Sheet:

Superscale 481122: TA-4J Skyhawks

Units: VA-45 and VF-126

Price

$10.00 MSRP

Reviewer:

Scott Van Aken

Count me amongst the thousands who are quite jazzed to see a decent TA-4 in 1/48 scale. This will only enhance the opportunity to see a bunch of very cool schemes come out on decal sheets. This new sheet from Superscale has two from the pre-TPS days when two seat Scooters were not camouflaged. Means some very colorful schemes and a need to be handy with an airbrush and masking as on these examples the nose, wing panels, intakes and drop tanks will need to have the colors painted on by the builder. Both of these aircraft are in a basic white scheme.

First is the VA-45 CAG bird from 1972. The black outlines to the green bits are supplied as stripe decals and the FS number for the green is provided. Like the other aircraft, no wing root guns.

The other is the CAG bird of VF-126 in 1970. This is in pretty much white and internation orange, though one is advised to match the fin color decal. The sheet includes the anti-glare panel for both planes and bits of extra fuselage stripe to cover the fuselage intakes.

Now, for kits, you can use the Hasegawa (most of us) or the Classic Airframes kit as it will fit either with no trouble. DO NOT use the Fujimi kit as it is 1/50 and pretty crude to say the least. It looks like there are enough stencils for both and insignia for one. As with other new SuperScale sheets, this one is superbly printed by Cartograf of Italy.

August 2009

Review copy courtesy of Squadron Products. Get yours at your local shop or on-line retailer.

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