces TA-4SU 1/48 conversion for Hase kit. I know mainstream resin companies didn't make any...and I find Singapore double canopy Scooters really interesting.

Thanks

P

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HI! guys,

I am still trying to scratchbuild this model. I have some rough test fits. I know the aft canopy is pretty bulbous and I'll deal with it when I get to it but in the mean time here's a link to my progress.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2690791745539.141335.1128843353&type=3&l=f7fb139cf6

Philip, you're off to a great start! I'll be watching this one earnestly, bro! You should post this in the In-Progress forum so that more folks can follow your build :thumbsup:

Btw, your last pic mentioned that you need to resin cast the different noses? Are you building an earlier A-4S ( ex-A-4B) too? 'Cos I thought all the 2-seaters were modded from A-4Cs. ( I could be wrong though as my knowledge of the type is based only on whatever little scraps I've read on the 'net, especially given how tight-lipped people are about these unique birds)

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I used two Revell Monogram A-4E Skyhawk 1/48 for the build. Cost was the primary factor. The E had a diffren nose than the Bs and Cs. I used a KMC resin nose for the conversion. Everything went very well until the last step when I used rubber bands to bing the fuselage together. The multiple cuts I have made did not hold up to the pressure and it splintered. It is too broken to salvage. I will need two fresh kits to start over. It should go rather quickly one I start as I know where to make the cuts now. If anyone has two kits to sell me PM me plz. :)

I visited the RSAF museum last August and carefully examined the TA-4S. I can only guess that the TA-4SU has the cockpit upgraded to include MFDs like the F-5Es that Singapore flies.

The intakes should also be another challenge, but I have a Hasegawa kit to pattern after so I'll deal with it when I cross that road. I will definately keep the interested guys posted once I have this nailed down.

Philip, you're off to a great start! I'll be watching this one earnestly, bro! You should post this in the In-Progress forum so that more folks can follow your build :thumbsup:

Btw, your last pic mentioned that you need to resin cast the different noses? Are you building an earlier A-4S ( ex-A-4B) too? 'Cos I thought all the 2-seaters were modded from A-4Cs. ( I could be wrong though as my knowledge of the type is based only on whatever little scraps I've read on the 'net, especially given how tight-lipped people are about these unique birds)

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  • 4 months later...

Jackman!

I have some progress on the TA-4SU project. I used a Fujimi 1/48 TA-4 Skyhawk I built 20 years ago and I manage to salvage some parts to proceed with the build. If anyone needs dimensions please feel free to PM me. Progress pics are at the following link;

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2690791745539.141335.1128843353&type=3&l=f7fb139cf6

I'll try to make the master for the rear canopy and see if anyone on the forum can vacuum for it for me. I'll keep you posted.

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Good going, Philip! Glad you're still on this :thumbsup:

I think you're one of the few brave enough to try building this "Uniquely Singaporean" bird. Do take note of the rear canopy's intricacies. It's unlike any other I've seen & I'm certainly curious how you intend to pull that off.

From your facebook pics, the last couple of pics are interesting.... with the sharkmouth still visible :lol:

Keep up the great work, friend :cheers:

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Thank you for the encouragement. I am thinking that the mould for the bubble canopy would have to be a 3 piece mould. I was suprised that this model survived this much after so many years I left home. I was thinking that perhapS I could cast resin copies of the fuselage, but I really suck at that. I am only guessing that the Singaporean Skyhawks cockpits look very much like the NZ Kahus.

Good going, Philip! Glad you're still on this :thumbsup:

I think you're one of the few brave enough to try building this "Uniquely Singaporean" bird. Do take note of the rear canopy's intricacies. It's unlike any other I've seen & I'm certainly curious how you intend to pull that off.

From your facebook pics, the last couple of pics are interesting.... with the sharkmouth still visible :lol:

Keep up the great work, friend :cheers:

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