1:48 Douglas A-4M Skyhawk mod. 1970 LooK

Eduard LööK 1:48 – the Douglas A-4M Skyhawk in its 1970 form

This item deals with one particular place in the build: the front panel of the cockpit. The panel is cast in resin and carries finished color printing of the instruments, so it is fitted with practically no further work. The LööK line is made by Eduard, a brand based in Obrnice near Most. The year given in the name refers to the period form of the cockpit equipment that the panel captures.

The real subject

The A-4M Skyhawk was the last series-built form of the celebrated light attack aircraft from the Douglas workshop. The original concept of the 1950s was built on small dimensions, low weight and a delta wing that did not have to fold for carrier service. It was precisely the restraint of the design that gave the machine a nickname referring to its small stature. The M version received a more powerful engine, a reworked canopy raised for a better field of view, and a brake parachute in the tail. It served with the US Marine Corps and became the closing chapter in the long story of the type.

Building and painting tips

The panel is fitted early, before the fuselage halves are glued, so plan the order of work in advance. During the painting and sanding that follow, cover the surface with masking tape or a piece of paper, so that dust and overspray do not settle on the printing. Match the shade of the sides of the cockpit tub to the panel, or the transition will be conspicuous. Do not put a matte overcoat over the printing.

Who the set is for

• Builders of postwar jet attack aircraft in 1:48 scale
• Modelers who want a cockpit matching the earlier period of the machine's service
• Those who prefer finished printing to drawing the instruments by hand

The package serves as an improvement to a model already obtained; a build cannot be put together from it on its own.