1/48 Hasegawa Douglas TA-4K Skyhawk - No. 2 Sqn RNZAF

 

Depicted as NZ6252 from No. 2 Squadron RNZAF circa 1993 whilst based at HMAS Albatross. It is loaded with a typical live weapons training load. 

The Kit

• 1/48 A-4K Skyhawk 'RNZAF' - Kit No. 09441

Click here for my article on modelling the RNZAF Skyhawks . This covers the RNZAF Skyhawk from a modellers perspective. 

Click here for my article on building the Hasegawa Skyhawk kits.  This covers how I handle the basic construction of the Hasegawa Skyhawk kits.

Aftermarket

• Eduard 49458 - TA-4J Self Adhesive PE set
• Eduard 648214  - A-4E/F Wheels - Late
• Phase Hangar Resin 48021 - 300 Gallon Drop Tanks
• Phase Hangar Resin 48021 - 400 Gallon Drop Tank
• HGW 248034 - Fabric Remove Before flight Tags
• Eduard  73044 -  1/72 Remove Before Flight Tags - Steel
• Aerobonus 480 022 -  Remove before Flight Tags - White Lettering
• Aerobonus 480 023  -  Remove before Flight Tags - Black Lettering
• Quickboost  QB 48 496 - A-4 Ejection Seat with belts
• Steel Beach - A-4 FOD Guards 
• Quickboost QB 48 222 - A-4E/F Skyhawk Gun Barrels
• Eduard 648093 - MK 82 Bombs
• Belcher Bits CRV-7 Rocket Pod  

Decals

• Gekko Graphics 48-001 - Royal New Zealand Air Force A-4G/K Skyhawks
• Gekko Graphics 48-002 - Royal New Zealand Air Force A-4G/K Skyhawks
• Ronin Decals RDS-028 -  RNZAF A-4K /TA-4K Skyhawk Green Scheme Decals

Paint

• Gray FS36081 - Mr. Color 301
• Green FS34102 - Mr. Color 303
• Green FS34079 - Mr. Color 309 
• Grey FS36270 - Mr. Color 306 -  I use this instead of FS36231 for the interiors as it looks more in scale to the grey.
• Black - Gaianotes Black Grey
• White -  Tamiya XF 2 Flat white
• Tamiya Flat Red
• Chrome -  Model Master Enamel 
• Silvers - Tamiya AS-12 and various Alclads
• Vallejo Acrylics for details

The main colours were applied free hand from the airbrush after roughly marking out the pattern with a coloured pencil. 

Clear Coats

• Gaianotes Gloss
• Mr Color GX 113 Flat

Weathering

• Mr Weathering Color  - various colours mixed for washes.
• Oil paints for washes and streaking
• Coloured pencils 

Weathering was kept light, mainly because I don't remember the aircraft being particularly dirty or discoloured in the times I worked on them. Areas that were subject to some oil staining were quite often wiped down with a Avtur dampened rag at the end of the day. The aircraft were washed every 56 days.

Scratch Building

• The cockpit  - see here
• The aft hell hole door. This was normally open on the ground unless the aircraft was just about to go flying - see here
• The Hi intensity strobe light  - Hasegawa's is white metal whereas the real think had a clear lens
• Smoke Pipe

The Pictures

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