Hasegawa 1/72 A-4E/F

After completing the Torbeau to an acceptable standard, and putting the Italeri Strike Eagle in the too hard pile (for now) as I buggered the paint, thought I'd make a start on this.
There are 3 subjects that really pique my interest. The first being WWII RAF aircraft, especially bombers.
The second being Vietnam US carrier operated aircraft. Mostly Skyhawks!
Finally anything RNZAF.
I considered converting this into a pre-Kahu scooter, but for now decided to build in the kit cover scheme as it will match the Airfix Squawk I built recently.
Cockpit going together. It's pretty sparse so thought I'd throw the pilot in to fill some space.
First time attempting belts from Tamiya tape. Fairly pleased with how it turned out. Added some sweet lightning bolts and stripes to his dome too.


I'll be asking plenty of questions throughout this build as I've heaps to learn.
Comments/criticism/hints always welcome!
Build well everyone!

Looking good, off to a great start.

A wee bit of progress. Fuse buttoned up, wings together and on along with hori-stabs and canopy.

The fit on this is pretty good! Was concerned the hump was going to be a mission but it went on nicely with a little sanding. Canopy masking, fuselage seam clean up then time to try my hand at pre-shading.
Just need to kick the darned cold before venturing back into the hangar (garage)

nice clean start and ill be checking back as this ramps up

Canopy is masked, gaps filled and sanded, and some rough as guts pre-shading started. Some playing around with airbrush pressure and technique is definitely required.



Will finish off the pre-shading today. Using tamiya acrylics, does around 15psi sound ok for building up base colours?

Experimented with pressures through the airbrushed and ended up using a higher pressure for the first coat of white underneath. It came up alright... I think...

Another coat tomorrow.

Painting is looking pretty good on the bottom. You've done well to keep the pre-shading evident. Be careful you don't make the next coat too thick so it still shows through

Second coat down. Can still see through to the pre-shading... whew!!!



First attempt at this so not too sad about how it's turned out considering it's an el-cheapo airbrush with an unknown nozzle.

Next up I'll slam a clear coat down and mask up for the first coat of grey on the top side.
Bought some Tamiya grey panel-wash that I'll use on the underside and maybe something darker on the top. Not sure yet.

Top side painted. Quite a difference between the pre-shaded and non pre-shaded (Airfix) scooters using the same colours, one coat each...!

I like it!

Only managed a small amount of work on this recently. She's on her feet finally.



Bit of X-22 before done decals, panel wash (first time so bit of experimenting here), tidy up the atrocious true painting etc.



Started getting some paint down on the gear bay doors and air brakes. Any hints on what method people use to grubby up these areas?

Got some decals down over the weekend. That microset is marvelous stuff! Why did I not get some earlier?!



Stores and small parts to go on then try out a panel wash.

Leavemygoosealone wrote: Started getting some paint down on the gear bay doors and air brakes. Any hints on what method people use to grubby up these areas?

If you are using acrylic paints an enamel or oil wash is a good start. Nice work on the red, that can be a real pain to paint.

Grant wrote: If you are using acrylic paints an enamel or oil wash is a good start. Nice work on the red, that can be a real pain to paint.

Thanks Grant. The gear bay doors still need a lot of touching up but they're getting there. Some red bled under the masking tape

Planning on using Tamiya Panel Line Accent if I can find some Black stuff.

Leavemygoosealone wrote: Planning on using Tamiya Panel Line Accent if I can find some Black stuff.

I have the black and it seems a little too stark for most applications. For washes I now mostly use some cheap oil paints I got at he $2 shop thinned with some Tamiya X20 enamel thinner. You can mix whatever shade that suits the base coat that way.

Grant wrote: I have the black and it seems a little too stark for most applications. For washes I now mostly use some cheap oil paints I got at he $2 shop thinned with some Tamiya X20 enamel thinner. You can mix whatever shade that suits the base coat that way.

I'm aiming to make this scooter pretty dirty but the oil paints is a great idea! Luckily my wife is quite into painting so we have heaps of oils to try! Thinned quite heavily?
I haven't got any X20. I'm guessing/hoping that Humbrol enamel thinner will do the trick also, got plenty of that. Might have a play tonight!

Looking awesome

Well, airframe is done (enough for me) and unmasked.

Onto tanks, bullpups and MK82's on centerline TER!

Finished. Started to get a little bored with it so probably rushed it a little much at the end. Will definitely take my time a little more on the next one. Anyway, photos.



It's ok for a beginner I guess. Tried pre-shading for the first time and it went alright.
Next up, Hasegawa F-8E!

Hi Rhys, sorry to drag this to the top again though its worth another round of views. I'm looking to build one of these soon, a rather older boxing than yours & the destructions, such as they are, say nothing about nose weight to prevent it being a tail sitter. What did you do, with yours. I do like the look of it.
Cheers,
Steve.

The old Hasegawa A-4E/F is not a particularly good kit but is OK as a fun build. The kit is a bit long in scale and its nose is too fat. The canopy is a bit of a pig fit and the kit needs a bit of tidy up pretty much everywhere. The Fujimi 1-72 kit on the other hand is a little jewel. I started building one of the Hasegawa kits many moons ago as an A-4K conversion but sort of lost interest in it after a month. I should really dig it out one day and finish it.

yes, I've read the reviews but I have these & not nearly enough Fujimi ones which appear flipping near impossible to find now, I'm kind of waiting on the Hobby Boss ones & hoping they don't have too many dire mistakes. I haven't built a A-4 since I built the original Airfix one longer ago than I'm going to admit to & I don't recall weighting its nose & it sat on its wheels but this being a different kit I was wondering about that aspect. The Hasegawa ones mightn't be quite right but they still look like a scooter & it'll be good practice for me.
Steve.

Hobby boss doesn't have separate slats for some unknown reason. A bit of a deal breaker unless you are building it in flight, or are building a blue angels version.

Not ideal to be sure but that's the whole deal for A-4E/F in 1/72. Fujimi could cheer up a lot of people if they'd do a re run on their one.
Steve.