I
always wanted to build an abandoned A-4N Skyhawk, in the middle of a desert,
under the burning sun, with the desert sand intruding almost everywhere. When
Hasegawa produced their excellent scooter, I realised that this dream, had a
good chance to come true. Only that at the time the only type produced was the
A-4E/F, while A-4N was a development over A-4M. The problem was solved utilizing
Cutting Edge Modelworks A-4N Ayit (Eagle) conversion set, providing:
- New
cockpit sections required because of the different windscreen and canopy.
The cockpit area had to be removed and substituted.
- New
canopy and windscreen molded in clear resin. I did use the windscreen, but
the canopy was replaced by a Squadron Products part.
- The
KB-18A strike camera, also molded in clear resin. This part may also be
fitted in A-4Hs.
- The
extended tailpipe fitted to all IDF A-4s after the 1973 Yom-Kippur War to
reduce the aircraft’s vulnerability to ground-launched IR guided missiles.
- Two
30mm DEFA cannon, each consisting of a barrel (hollowed out at one end) and
the associated underwing fairing. I did not use these parts, since I had
already decided that the guns compartments would be left open.
- Under
fuselage braking parachute fairing.
- Radar-warning
receivers (RWR) for the underside of the nose and the sides of the tail.
- Rectangular
blade antennas.
- The
dorsal avionics fairing (“hump”). This one is slightly different from
the original A-4F fairing, including an intake and an exhaust port on the
right side.
- Large right side
mid-fuselage air intake associated with the uprated J52-P-408 engine fitted
to all A-4Ns.
This
new engine required the installation of wider air intakes. These are separately
provided by Cutting Edge in their A-4F “Superfox” conversion (CEC 48316). I
also had decided to use AIRES A-4M Skyhawk (4360) set for the cockpit and dress
it up, using decals from Isradecal (ISRA60), the set with the lion on the tail.
White metal landing gear from
Scale Aircraft
Conversions, replaced the excellent Hasegawa parts, not because of the details provided (actually I think SAC parts are exact copies of the HSGW ones), but because of the increased weight of the model.
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All
of the interior, guns and tail details have been built using Evergreen and other
plastic and metal parts, rod etc. This process required too much time in
studying cutaway plans, scale drawings and photographs of the real scooter. The
engine was also built, but at the end I decided not to place it in the fuselage,
but instead exhibit it as a separate model.
The
camouflage was painted using Gunze and Tamiya acrylics. First I sprayed the
normal colours one tone down. Then I used the right colours for the second
layer. Scratches and sanding revealed the covered layer, producing what I hope
can be described as a warn out camouflage. Future was used on top of the paint
job, providing the right surface for decaling and washes. Wash was performed
using extremely thinned oil paints. Winsor & Newton’s mat varnish gave the
final touch.
The
only time I felt a bit let down was with the Isradecal decals. Although I used
every kind of juices (!!!) they still kept small bubbles of air under them. I
had to remove and replace them, therefore buying the same, very expensive, set
twice. This project started on December 2008, and finished after almost a year
J.
Dionysis Gardelis
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