Fighting Eighty-Four Posted May 13, 2017 Share Posted May 13, 2017 Hi everyone! Back again to share my latest completed project, the 1/48 Hasegawa A-4M Skyhawk in Lo-Viz VMA-131 Diamondbacks markings from 1993. had the bright idea to add the Aires cockpit... what a mistake that was! I had only a couple of months ago used my first Aires pit (on a Tamiya F-16C Aggressor), and while it did take some work to fit, was not too much of a hassle. This one was nothing but a hassle. It took me more than an entire week to just get it to sorta fit in there. I had to hack up the plastic sides, the nose gear well, and the pit itself to shoehorn it in. Considering it usually take me just over three weeks to build an entire kit, a week fitting a cockpit alone is a huge time sink for me. So if you are considering the Aires cockpit for the Hasegawa A-4, DON'T. You have been warned! LOL I will not buy another Aires pit, however I will still use the ones I currently already have. The issue with the cockpit really took the wind out of my sails, and I must admit I rushed the construction a bit. So the seams and steps are not all perfectly attended to. All pics I have seen of this exact bird show it to be rather dirty and worn, so I tired to replicate that. I am happy with how the weathering turned out, despite the fact it is rather heavy. Kit: 1/48 Hasegawa A-4M Skyhawk Decals: Furball Aero Design "Lo Viz Devil Dog Scooters" Aftermarket: Aires A-4M Cockpit set, Hasegawa Weapons Sets A and B Paints: Gunze Mr. Surfacer Black 1500 (primer base), Tamiya Liquid White Primer (for marble coat), Gunze Aqueous FS 36495 Light Gray, FS 36375 Light Ghost Gray, FS 36320 Dark Ghost Gray, Tamiya Rubber Black, Clear Red, Clear Green, and Smoke, and Alclad II Gloss Black Primer, Airframe Aluminum, and Burnt Iron. Future Gloss coat for decals and Future+Tamiya XF-21 Flat Base 6:1 ratio for final matte coat. Mig Ammo Deep Gray panel wash. Now on to the pics, I hope you like! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fighting Eighty-Four Posted May 13, 2017 Author Share Posted May 13, 2017 A few more... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cubs2jets Posted May 13, 2017 Share Posted May 13, 2017 That is one of the most realistic "in service" finishes I have seen in a long time. It really sets you finished product above and beyond. Great job and thanks for sharing your work. C2j Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted May 13, 2017 Share Posted May 13, 2017 NOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 Very Nice ! A-4s 4-Ever! -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IJ001 Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 Very nicely executed. Like this a lot. Ian. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whiskey Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 Beautiful beautiful job. I've only recently accepted the A-4 into my stash and library and that aircraft with that scheme is one of the main reasons. They look just so bad a@@ in that low-vis paint. I can only hope mine turn out that well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joerg Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 Wonderful Scooter. Really like your finish! Joerg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 Man that is awesome! Some great weathering! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack Here Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 Now that's what I want mine to look like. Superb modelling all the way. Jack Quote Link to post Share on other sites
longmc Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Whoo Wee! that's some outstanding weathering right there! It's tough to pull off a low vis dirty, worn paint job without over doing it. You nailed it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wardog Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Great job on your Hawk! I'm glad you didn't let the Aires cockpit get the best of you. I have the same cockpit set so now I know what to expect. Guess this is what happens when reaching production milestones and reaping the financial gains takes precedence over quality. I think a lot of modelers have a love-hate relationship with Aires because their products are beautiful but fit is ALWAYS a challenge. Anyway, i think your build inspired me and my next build just might be the A-4M. Elmo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Absolutley stunning! Now I am jealous! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
coneheadff Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 What a beauty!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Henry Wong Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Love it. Makes me want to build a scooter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
usmcski6502 Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Not an easy scheme to pull off and weather successfully. I did a similar scheme on my big Trumpeter Skyhawk, so I can certainly appreciate the effort! Looks great! Semper Fi, Ski Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fighting Eighty-Four Posted May 16, 2017 Author Share Posted May 16, 2017 On 5/13/2017 at 7:09 PM, Cubs2jets said: That is one of the most realistic "in service" finishes I have seen in a long time. It really sets you finished product above and beyond. Great job and thanks for sharing your work. C2j Thanks C2j! That is about as awesome of a compliment anyone can receive. I am humbled by your kind words. On 5/13/2017 at 7:37 PM, Darren Roberts said: NOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There it is! It is not a successful build if I don't see a Noice!!!!!!!!! in my comments. Thanks Darren, I appreciate all the exclamation points! :-) On 5/13/2017 at 9:25 PM, GreyGhost said: Very Nice ! A-4s 4-Ever! -Gregg Thanks Gregg, I appreciate the kind words from a true A-4 fan! On 5/14/2017 at 2:20 AM, IJ001 said: Very nicely executed. Like this a lot. Ian. Thanks Ian, I appreciate you taking the time to comment! On 5/14/2017 at 11:04 AM, Whiskey said: Beautiful beautiful job. I've only recently accepted the A-4 into my stash and library and that aircraft with that scheme is one of the main reasons. They look just so bad a@@ in that low-vis paint. I can only hope mine turn out that well. Thanks Whiskey! I also love the A-4 in lo-viz schemes, and when I saw this particular scheme I knew I had to do it. I look forward to seeing yours! I will keep my eyes open for your build, I hope you share it. On 5/14/2017 at 11:18 AM, Joerg said: Wonderful Scooter. Really like your finish! Joerg Thanks Jeorg, I appreciate the compliment! On 5/14/2017 at 1:04 PM, 82Whitey51 said: Man that is awesome! Some great weathering! thanks Whitey! I feel like my weathering is become one of my strong suits, along with metalwork. I just wish I could get my construction up to par. I will keep working on that!!! :-) On 5/14/2017 at 4:28 PM, Jack Here said: Now that's what I want mine to look like. Superb modelling all the way. Jack Thanks Jack! I hope to see your build some day. If you ever have any questions about any of my painting or weathering techniques, fire away! On 5/14/2017 at 9:02 PM, longmc said: Whoo Wee! that's some outstanding weathering right there! It's tough to pull off a low vis dirty, worn paint job without over doing it. You nailed it! Man, thank you so much my friend for the wonderful compliment. Funny thing, when I am weathering a jet I feel should be dirtier than my normal build, I really start getting nervous that I am overdoing it. I had the same feeling when I was doing my previous build, the ICM MiG-25. I feel that is a good thing, that keeps me from going to far, which I really don't want to do. On 5/14/2017 at 10:41 PM, wardog said: Great job on your Hawk! I'm glad you didn't let the Aires cockpit get the best of you. I have the same cockpit set so now I know what to expect. Guess this is what happens when reaching production milestones and reaping the financial gains takes precedence over quality. I think a lot of modelers have a love-hate relationship with Aires because their products are beautiful but fit is ALWAYS a challenge. Anyway, i think your build inspired me and my next build just might be the A-4M. Elmo Elmo... I am truly honored to have you compliment on my build. I hate to gush like a star-struck teenager, but man your work is just so amazing. To think that I could inspire YOU has really made my day. But you are so right about Aires. I love the detail, it is often amazing, but getting it to fit is never easy, and almost always frustrating. Is it worth it? In the case of my F-16, I feel it was. In the case of this build, if I could go back I would definitely not have done it. But at the same time, I do feel a nice sense of accomplishment that I did not let it beat me. 15 hours ago, Dutch said: Absolutley stunning! Now I am jealous! Thanks Dutch, that is a very nice compliment! I remember when I first got into modelling and saw all the awesome builds here, I was so jealous of the skills I saw. Now, to think I can elicit that kind of great compliment myself,is very satisfying. 15 hours ago, coneheadff said: What a beauty!!!! Thanks conehead, I appreciate you taking the time to compliment my work! 5 hours ago, Henry Wong said: Love it. Makes me want to build a scooter. Thanks Henry! I think someone finding inspiration from my work to be the best compliment one can receive. 4 hours ago, usmcski6502 said: Not an easy scheme to pull off and weather successfully. I did a similar scheme on my big Trumpeter Skyhawk, so I can certainly appreciate the effort! Looks great! Semper Fi, Ski Thanks Ski! I would love to see your Skyhawk, you should post a link if you have any pics online, or post pics here in this thread if you want. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lordstripe Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Great work as usual! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
usmcski6502 Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 (edited) Here's some quick pics of my big Scooter. Not as nice as yours, but I can appreciate the work that went into making your great looking low-vis scheme! My biggest challenge was there aren't ANY low-viz markings in 1/32 that I know of. I had to get a little creative to get what you see here, but that's another story. If anyone wants to hear it, let me know and I'll start another thread. Great job again!!! Semper, Ski Edited May 16, 2017 by usmcski6502 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fighting Eighty-Four Posted May 22, 2017 Author Share Posted May 22, 2017 Oh, that is yours ski? Seriously, your build is one I used for quite a few reference ideas and inspiration, especially weathering. Beautiful work, and I for one think you should start a new thread, would love to hear more! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
usmcski6502 Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Wow, really? I'm flattered! I don't think anyone's ever told me my work was an inspiration, I sincerely appreciate it! I'll go over my old (crappy) photographs of the build and try to get a thread pulled together. Thanks again, but I think I like yours better! Semper Fi, Ski Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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