1/48 Monogram OA-4M Skyhawk

Gallery Article by Max Tollens Jr. on Nov 10 2009

  USMC Birthday 2009 

 

The Monogram OA-4M is a classic kit and one of the first I built when I started in the hobby; some areas are a bit large for scale and others inaccurate but overall it looks like a Skyhawk, that's all that matters to me.  I dug this one out of the stash one day and decided to do something different rather than the tactical paint scheme as per the box top and decal set; I found a picture on Airliners.net of a camouflaged bird assigned to Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 32, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point NC.  That meant that I would have to print my own decals as the light gray kit decals would not work.

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I built the Skyhawk mostly OOB; the tail mounted pitot is not very accurate so I replaced with one from a Hasegawa A-4 kit.  I also borrowed a nose gear antenna from the Hasegawa since the Monogram kit's nose gear door doesn't have one.  I used a KMC intake set, not that you can tell from the photos, though!  I replaced the ill shaped canopy support with a paper clip cut to size; not only is it close to scale thickness but there was no need to paint it silver!  I painted the kit with Testors enamels, Engine Gray FS36076, Green FS34079 and the bottom is Camouflage Gray FS36622.  My reference photo appears to show the Skyhawk in a camouflage pattern similar to the AV-8B so I modified it to the A-4's profile since it has a low wing instead of the Harrier's high wing.  I washed and blow dried the kit prior to spraying with clear gloss lacquer for a smooth surface as preparation for decals. 

I scanned the kit decals into my computer and changed the BuNo to reflect my reference photo, 154306; 4306 started life as a TA-4F prior to being reworked by NARF Pensacola and becoming one of 23 OA-4M models.  I printed off most of the markings on an Experts' Choice blank decal sheet; the DA tail code was printed on a Micromark sheet.  All printing was done on my Canon 3200 series laser printer.  I also used decals from a Fightertown Decals TA-4J sheet on the landing gear and doors as well as the ejection seats; the seat decals were tough to attach since the seats were already installed!

I overcoated with dullcote, then went to work weathering with water colors, chalks and art pencils; the weathering is more extensive than the pictures show, though.  While a camera may appear to add 10 pounds it also appears to make weathering disappear!  I attached the drop tanks and pylons after cutting off their attachment points, drilling holes and inserting lengths of paper clip in order to strengthen the attachment points and avoid breaking off the nubs that qualify as attachments.  To finish this off, I had to paint the red around the perimeter of the gear doors with a sharpie marker!  It's nice to have a Monogram scooter back in the collection; pretty soon it'll be joined by a Hasegawa TA-4!  The Monogram is still fun to work on so get into your stash!

Max Tollens Jr.

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Photos and text © by Max Tollens Jr.