1:72 Douglas A-4F Skyhawk

The real subject

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is an unusually small carrier attack aircraft with a delta wing that did not even have to fold, because it fitted into the ship's elevator as it was. The F version carries a prominent dorsal hump with equipment behind the cockpit, by which it is recognized at a glance. Reduced to 1:72 the machine really does shrink into the palm of your hand, so coarse plastic parts stand out on it twice as much.

What the set contains

Etched parts in 1:72 scale. Etching allows a thinness that injection-molded plastic cannot reach, and that is why it is used to replace exactly those elements that are necessarily oversized in a kit. What the set covers specifically, and which kit it is built for, is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Cut the parts from the fret with a sharp blade on a hard surface and never snap them out; file the remains of the tabs away with a fine-toothed file. Make the bends in a bending tool or between two blades, in one movement across the whole width of the part, otherwise the edge will ripple. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue applied with a pin, not straight from the bottle, because excess can no longer be cleaned off an etched part. Degrease the metal before painting and give it a coat of primer. In 1:72 scale, work with pointed tweezers and preferably over a surface with raised edges, so a part that springs away does not end up on the floor.

Who it is for

The set belongs to a modeler who already manages fine work and wants to get the most out of a small kit. The kit, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.