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Fujimi 1/72 : A-4E Skyhawk - VMA-121 -


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Hello,

2015 also : a 1/72nd scale Fujimi A-4E Skyhawk.

For this project I wanted a US aircraft (NAVY or MARINES), light gull grey/white scheme and humpless only to find out there were not so many decals available for this configuration (expecting the forthcoming AOA decals A-4 sheet in 1/72nd scale then).

I found my decals on a Wolfpak ddesign sheet for a VMA-121 aircraft in 1967-68 flying from Chu Lai - So USMC it was!!

An Aires cockpit was used to improve the area, slat rails were replaced with thinner rails I cut from a thin pasticard sheet, a few bits were added on landing gears : rest of building was easy and straightforward..

Here are some photos..

995499smallA4EFuj72319.jpg

585361smallA4EFuj720321.jpg

580470smallA4EFuj720324.jpg

Other Skyhawk projects will follow..

 

874393smallA4E0724b.jpg

 

536359smallA4E0722.jpg

 

Regards

Eric B.

Edited by Eric B.
Adding sunlight photos - jan. 2018
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Very nicely done! I think the weathering looks just right for a skyhawk. I also like the little detail you got that many of the A-4 models I see don't have: the slightly opened speed brakes when the plane has been on the ground for some time. Nice job!

Please post more of your skyhawk builds!

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Wow, I really like your build. As others have said the finish looks great. I like the variation you have in the grey color.

The only critique I might offer is next time to extend that weathering to the black anti-glare area in front of the windscreen. I think if you lighten the black a bit the overall effect will be even more realistic.

Steven Brown

Scale Model Soup

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Looks excellent to me too, really like the subtle weathering, and that your white is still white and not overdone so that it looks grey.

Two things stand out to me though:

The walkway markings on the wing that you have is typical for later A-4's like the A-4F that had spoilers, for those early Es the walkway should extend all the way to the trailing edge.

This may be out of your control, the green is much much too bright for 121's dark green.

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Yessir, you surely nailed this one. I love the markings of VMA-121. Fujimi does a great job on their 1/72 scale fighters. They own the 1/72 scale market for the A-7, from the A to the E. I wish I had the skill that you do for 1/72 scale. Your model looks like the real McCoy. My pastor was in the USMC and worked on A-4's. He asked me to build him one for his office at church. He chose VMA-121. But, I built him a model in 1/32 scale. I don't think I could've pulled off what you did in 1/72. Again, great job, and I look forward to more of your models here on ARC.

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Hello all

Thank you dearly for your comments

..The only thing that catches my eye are the inside of the leading edge slats. I feel like they are a bit too clean. ....

Damn, you are 100% right. What I ever fear! Out of the hundreds of little operations on any model, just forget something obvious.And this one is obvious. Thank you..

The only critique I might offer is next time to extend that weathering to the black anti-glare area in front of the windscreen. I think if you lighten the black a bit the overall effect will be even more realistic.

Steven Brown

Steven, thank you : same as above : I figured that for the walkways and missed that on the anti glare panel.

..

Two things stand out to me though:

The walkway markings on the wing that you have is typical for later A-4's like the A-4F that had spoilers, for those early Es the walkway should extend all the way to the trailing edge.

This may be out of your control, the green is much much too bright for 121's dark green.

I re-checked my documentation for the walkways largely from the Naval Fighters book series : strangely, what seems to be the rule on US NAVY aircraft seems not to be the case on US MARINES aircraft. It seems (as you described) the US NAVY differs on lengh of painted walkways between the A-4E and A-4F (due to spoilers). Most photos I found of US MARINES A-4Es show the shorter version (I don't know why).

Green : I set my green as the one printed on decals : I actually could not find a good colour photograph of the VMA-121 aircraft of that period.

Thanks again.

Cheers

Eric B.

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I re-checked my documentation for the walkways largely from the Naval Fighters book series : strangely, what seems to be the rule on US NAVY aircraft seems not to be the case on US MARINES aircraft. It seems (as you described) the US NAVY differs on lengh of painted walkways between the A-4E and A-4F (due to spoilers). Most photos I found of US MARINES A-4Es show the shorter version (I don't know why).

Green : I set my green as the one printed on decals : I actually could not find a good colour photograph of the VMA-121 aircraft of that period.

Interesting. I've not noticed differences between USN and USMC walkway patterns on the E's. On models the short version seems to be commonly shown for some reason (someone instructions maybe show this?) but actual photos I've seen show most either having none or walkways to the trailing edge. On F's and the later USMC A-4M's they'd be short of course.

Here's a couple 121 Vietnam photos grabbed off of Wikipedia showing their squadron colors. Looks somewhat too dark in these pics, but it's definitely a darker green:

800px-A-4E_Skyhawk_of_VMA-121_with_bombs_at_Chu_Lai.jpg

A-4E_landing_at_Chu_Lai_Mar_1967.jpg

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Hi Ziggyfoos,

Interesting. I've not noticed differences between USN and USMC walkway patterns on the E's. On models the short version seems to be commonly shown for some reason (someone instructions maybe show this?) but actual photos I've seen show most either having none or walkways to the trailing edge. On F's and the later USMC A-4M's they'd be short of course.

Here's a couple 121 Vietnam photos grabbed off of Wikipedia showing their squadron colors. Looks somewhat too dark in these pics, but it's definitely a darker green:

From my books (mostly Naval Fighters/Ginter books : "A-4E/F in NAVY Service" and "A-4E/F in Marine Service" on this subject) I tried to spot any photograph with and overwing view in both books.

From photos of actual aircraft in the "A-4E/F in NAVY Service" book, possible exceptions notwithstanding, I confirm your observation on USN aircraft : some aircraft without walkways (or at least with no visible ie maybe light grey coloured??), some with dark walkways : those with dark walkways are the long version on A-4Es, shorter version on A-4Fs.

From the sister book "A-4E/F in Marine Service" fewer overwing photographs were available, but several in not all photos identified as A-Es, some with visible BuAer hence positive identification of aircraft version show the shorter version of walkways.

I am a casuel modeler not an aviation specialist and this is my observation only from my library. I don't take it as a rule as I have not enough photographs available, but I guessed there might have been a difference beteen the USN and USMC on A-4Es walkawys.

In anyway thank you for the lesson learned, I know I have to be careful on A-4 walkways for any future project.

Thank you dearly for the photographs and green seems definately darker.. I actually know side photo of VK/11 but in black/white version only.

By the way I had not noticed until now the AOA logo down your mail. Just the occasion to confirm after your A-6, OV-10 sheets I am widely interested in your future 1/72 A-4 sheet(s). As written above it is not that easy to find decals for A-4E/Fs of that era and I have some other Fujimi boxes on my shelves (plus count Hobby Boss A-4s coming in).

Regards

Eric B.

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