Fumimi 1/72 A-4B Skyhawk, previewed by Scott Van Aken

HISTORY

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft developed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D under the U.S. Navy's pre-1962 designation system.

The Skyhawk is a light-weight aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 24,500 pounds (11,100 kg) and has a top speed of more than 600 miles per hour (970 km/h). The aircraft's five hardpoints support a variety of missiles, bombs and other munitions and was capable of delivering nuclear weapons using a low altitude bombing system and a "loft" delivery technique. Prior to the A-4E, power was supplied by the Wright J65 engine; on the A-4E, the J65 was replaced by the 9,300-pound-force (41 kN) Pratt & Whitney J52.

Skyhawks played key roles in the Vietnam War, the Yom Kippur War, and the Falklands War. Fifty years after the aircraft's first flight, some of the nearly 3,000 produced remain in service with several air arms around the world, including the Brazilian Navy's aircraft carrier,São Paulo.

A4D-2 (A-4B): Strengthened aircraft and added air-to-air refueling capabilities, improved navigation and flight control systems, provision for AGM-12 Bullpup missile, 542 built.

A-4Q: Remanufactured A-4Bs sold to Argentine Navy.

THE KIT

Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Fujimi produced a series of aircraft kits that was very well received and are still considered to be some of the best they have done, even today. These kits were highlighted by finely engraved panel lines and excellent parts detail. What is more, they were so designed as to be able to produce a raft of variants of the type. One of those kit lines was with the Skyhawk.

This particular kit is for the A-4B and as you might expect, it has taken into consideration the need for many inserts and such. The main difference you will see is that the small fuselage is separated into fore and aft sections to accommodate doing not only other single seat versions, but also the TA-4 and OA-4 variants. There is also an insert for the area in front of the fin in case the boxing has the avionics hump.

The interior is nicely done with raised detail on the instruments though you can use decals if you wish. There is even some belt detail on the seat. Complete intakes to the first compressor stage are provided to be trapped between the forward fuselage halves. Speed brakes can be built open or closed. Fujimi also provides separate slats and you can show the flaps lowered, though you have to cut them free from the lower wing first. For things under wings you have a centerline and two wing fuel tanks. You can also install Bullpups on the wing pylons. The kit comes with a bunch of stuff that is not applicable to this aircraft including some nice MERs and TERs though there are no weapons for them.

A couple of things will need to be made if doing the A-4Q and there are directions in the instructions. One is the ADF antenna for the upper fuselage as that is not included. Those with the Airfix 1/72 A-4B can rob this item from that kit if you are not going to use it. The other is the ILS antennas on the upper fin. You will also need to make a new UHF antenna behind the cockpit. For both options, the small blast shields for the guns will have to be cut away.

Typical of most Japanese kits, Gunze is the default paint. Markings are for two planes. One is the box art plane from VA-152 while the other is from the Argentine Navy. Both are in Light Gull Grey and White. For the Argentine plane, the white and blue stripes on the fin and elevators will have to be painted on. The decals themselves are well printed and provide all the data markings you need. Wing walk decals and a nose anti-glare decal are also provided.

CONCLUSIONS

Thankfully, this kit is one of many Fujimi kits that is still available from a number of stockists. Many consider these Fujimi Skyhawks the best available in this scale, despite being nearly 25 years old. This particular kit has a date of 3/1988. If you even have the chance to build one, you will want to get others.

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KIT #:	26101
PRICE:	1200 yen when new
DECALS:	Two options
REVIEWER:	Scott Van Aken
NOTES: