Airfix A-4 Just scooting along

mobiusone

Member since
August 2016

Airfix A-4 Just scooting along

Posted by mobiusone on Sunday, February 26, 2017 10:55 PM

Hi all

Here is my latest finished build, Airfix's 1/72 Skyhawk. Its a great little kit for $12. It has its quirks. The cockpit bulkhead is a bit funky (or i put it in wrong) causing the canopy to not fit right. But my biggest complaint of all is how stupidly huge the sprue connectors are. They are WAY to big and cause a ton of work for such a little kit. However, this can be overlooked for the price. It is by far the best Skyhawk kit i've built in this scale for ease of build. The decals are from an xtradecal sheet, for VA-152 The Fighting Aces. Just could not pass up on the green. The main reason I built this was because this was the first kit i preshaded and practiced on the tonal variation in color of Navy Gull gray now that I have a double action airbrush. On that front I am VERY happy with the results. There are a few issues, not happy with the intake red nor with the way the insignia white turned out. But again, this was all for practice and what a better kit to practice on!

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jeaton01

Member since
December 2002
From: Northern California

Posted by jeaton01 on Sunday, February 26, 2017 11:21 PM

Nice scooter.

John

To see build logs for my models: http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

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keavdog

Member since
April 2003
From: USA

Posted by keavdog on Monday, February 27, 2017 2:05 AM

Nice! One of my favorites.

Thanks,

John

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Bish

Member since
December 2002
From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England

Posted by Bish on Monday, February 27, 2017 2:07 AM

You have done a very nice job on it. Is this one of their olderkits or a new one.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

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Tanker - Builder

Member since
June 2014
From: New Braunfels , Texas

Posted by Tanker - Builder on Monday, February 27, 2017 4:44 AM

Hello;

Like your " Scooter " Very nice job . Did you make your own stand ? T.B.

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tempestjohnny

Member since
November 2003
From: Naples, FL

Posted by tempestjohnny on Monday, February 27, 2017 5:46 AM

Nice.....

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mobiusone

Member since
August 2016

Posted by mobiusone on Monday, February 27, 2017 7:53 AM

It is the new mold! Still a steal for $12 in all honesty, especially if you have Amazon Prime as you can get it through them. And the stand is actually Airfix's as well. I bought it separately at a local Hobby Town.

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Don Stauffer

Member since
November 2009
From: Twin Cities of Minnesota

Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, February 27, 2017 8:41 AM

The large sprue connections are common to many new kits. I guess mfgrs got tired of hearing about sink marks in their kits. Indeed a pain to cut off but does make for better surfaces.

I have taken to cutting pieces away from sprue at a distance from the surface- once the part is freed up I can go back and more easily trim the sprue attachment points.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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mississippivol

Member since
November 2003
From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)

Posted by mississippivol on Monday, February 27, 2017 9:02 AM

Sweet build!

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mobiusone

Member since
August 2016

Posted by mobiusone on Monday, February 27, 2017 12:34 PM

Don to your point as well, i think being 1/72 and such a small aircraft as well doesn't help. They would probably be normal size if this were a 1/48. But again that was just a small niggle, only due to the time it added. Nothing worth shooting this kit down at all.

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CaddMann05

Member since
February 2008

Posted by CaddMann05 on Monday, February 27, 2017 1:36 PM

Practice kit or not, it looks good. I like to think that my mistakes are what gives my builds a little character. I came to the conclusion many years ago that my skill / artistic ability is limited.

I have improved though with my techniques, but alas it will never compare to what I see here. Truth is it doesn't really matter to me (well not that much), I build to make myself happy. I like what I build, and what you have done with the A4 is awesome.