Designed as a small attack
aircraft with a high load carrying capability, the A-4 Skyhawk was originally
developed for carrier operations entering service with the United States Navy (USN)
in the mid 1950s. Almost 3,000 A4s were eventually produced with the last
Skyhawks being retired from USN service in 2003. At that time however it was
still in frontline service with several other countries.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
operated twenty A4-Gs (including four dual seat trainers), the first of which
were acquired in July 1967. The RAN's frontline fighter squadron, VF 805, was
normally assigned eight Skyhawks when embarked aboard the flagship HMAS
Melbourne. Its primary roles included air defence, maritime strike and Army
support in the ground attack role. The Skyhawk's in-flight refuelling capability
also allowed it to operate well beyond its carrier base.
Based at HMAS Albatross
(Australia's only Naval Air Station) VC 724 Squadron, the land-based counterpart
of VF 805, was designated the Skyhawk Operational Flying Training School. The
RAN had lost half its Skyhawk fleet through accident and mechanical failure by
June 1982 when HMAS Melbourne was decommissioned. The remaining aircraft were
sold to Royal New Zealand Air Force which, ironically, was then contracted by
the Australian Government to provide the RAN with its lost Fleet Support
capability. This RNZAF Skyhawk detachment operated at HMAS Albatross from 1991
to 2001. (Text from
Australia's Museum of Flight Website).
Click on
images below to see larger images
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The Hasegawa 1/32
A4E kit has been around a while, it represents a late model E/F version.
The mouldings are still pretty good and features raised panel lines. The kit
includes external tanks and Mk82 500lb bombs and rocket pods and markings for 2
USN aircraft. As this was going to be a conversion to an A4G a few
modifications were made and kit parts omitted.
The most noticeable changes were
the reshaping of the antenna aft of the cockpit and removal of the chaff
dispenser on the lower rear fuselage. Also various ECM antennae around the
fuselage were removed. As the RAN A4s were also tasked with air defence I
added a launch rail and sidewinder a borrowed from a Hasegawa F18 kit. I
also hung a single Mk82 bomb which came with the kit to from the starboard
outboard wing station.
The cockpit was nicely details
for this scale and I just painted it as per reference pictures. As I was adding
the pilot I figured there would not be too much to see inside. I used
painted strips of Tamiya tape for the shoulder and lap harness belts.
The model was painted in standard
Light Gull Grey and White scheme which adorned these aircraft for much of their
career. These aircraft go quite dirty while aboard Melbourne so I added a
wash in various areas.
I used a Hawkeye Models Australia
decal sheet to finish it off. They settled down really well. A final
coat of future sealed everything and gave the model a nice satin sheen as per
the real thing.
Ray
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