Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

Markings for two A-4 Skyhawks are included on this sheet and it is recommended for use on Hasegawa’s new 1/48 scale A-4 series.

Firstly, an early Skyhawk  that goes way back!

Bureau No 139943C is an A4-D of the Atlantic Fleet’s VA-44. This is a bright looking bird! The entire fin tip and rudder are finished in a medium blue (FS 25102). Painted onto the rudder are a myriad of different sized white stars. The blue and white theme is continued to the fuselage sides in the form of a very large arrow – spectacular to say the least.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Anyone attempting this model is going to have to paint the rudder themselves in the same blue as the fuselage arrow. The instruction sheet suggests Floquil 303046 as a match. That is the easy part! The rudder’s white stars are supplied as a single decal that you will have to coax to settle down over the external reinforcing ribs. Given the quality of Cutting Edge decals I would be surprised if this not achievable. However, being the coward that I am, I would cut the stars apart and apply them individually to ensure a good result.

The other aircraft featured on the sheet is an A-4C of VA-113 Stingers when it was aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. Nice simple markings here! Simply paint the top 1/3 of the tail and rudder as well as the tips of the drop tanks in the same FS 25102 blue and you are done. The supplied markings also include large squadron insignia for both sides of the fuselage and tiny blue stingers and drop tank markings. The dreaded rudder ribs raise their ugly head here. Cutting Edge has made this task easy by supplying each rib as a separate blue decal. However, application of these rib decals will require patience to produce a neat result.

As with the other Cutting Edge –C and – D Skyhawk sheets the starboard side stars and bars is supplied in a modified form to allow it to settle down over the base of the refuelling probe. Stencil data is at the bare minimum with only the large and visible stencil data rescue and warning markings present. Thankfully, the wing walkways are also provided as decals as is the black portion of the tailhook markings.

The only bugbear with this sheet is the lack of an anti-glare decal. Apart from that minor issue, this is a good effort by Cutting Edge.
 

Recommended.
 

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples..

Review Copyright © 2001 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 12 September, 2002
Last updated 09 November, 2003

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