Ta-4f Skyhawk

[Mariela Laflam]

Hiall, this is a companion build to the TA-4J I posted earlier. I started it with a Hobbycraft A-4C. When the Hobbycraft kits first came out, I bought a B, an E, and two C kits sight unseen (no reviews/photos beforehand). I was a bit disappointed once I got hold of the kits, because of the shape of the canopy particularly, and the intake areas- both the intake lips and inner ramp parts. The rest of the kit is pretty good with engraved panel lines and some very nice weapons provided- an "improved" Monogram A-4E kit. I plan to make use of the nose section of this particular HC A-4C kit to convert an ESCI A-4E kit into a TA-4S- there will be more about that in another future post.

Way back before Classic Airframes released their TA-4J, I was looking into available conversions so I could eventually build a Blue Angels TA-4J. I got hold of a War Eagle TA-4J conversion- which is essentially a Vacuformed Monogram OA-4M fuselage modified to be a TA-4J/F. I also eventually got hold of a Kiwi models TA-4K conversion, which was a modified Hasegawa A-4E fuselage with Vacuformed two seat canopy. There also was a Red Roo conversion that was released to enable you to make a TA-4J out of a Monogram OA-4M. The Kiwi conversion had inconsistencies in both halves of the fuselage parts (shrinkage and rough casting) so I did not like the idea of using it in its entirety. In the end, I used the War Eagle fuselage forward of the fuselage break on the HC kit, some Kiwi cockpit parts and canopy, and Hobbycraft A-4E nose section. I also used one of my resin canopy fairing and spine correction parts I used in the CA USN TA-4J posted earlier.

I saw this TA-4F on a decal sheet- MAW Decals 48-MAW018, and after finding photographs of the aircraft online- I decided to use it on this conversion. In the pictures below, you can see I made use of KMC intakes (as well as the interior fan section) meant for the Monogram A-4E/OA-4M, but the shape is not quite what it should be for the exterior parts, so I later used resin copies of the Hasegawa kit intake lips to correct them.

After deciding to close the canopy, I had to adjust the Kiwi resin canopy brace section and rear instrument shroud. I added interior details to the canopy in the same manner as for the Classic Airframes TA-4J build. I used KMC resin seats as they fit the width of the fuselage better.

KMC produced very nice sway braces in their A-4 detail set for the Monogram A-4E. They faithfully replicate what the braces look like when A-4 pylons do not have anything loaded. The TA-4F is essentially a TA-4J wired for weapons with 5 hard points- The TA-4J has only three hard points like the early skyhawks; A-C.

The drop tanks in the photos I found are actually white, but for the kit, I painted them the same as the light grey lower camouflage colour. The online photos of the aircraft later in its service life also show some damage to the fuselage paint that has been touched up- I am guessing chipped paint from flying through debris from exploded ordnance?

After completing the build, I feel that the Hobbycraft A-4E nose I used is a bit too long, and I may rework the kit a little more with a better shaped ESCI A-4E nose I happen to have in the spares box. The Hobbycraft nose is a bit chunky in outline anyway, so that is more likely what the problem is. I am not sure how I didn't catch that earlier on in this build, but it may be that the HC kit follows the dimensions of the Monogram kit, and I was trying to match the War Eagle fuselage better with the HC parts.

The light grey and sand was airbrushed, but the green and brown of the camouflage was hand painted. The VMAT-102 markings are partly from the MAW "Hard Corps Scooters" decal sheet, and the SC code on the tail (which showed up later in its service life is taken from the old Monogram A-4E VMAT-102 kit markings with the white drop shadows trimmed off.

I still ended up with decal silvering after prepping with three coats of Future- so I will need to see if I can eliminate it by coaxing them with more Future. I am glad it is way easier to build 1/48 TA-4J's nowadays! You have the option of Classic Airframes (reboxed by AZ Model) or Hasegawa. I just couldn't let a couple of old conversion sets and partial A-4 kit go to waste- I am glad I put them to use.

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for the kind comment Gabor! This really was a case of making lemonade from lemons- I also have a Fujimi TA-4J covered in filler right now that I want to prepare for paint to be one of my "top gun" tactics demo models. (the ones we see in top gun when Maverick tells Slider- "you stink!".)

My first concern was how well the fuselage would go together. I just taped the fuselage parts together and breathed a sigh of relief as they both lined up correctly with no big gaps and very good panel line alignment.

The side walls in the kit are smooth and do not have the quilted look that you see in the real plane and the Hasegawa Skyhawk. I understand that the low pressure injection molding process does lot allow for much detail on the inside of parts. I decided to do a quick and dirty cross hatch scribing job on my side walls and get the look a bit closer to the Japanese kit.

Before working the cockpits I had to assemble the intakes. This is one of the toughest parts of the kit. Take it slow and do your trimming of the fuselage openings carefully. There is a need for precision here if you want the intakes to fit flush to the fuselage. The intake lips are also tough to get just right so take your time.

The cockpit resin parts were removed from their pouring stubs and test fitted together. The side wall instrumentation between front and rear cockpits is identical in this kit and I think it is ok since it is not going to be visible and most TA-4 skyhawks were different from aircraft to aircraft. The instrument panels are different and look ok for limited run plastic. However I feel that Classic had spoiled us with full resin interiors and that it would have been great to get more detailed resin instrument panels.

In limited run kits I prefer not to glue anything until I am totally sure that the fuselage will close securely. I tried a few times to get the two cockpits lined up just right by just securing them with a tinny bit of super glue. Once I was happy, I secured them to the starboard side with super glue.

One thing that some modelers do not like with some limited run companies is that they have to simplify the injection process by removing extreme curved surfaces like the bottom portion of the fuselage near the tail. The bottom part is provided separately and it adds complexity to the assembly process.

I tried to see the bright side of this approach. I found it easier to attach the small aux intake on the root of the tail. I also found it easier to only install the exhaust fan blade plate part and add the tail pipe and exhaust pipe later.

I used the Hasegawa kit as a guide for extra confidence. Cutting off the flaps with a razor saw was very easy. To make my life easy I used the Hasegawa plastic for the flaps and actuator. It fits great and will serve the kit very well.

Next step in the process was to test fit the wings to the fuselage. The fit of wing to fuselage was not bad on the top portion but a little work was required for the bottom portion. I ran some Mr Surfacer 500 on the fuselage joints and sanded it down once dry.

Painting the model was the biggest challenge. I could not find good matches for what I was seeing in the few photos available of this specific aircraft. In the end I thought that the idea was to represent the Flanker during dog fights so I went with the Testors colors for the Flanker. I was still not satisfied with the hues but I went for it anyway.

I used the ACMI probe from the Hasegawa weapons set so I would not have to clean up the plastic in the CA kit. I chose to put it under the center pylon as per the photos I have seen. The decals went down great and adhered to the painted model really well. Once done with the decals I sprayed the whole model with Testors semi gloss varnish.

It is of note that I did not use any lead weights at all for this kit. I had them ready to drop in inside the nose area through the pilot's foot well but the model stands on all three wheels just fine. I only added the black blade antenna and two smaller antennas on the tail. I regret not fixing up the aux air intake on the top of the fuselage and instead blanking it off. This appeared to me as a blemish on the mold and I chose to fill it in! Will not happen again!

May 3, 1980: Maj. Carry W. Dudley and Capt. Robert F. Foley of MAG-31 ejected safely when their Marine TA-4P (sic) crashed about 13 miles S of Electra, TX, Saturday. The two crewmen who were enroute from MCAS Yuma, AZ, to MCAS Buford (sic), SC, were first picked up by a farmer and later transported by helicopter to Sheppard AFB. The aircraft was enroute from Yuma, AZ, to its base in SC. The Odessa American, Sunday, 04 May 1980. MAG-31 TA-4F BuNo 154629 was destroyed at Texas after aircraft crashed in rural area during normal flight, 03 May 1980. Crew ejected safely. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester.

March 17, 1987: Capt. Mike "Martini" Matheney, USMC and LCdr. David A. Kallman, USNR, ejected safely in the warning area SE of NBC and were recovered by SAR Helo when the engine failed during a dissimilar ACM hop vs. a pair of Hornets. From Patrick W. Lappert, MD, 17 March 2016. Unknown crew ejected safely when their Marine jet went down in the Atlantic off the coast of Hilton Head Island Tuesday and were rescued by a helicopter from MCAS Beaufort. Aiken Standard, Aiken, SC, Wednesday, March 18, 1987. MAG-31 TA-4F BuNo 154640 was destroyed at North Atlantic Ocean (above Lat 45 Deg N) when aircraft crashed into water after engine stall. 17 March 1987. Aircrew ejected. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester.

1985: The H&MS-31 AGGRESSORS

H&MS-31 OMD group photograph. Remarks from Doug Bowman SSGT USMC (Retired); This picture had to have been taken in mid-summer 1984 because it is on the section of the flight line adjacent to the new maintenance building at MCAS Beaufort, SC. That is the VMFA-451 hanger in the background". Who can name these guys? Please e-mail the webm...@a4skyhawk.org . Picture from SSgt Randy Toskin, USMC.

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