Building the Hasegawa 1/48th Scale A-4M Skyhawk Light Attack Fighter
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- In Project #24, we build, paint, detail and weather an A-4M Skyhawk kit by Hasegawa aircraft plastic model #7233 in the style of a jet assigned to Marine squadron VMA-211 (The Wake Island Avengers) -- tail number 0045 using custom Caracal decals.
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Credits:
Images of the A-4Ms from VMA-211 “Wake Island Avengers” are courtesy and used with permission from Akira “Alex” Watanabe. Check out his amazing aviation photography webpage online --
“NABE3 Aviation Photo Gallery”: nabe3saviation....
Other images: Public Domain and/or Creative Commons 0 (CC0)
Music:
Intro-- Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach - free from UA-cam Music Library
“Good Morning Heaven” by Sondre Drakensson Licensed as CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication through Freesound.org
“Pad Ambient” by Andrewkn licensed as Attribution 4.0 International (CC by 4.0) through freesound.org
“Horizon” by Andrewkn licensed as Attribution 4.0 International (CC by 4.0) through freesound.org
“Fantasy” by Andrewkn licensed as Attribution 4.0 International (CC by 4.0) through freesound.org
Outro-“Midnight Sonata” by Beethoven - free from UA-cam Music Library
Movie Clips:
Snowbeast (1977) is Public Domain due to lack of copyright
Great looking little jet, the wake island avengers are currently visiting my old base at RAF Marham. Keep up the great work!
Hi Ali, thanks much (and what a coincidence!) 😎
Thank you! I used to work on the mike model skyhawk in the ‘70s. Loved the airframe, and I have this kit in my stash to boot!
Hi Minuteman Modelworks, that's fantastic! The A-4 is certainly a historical aviation veteran. Thanks for your service, sir 😃
Max_Afterburner and to you as well. I was with VMAT-102 when they were in Yuma.
Nice build as always!
Hey Logan, thanks for watching and commenting! Hope you're doing terrific! 😃
@@MaxAfterburner No problem! I'm doing great thanks! I have a question. What is your favorite model you've built on this channel so far?
So far, construction-wise, the Tamiya F-14D Tomcat was awesome! My favorite exterior painting outcome is the B-52G project model.
@@MaxAfterburner That B52G was the best B52 build I've ever seen! That honestly could be museum quality!
LOVE YOUR A-4M !! And Nice Scale size..👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤗🤗
Hello Carlos! Thanks! 😃
Very cool work and paint is awesome . Cool video , awesome pictures of jets . Thank you . Mike Espo.
Thanks Mike! Akira Watanabe was so very kind and pleasant, I hope this video generates a lot of interest for his website. He happens to build very good aircraft models as well as his great skill in aviation photography!
Awesome job Max. I enjoyed your last build as well. Different, but the end product was amazing. Keep up the great work.
Hi Eric, thanks so much for the kind comments! 😃
Watching this while the first monsoon of the year is happening outside my midtown apartment is pure zen.
🤩
Well done. As an aside, when I worked on B-52's in the early 90's, we had to stop referring to any "Double Zero" tail numbers as "Balls XX" because it was considered "offensive". I was assigned to B-52H "Balls 35" at Minot AFB, ND.
Hi TJ, thanks for your service! I don't know how you guys worked on such enormous birds. I'm so old that when I started my career I worked on F-16A's "Balls 5" and "Balls 8". I almost worked on the oldest surviving F-16 -- "Balls 3", but we discovered an enormous crack in the vertical tail during its acceptance inspection to our unit. She was unceremoniously retired at that point.
Thanks also for your comments and for watching!
@@MaxAfterburner - It wasn't the size of the aircraft that made it tough, it was the extreme cold weather of North Dakota that sucked! We had 16 assigned aircraft and only 7 hangars - 1 Fuel Cell Dock, 1 Weapons Load Training Facility that we were NOT allowed to do any maintenance in, 1 Phase Inspection hangar, 1 Paint Shop, 1 Aero Repair dock, 1 "Hangar Queen" dock, and 1 Wash Dock. Only the Weapons Load and Wash hangars accepted the entire airframe. The tail stuck out of the other five. I've seen more recent images and it looks like they finally build more, bigger hangars up there. North Dakota is the reason I live on the Gulf Coast now. I HATE Winter! LOL! My little brother was a Crew Chief on F-16's at Luke AFB, AZ. He only did his one tour and got out though. Military life didn't suit him very well. I had gone on to the B-2's, but after 9 years I was medically discharged in '98.
Beautiful work again my friend! Absolutely love it!
Thanks buddy, keep building! 😃
really nice job Max!
Hi OverdoseGaming, thanks so much for the kind comment! 😃
Fantastic build mate. Was a fan of your Austin Powers 747, it takes a lot of guts to do something out there, and you pulled it off no worries. Keep up the amazing effort
Hi kommasar, thanks much, I surely do appreciate the positive comments! 😃
The level of detail is amazing
Hi Isteak80, I appreciate the compliment! 😊
Awesome! I was just rewatching you F-16 aggressor build as I've got that kit and am gonna go for 418 splinter scheme based at Nellis. A blk 25 bird now I have another video to watch!
Fantastic! You can do it, Austin! 😄
I have this kit box from revell. It has the blue angel version on the box art pluss marines as a second option.
Purchased it about 20 yrs ago.
An oldie, but a goodie 🙂
Another great lesson Tom, of a really cool aircraft. You always bring it home with your tips and techniques. I really like the way you showed all the stuff you used to build this kit. Even though I consider myself an "experienced" modeler, I always check to see what tools other people are using - how else am I going to get better?! And you have plenty of skills I don't have so I've got lots of work to do. Thanks also for mentioning the nose weight needed. I admit it really aggravates me when a kit instruction says "add nose weight" but then doesn't mention an amount. "Come on guys - you built a bunch of production models, you can't share the AMOUNT of weight I need to add????" At least you gave us a shot of screws you added! Cool!
Stay safe, Tom, we need more schooling!
Great to hear, and thanks again! 🥳
Nice model, but more importantly, your videos are well made, don’t waste my time and very informative.
Hi Paul, thanks so very much for your wonderful comments! Happy New Year to you and yours! 🥳
DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brilliant!
Thanks much, Franco Taxiera! 😃
Great work there. The A-4 certainly was an odd looking aircraft.
Hi Robert, thanks! I think the air refueling boom jutting out there like that seems out of place to the overall sleekness of the jet. But, it worked! 🧐
Great build! Love the A4 especially Marine Corps ones. Semper Fi!
Hi Julio, so glad you liked it 😃
Yes! You did it !!!!!!!!!!!
Just for you in mind 😇
Nice work Max Keep it up. I hope you get more viewer and subscriber.
Much appreciated, thanks Kyaw! 😃
Verry nice build
Hi Marcel, thanks, I appreciate your comment 😃
awesome video plz keep them coming
Hi Gilbert, hope you're doing fantastic, and thanks! 😃
@@MaxAfterburner im doing great Max ty for asking be safe and keep them coming
I completely missed this vid :O
Nice work, Max :)
Thanks, better late than never 😉
I wish fightertown would have included some A-4 decals in their top gun sheet. It would be pretty cool to build Vipers or Jesters top gun birds
Hi Brian, seems like an oversight indeed. I bet those decals would sell like hotcakes! 😃
Another great video and some great music choices. I always think this aircraft looks beautiful in the air but rather awkward with its wheels down.
Thanks Penelopes Pitstop, I agonize over picking suitable music. It's nice to hear someone liked the selections 🤭
Looks awesome! I had this kit once, never finished it though. Messed up one of the fuel tank fin sections. I should get this again sometime.
Thanks Big buffy Mothwing 😃
Funny, Im currently building the exact same kit. I used to love watching Skyhawks in Hawaii at Kaneohe MCAS. I'd really like to see you build the Hasegawa F-8
Hi Dan, what a coincidence, I hope yours comes out fantastic! 😃
Awesome! I have to say your videos helped break my modeling slump and remind me that models should be fun and if you're not having fun..what's the point?
Great job!
Thanks J.L. 😃
Sweet! And it's a Marine bird! #CrayonEatersUnionLocal556
Hi Lance T, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by once again, I sure appreciate it! Semper Fi 😃
The cockpit was referred to as a “One Fold”. Yes it means what you think. Back before they started going to electronic aviation charts and road maps for that matter. He pilot could get not more than about one fold of the navigation map. The airport maps were usually flip style and could be mounted to a knee board but the enroute charts weee a little more complicated.
Max quick question. Is there a specific type of painters tape for plastic models or the generic blue painters tape that you get at Lowe’s or HD? I know sometimes you have to get pretty narrow. Forgive my ignorance been out of scale modeling for quite a while.
Check out project kaha the kiwi Airforce of New Zealand in the mid 80s put F16 electronics in to theirs removed the hump off of the back and turned them into a beast. Really amazing what we got them to do, only to retire them in early 2000s. Miss seeing/hearing them above our skys
Good video. Sportive responce about the comments on your previous project, the Austin Powers Boeing. 👍
Hi Peter, thanks. The last video turned out to be a "Bad Day at Black Rock".
Max_Afterburner well if you don’t try anything new you wont know if it will be a succes. So far I like your ‘formula’ of the videos you make.
Hello my friend. Your gap that you ended up with behind the cockpit was because you didn't install the back wall of the cockpit properly and left it too high forcing the fuselage halves open.
Hi foorcscale, it's been awhile, but my recollection is that it didn't fit well to begin with causing the mismatch. 🤔
@@MaxAfterburner You can see in your assembly that you left a gap under the back bulk head. I have not had this problem with the back bulk head installed fully down and into its locating hole. There is in fact a little float once the assembly is in the fuselage.
Great work! I'm impressed. Just out of curiosity, did you finish the model by putting another coat of semi-gloss to keep the decals and weathering in place?
Hi, I probably should have laid down another clear coat of some kind, but I don't think I did.
Ty vole po hafo času konečně tvoje video,ale odběr jsem měl celou dobu😉
😃😉
For the red you should have painted white 1st to make the red paint brighter
Hi, I wanted the red to be darker and not so bright. 🙂
To be honest every Hasegawa kit ive owned had some sort fitting issue here and there, but it was usually minor and solved with a little vallejo putty
Hi TheCanadianSpib, yeah, this one wasn't too bad 🙂
Hasegawa katalógust és maketteket keresek!
How do you get Glue to adhere to painted parts? Even super glue has trouble.
Hi Stg Rock, usually I scrape away the paint if I think it will affect the bonding. However, most airbrushing leaves such a micro thin layer of paint that the glue does not have any problems.
Max do you have any interest in doing warbirds?
Hi J.L., which ones? 😉
@@MaxAfterburner Oh I don't know...P-40...P-51...P-47...
YEay new video
Thanks Ian N., you were the very first to comment on it! 😃
exelente trabajo
Hola international390057, muchas gracias 😊
Discord-Mjmodely.
That spray pattern is looking spattery
Thank you for featuring my music. I'm sure the other artists are grateful too!
Hi Sondre, thanks for making your music available. I hope this video helps bring your talents to the attention of an even bigger audience 😃
As always a great build. Don't know too much about the A4 and never had the good fortune to see one; they were rare visitors to the UK. But the Argentinians used them to great effect in the Falklands/Malvinas conflict. A fine aircraft. Thanks for the upload.
Hi Michael, thanks for watching. I'm glad you liked it 😊
Gotta love the A4. That's a great looking finish. Very nice work once again.
Hi James C, thanks for watching! 😃
Great job. Excellent. Brasilian Navy, have A-4 in service atuality. Veteran's jet's.
Congratulations Max. 🇧🇷🇺🇲
Hi Luiz, thanks! Hope you're doing great! 😃
Awesome, really like the Vietnam era aircraft,great work. Really easy build for you.🤓
Hi Larry, thanks! Not too many problems with this one, so it was done in a relatively short time for me. 😋
As always... looks great and love the paint...
Hi TowMaters, glad you liked it! Thanks for stopping by 😃
Very nice build 👌
Hi Sprue Fascination Channel, thanks much, hope you're doing well 😊
@@MaxAfterburner I am very well, thanks, and hope you are as well 😊
Absolutely beautiful build. The Skyhawk has been one of my favorite aircrafts. Till the next have a good one and always take care my friend
Hi F-4B PHANTOM, thanks for watching, buddy! 😇
So cool max, hope your able to keep up with your healthcare job
-Mathieu
Hi Mathieu, thanks! Your idea for repurposing that used X-Wing into a diorama is perfect! 😊
Max_Afterburner OMG can’t believe you watched it, have a good one max !
nice one, thanks for the video, greetings from México
Hola eduardo, thanks for watching! 😄
Awesome love the scooter
Thanks Reefer Madness! I used to have a 125 gallon saltwater tank years ago. Turned out I was the worst thing ever to happen to marine life. 🤨
Awesome work man! So much detail! i been procrastinating about my kits i need to do. I need to finish them. Hope all is well with you man!
Hi Carlos, always great to hear from you! Get to work, man 🤣! Hope you're well too 😉
Great work as always. The Skyhawk is a legendary aircraft. I was at NAS Miramar in 1992 when the Topgun school still had them. Quite a large presence up close.
Hey tomcatter11, great to hear from you again and thanks for sharing! 😄
@@MaxAfterburner I'm still building models but I tend not to post on UA-cam anymore so I post on my Facebook page "Zone 5 Models". Feel free to take a look: facebook.com/zone5models
Another chefs kiss for another great build 🥰
one question though, do you haveissues with the cotton balls leaving remnants on your model?
I find I do. Used to have strands left in the cockpit all the time, now I just use them for exhausts really
Hi Macree, thanks! The cotton has its pros and cons. It's nice that it's form fitting and soft, but you're right, it can leave a few pieces of lint requiring some tweezing out! 😛
I was sitting in a field near Purdue airport one day, 1990-something, just minding my business, when suddenly an A4 flew over reeeeal low like
RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAOOOOWWWWW
and it was like being at a concert, when your favorite band plays your favorite song and the pyro goes off and you start screaming YEAAAAAH with your fists in the air
Great stuff🍺 Thanks again for the hard work👍
Hi Otto, glad you enjoyed this one! 😊
Great job. With all that rain and thunder I was expecting the Doors Riders On The Storm..............
When the A-4 was retired the squadrons that weren’t decommissioned kept the VMA ground attack/close air support role with the AV-8 Harrier. When the A-6 was retired their remaining squadrons went to the VMFA (fighter attack (all weather) role with the F/A-18D Hornet. Fast forward technology about 20-30 years and the Harrier is being phased out and that mission being converted to a VMFA role with the F135 Lightning.
Two major aircraft in today’s is military have a 2 designation. F-35 and the original version was the P38 lightning of WW2. The other is the T-6 Texan 2.....original was the T-6 Texan trainer aircraft of the WW2 era.
The paint scheme is what would be considered a retro paint scheme. During the 100th anniversary of Naval Aviation in 2011 selected aircraft were repainted in retro paint schemes for all fleets and all time periods. If you can find the photos they are cool and I wonder if Max would consider making that project #25.
EXAMPLE F/A-18 in a WW2 paint act not only marking but the paint scheme of that era.
Great build !!
Hey Rodney, I sure appreciate the nice comment! 😃
man you must have a comfortable chair for spending so much time on these beautiful model great job!!
Opening of the Video: the last video did poorly and people didn't like it.
Me going back and looking at the comments: *Are you sure about that?*
That one shattered all sorts of bad stats records including "Thumbs Down"s in a very short period of time. 🤔
Welcome back Max..too long between builds lol...great job..
Hi Peter, thanks! If anyone wants to give a full-time job making these more often...🤣
Another Amazing build! Hey Max... could you please make a video on how you make your own custom decals?
Hi Anthony, thanks! Maybe a decal video in the near future? 😇
Fantastically built model. A master🙏
Golly Joshua, thanks! 😃
Lot's of work man, I've seen those jets, (different squadron than mine) back in the '80's,,,,,,,,,,, love your "DETAIL"!
Hi Marcel, glad you enjoyed the build and the memories! 😄
Very good Video
Hi MAGIC BAT, thanks, and I'm glad you enjoyed it! 😊
@@MaxAfterburner your voice contributes a big part to that.
A very nice build. Hope you don't mind but I'm stealing the candle wax and screws-brilliant-since I'm a 1/72nd modeller the Airfix Scooter to be added to stash.
Thanks kiwiruna! By all means -- steal away! 🤭
One awesome design of the A4, is the leading edge, it's always down when stopped because is retractable. As soon as the airplane gains speed, the leading edge retracts due to air pressure. This simple mechanics avoids extra weight and complexity.
Cool 😎
Приветствую! Отличная работа!!! Но признаться, "боинг' из Остин Пауэрс мне понравился больше... Потому что больше ни у кого такого нет.
Редкое зрелище! Спасибо Leha
How do you prevent the acrylic from ripping up from the masking tape? I noticed the black didn't chip at all.
Hi MrRobertT03, usually the tackiness of the model/painter's tape will not lift up the acrylic coat. If you're concerned about the paint being removed, you can place the tape on a t-shirt first so that some lint will reduce the overall strength of the adhesive side.
Doesn’t look like you had any fit issues… I’m getting ready to begin this kit.. any issues I should be aware of?
Hi justinrogers1630, I don't recall any issues worth noting. Best wishes on your build! 😃
Very nice build Max, love A-4 !
Hi Dawid, thanks for stopping by! 😃
Desde Santo Domingo República Dominicana felicidades...
Gracias!
your airbrush appears to lack air pressure or greater dilution in the paint mix... or both! as it is laterally splashing droplets in the areas close to where you are applying the paint... this causes an "orange peel" effect on the surface.
It was both
I ended gluing the leading edge to the wing itself seeing as I broke the damn spars on it twice. Ended up saying screw it. Lol great work and learned a few things.
Hi Travis, I can't believe I didn't lose the one I kept breaking off 😉
oh yeessss.... I love the Hasegawa models!!!! Great job
Thank you very much, Gianluigi 🙂
Beautiful model. The light weathering looks very cool. I have a question about the top color , isn't Tamiya XF-19 SKY GREY too dark for U.S. Navy gull grey?
Yup 🤫
Awesome build thanks, I'm making one of these in NZAF markings. The last air force to use them in a strike role up to the early 2000's (I think). They were to be replaced with F16's but the shit Liberal government got in and disarmed the whole air force.
Hi John C., sounds like it will be a great and interesting looking Skyhawk. I think you'll appreciate my next model build episode coming soon!
Our A4's had F16 avionics in them. Check out "Project Kaha" we made those hawks into an amazing beast. They used to fly everywere , at sometimes 200ft, even 50ft at full burn. I miss hearing g them above our heads
For me is your most beautiful airplane you made
Gosh, thanks Tei Koku! 😊
During my technical training phase of my enlistments I was able to work on retired A-4 frames for training. We got to load some inert weapons on one and remove the ejection seat and canopy of another.
Tip: if your yellow paint is really watery after shaking.. plane Taniya’s pink down let it dry then lay your yellow
👍
@@MaxAfterburner learned that from my grandpa lol he works with some paint for models and he tells me all abt them
Beautiful! As always. We have a Blue Angels A-4. Skyhawk as the mascot at my old high school here in crossville tn. The CCHS (cumberland county high school) Jets. The jet looks rough and it up on a pedestal in front of the school. A Blue Angels pilot went there and i think live in the area.
Hi Robert, that would be LCdr. Curt Watson who was a member of the Blue Angels from 1983-1986. There is a UA-cam series covering interviews with former Blue Angels and Thunderbird pilots. LCdr Watson's interview can be viewed at ua-cam.com/video/xI58xGFfwcM/v-deo.html
Thanks for watching my video! 😃
@@MaxAfterburner Your welcome. Thanks for the vid link. Enjoy your channel. Please keep them coming!
Hello Max, watched a couple of your videos, and I love your humor. but i have a suggestion regarding your Airbrushing.
You have a lot of splatter it seems while airbrushing, i noticed this on your Japanese destroyer build as well. this can be a couple of reason for this, but i would recommend you try the following:
* Thin out your paint more! thinner paint an lower pressure gives you better control and a smoother paint layer.
* Use retarder to increase paint flow and separability further, it also helps you avoid the paint building up on the needle
* Remove the tip guard that you have on the airbrush now, most likely your needle isn't 100% centered and it blows paint more to one side of the other and that paint builds up in the tip guard. and once big enough it blows off and lands on your model
These are just tips and you can try them out if you want or totally ignore them and do what you like, its your show :)
Hi Claes Wikberg, I certainly do mix my paint thicker than most modelers. However, I don't worry too much about the splatter because it is part of the main coat and disappears or I can use it as part of the undercoat for my tonal variations which I modulate during the filtering process. Unfortunately, I still don't have as much control as I would like because my old compressor has no gauge and runs as "all-or-none" output. I must use my trigger to do my adjustments. I don’t really want to expend any more cash out of pocket to do these videos and so I try to make do with what I have. I’m mostly really paying to do this to entertain everyone and end up generating income to big tech UA-cam.
@@MaxAfterburner totally get that you don't want to splash out on fancy compressors or regulators. they are the bees knees but its a rather large investment . There are cheap valves that you can put on the hose though, and you could try and make a basic flow restrictor (pinching the air hose to bring down the pressure, or rather airflow) just to see if it would help you. And removing the needle protection will help if you ever want to do more free hand stuff. thinning and retarder will be even more important then though. good luck and keep building
Thanks, I appreciate the advice!
Does it always rain where you are or is that background filling?
Hi Sal, I think people will find the music tedious after a time and may not even like my selections. So, I usually have a period of rainfall sounds somewhere in my video. Who doesn't like the sound of rain, right? 😉
@@MaxAfterburner cool thanks, Keep up the amazing modeling.
beautiful model
Hi Patrick, thank you and cheers! 😃
Just discovered your channel. Nice work.
Hi John, glad you enjoyed it. I hope to have another build online soon which will premiere on another video platform. I'll probably put up a trailer on YT to let everyone know 1 or 2 weeks afterwards.
@@MaxAfterburner looking forward to it.
Very nice build
Thanks Alex! 😃
Speck tackuler !
Thanks Tailhook MD! 🙂
Hey I liked the 747 :(
Thanks, the AP 747 didn't come out as well as I had hoped after long hours of so much work, but I thought the uniqueness of the subject would have made it a more popular video. It actually is by far my least watched model episode. ☹️
@@MaxAfterburner Maybe it was a bit too unique for them, speaking of which, you should do a showcase of your current collection sometime in the future
Awesome work could u build the f111 next 🍻
Hey Drone, the real question then becomes A, B, C, D/E; in camo , dark grey, or grey with the Australian "30 Year" tail flash?
Did you pick yet? Let me know 😃😉
Nice🤗
Hello JC Woodman, thanks! 😉
Another work of art ... congratulations!
I suggest mounting the 1/48 Kinetic kit of the Mirage IIIE
Hi Fábio, thanks for the comments and the suggestion 😊
Bonjour...ou as tu eu le support noir sur lequel est posé l'avion?
Bonjour, c'est un pad d'entraînement pour batteur
Merci beaucoup!!
Bonne continuation !!....
*Such a nice Scooter, a built without any mistake, great and awesome!*
Thanks, it's a miracle! 😊
Hi Max, Another amazing build as always! Its just my opinion but you should take some of your kits to the IPMS Nationals, las Vegas in August!
Hi Panzer_Modeler, that's very kind. I went to the IPMS in Phoenix in 2018. I think I would embarass myself if I brought my stuff up against those pros! 😃
Thanks Max.. we flew A4 Skyhawks with our RNZAF.. Cheers from New Zealand 👍🇳🇿
Thanks All Good. Best wishes for the New Year! 😃