When Douglas developed the Skyhawk, little did they realize that they were starting a legend. The Skyhawk is one of the more recognized aircraft among enthusiasts and those who just dabble in aircraft. With an operational life span that started back in late 1955 after it completed carrier quals and was OK'd for issue to fleet squadrons, the 'Scooter' is still flying as front line equipment with a number of air forces around the world. No matter how you look at it, 45 years of service is a long time!

Originally developed as a replacement for the F9F Panther, then bearing the brunt of light attack roles in Korea, the A4D was basically the smallest package that could do the job required. The airframe is so robust that, like the DC-3, there really is no limit on airframe time. Would a service decide to continue upgrading the aircraft, it could do so as long as spare parts are available. This is basically what New Zealand is doing with their Skyhawks.

This particular version is the A-4C (previously known as the A4D-2N). It differs from the earlier versions in that it was able to operate at night (hence the 'N' suffix). First flying in 1959, this version has terrain clearance radar in a slightly longer nose from its predecessor. It also has an auto pilot, angle of attack indicator system, LABS bombing (Low Altitude), and a better ejection seat. It is the longer nose that is the visual clue when comparing it with the earlier A-4B. Later E models had an even longer nose. It was later fitted with a more powerful engine from its earlier cousin. When replaced in fleet squadrons by later version Skyhawks or other types, it was refurbished with upgraded avionics and then issued to the reserves as the A-4L. These had the upper fuselage dorsal 'hump' added to them as the visual clue. 

The A-4C bore the early brunt of light attack duties in Vietnam until supplanted by the later A-4E/F versions. It was even credited with a Mig kill when a Mig-17 blundered into the path of a Scooter who fired off it's Zuni unguided rockets at it and knocked it down. Some A-4Cs were sold to foreign countries seeking an inexpensive and relatively easy to maintain attack aircraft. There are even a few warbird Skyhawks flying around.  

Considering how popular the A-4 is, it is surprising that there have been few kits of it in 1/48 scale. I can only think of three injected styrene kits produced up to the beginning of 2001, all of them A-4Es or later. There is the Fujimi kit (which is basically 1/50 and better left alone, the still very nice Monogram A-4E kit and the ESCI Skyhawks. Early this year Hasegawa presented us with a very nice A-4E/F, and now Hobbycraft joins the ranks. 

The Hobbycraft Skyhawks had been promised for quite some time, but market forces and molding problems being what they are, the kit was delayed until now. Had Hobbycraft released this kit 6 months ago, it would have been quite a heavy seller, but Hasegawa has stolen some of their thunder. Hobbycraft has decided to to a bit of a blitzkrieg on Hasegawa by not only releasing four kits, but beating Hasegawa to the punch and putting out an early A-4B and A-4C, the first ones in this scale. Released at the same time were two A-4E/F kits, one as an aggressor, and the other as an Israeli version, including the tailpipe extension. Obviously, Hobbycraft is going for the Scooter market big time.

This particular kit is the A-4C boxing. Hobbycraft has made the kits with a large number of interchangeable bits and pieces to get maximum use out of the molds. It is apparent that we will eventually be able to do every variant of the Skyhawk that has been built. At least, single-seaters anyway. As you can see, you get a LOT of parts. You also get a full weapons load, something that is not offered by the Hasegawa kit. It is really not fair to compare the two kits as they are not in the same price bracket, the Hobbycraft kit being about $10 less expensive. However the comparison is inevitable. One just needs to keep in mind that there is the large price difference.

Now, what are the differences in the kits? I have mentioned the weapons. The Hobbycraft kit is also not a well detailed as the Hase kit. That isn't to say it is bad, just not as well detailed. The panel lines are a bit bigger and there isn't the petite detail of the Japanese kit. Where the Hasegawa kit has intake trunking and an engine compressor as well as a long tailpipe, the Hobbycraft kit doesn't. The Hobbycraft cockpit is less detailed as well, though it does have raised instrument panel and side console detail, just not as much of it. Rather than a full fuselage half, the Hobbycraft kit has a separate nose, obviously to be able to handle the different versions with the same basic fuselage. In Hobbycraft's favor, other than the weapons, is the separate nose wheel. Hasegawa has it molded in with the strut. Both have separate slats and flaps, though Hasegawa's look a bit easier to install. Probably the most glaring difference that I noticed when looking over the parts is the clear bits. They not only seem to have 'soft' detailing, but the windscreen seems too wide. It also seems that you cannot pose the canopy open. The speedbrakes are also molded closed, but this really isn't that big a deal as most Scooters had them closed on the deck.

Next we come to the biggest problem that I have had with every Hobbycraft kit, and that is the instructions. They aren't exactly bad, it is just that one expects a bit more from a modern kit. There are 11 construction steps. The differences between types are shown as well as what bits go with which version. No problem there. There is a good color chart that match FS numbers with various paints like Floquil, Humbrol, and Testors. No problem here, either. It is just that there is not a specific color callout for the parts when they are being built. There is some generic cockpit color info, but if you didn't know the wheel wells were supposed to be white or the underside of the flaps and slats red, you couldn't tell that from the instructions. All of the color you get is printed on the back of the box. Am I picking nits? Perhaps I am. After all, I KNOW what colors these smaller bits are supposed to be. However, not all modelers are as knowledgeable as most of us and I think they need this info.

On to the decals. They are beautifully printed and razor sharp. Hobbycraft has really improved their kit decals and they are a pleasure to use. These seem no different. There is even an addendum to take care of a decal glitch. Nice touch. You get four aircraft. One USN, two Argentine and one Malaysian bird. Having the painting info on the back of the box is a great idea. Two little things. One is that it would have been nice to have an upper fuselage drawing of the Malaysian bird instead of just wings and stabs. Second is that the markings on the Argentine and Malaysian bird are almost invisible when printed over the dark brown or greens. I had originally thought that the markings for Swartz's Mig killing plane were incorrect. It appears that this is the scheme used during the BHR cruise when the kill occured. Most other sources show the later Independence cruise markings which are much different. There is also some thought that the color of the markings isn't black but a dark green. More research into this is really needed.

Now the box. It is nice and sturdy, which is good. It also opens from the ends, which isn't. It seems as if the industry is going away from standard top and bottom boxes, and frankly it isn't a trend that I like. The only thing to do about it is to keep your Tamiya and Hasegawa boxes so that you can build your Hobbycraft and Revell kits! Finally, I like the way that Hobbycraft bagged this kit. There were no more than two large sprues per bag and the decals were bagged separately. This really cuts down on parts getting scratched or broken off during shipment. With all the extra bits that you will have left over, your spares boxes should soon be bulging.

Now that I have gone into a rather more detailed preview than I usually do, what do I think of the kit? Well, despite it not being up to the standard of the Hasegawa kit, it is darn close. It offers several features that the Hasegawa one doesn't. like the separate nose wheel and full weapons load. The weapons set needed to complete the Hasegawa kit will easily add another $10-15 to the price of the kit. This kit also does the earlier versions that Hasegawa won't get to for several months. 

Despite my nitpicking, when you look at the overall quality of the kit and the value you get for the money, you can't help but be pleased with it. I hope that Hobbycraft sells a lot of these, it really deserves to do so. I know that I plan to build several!

McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920, Vol I, by Rene J Francillon, 1989, Naval Institute Press

Review kit courtesy of me and my wallet!

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