Douglas A-4F Skyhawk, VA-22 Fighting Redcocks, 1969.

The Subject

One of my collateral duties while assigned to VA-22 in the early 80’s was the “History Officer”.  Which simply meant I had to maintain a running historical narrative document of the squadron.  The document originated in 1948 when the squadron was commissioned, flying the F8F-2 Bearcat and contained a short commentary on every deployment including tonnage dropped (if a combat cruise) and sorties flown.  Included were major exercise names and of course each aircraft type used for the deployment.

The squadron transitioned to the A4D-2 (A-4B) in the early 60’s and upgraded to the A-4F for their last Skyhawk deployments in 1969-70.  While there I acquired a photo from the National Archives of a flight of VA-22 A-4F, on a strike mission with a large bomb load.  The photo is take from Dash-4, who is flying wing on 305.  No additional information was available regarding that photo.  But I did decide that I had to model one of those aircraft.

The Model

This is the Hobby Boss A-4F Skyhawk kit number 87255, which has box art of the same scene, but showing aircraft 300.  Close enough!  The kit can be made as either an A-4E or A-4F, and there are parts for a Blue Angels A-4F but Hobby Boss  has yet to release the kit in those markings.  The markings in the kit are for an A-4F version, either VA-22, her sister squadron VA-94 Shrikes, or the Ghost Riders of VA-164.

Initial impressions are this is quite a nice kit with lots of details.  Fit however is a little bit of a challenge but patience rewards the modeler.  Additionally, the instruction would have the modeler install smoke generators used only by the Blue Angels, so knowing the subject is important if accuracy is desired.  I did add a little weight to the nose just to ensure it did not tip back.  It was likely never an issue.

I chose to paint this model using Mission Model Paints.  These are new to me (ish) and while I’d attempted using them one off on other subjects, this model was to be a 100% MMP effort.  I’ve read the colors are quite accurate, and “the best acrylic I’ve ever used”.  I have to admit, the colors are accurate.  However “best” is probably not something I’d use, yet.  I followed all the guides regarding airbrushing the paints and sometimes it all came together but just as often it was a major fail.  Do I blame MMP?  Not yet — but frankly “best” should not require this much effort.  When I first started airbrushing Tamiya I just thinned and shot and it worked.  I have not given up on them because they do have a following, but if I want to quickly finish a model I reach for Tamiya.

Decals were a bit of a challenge, but I blame that on my seeming inability to successfully decal a kit lately (as in last 2 years).  I haven’t changed anything in my processes that I’m aware of, but decals just give me headaches.  Eventually they finished up and looked good enough.

Summary

I finished the model just in time for 2022 Nationals at Omaha, Nebraska and placed the model on my only carrier display base which made it look tiny.  The base is sized for an F-4 or F-14 so it would really need another A-4 next to it to look nicer.  Overall this kit is not quite as nice as the old Fujimi A-4F, which I build way back when I was in the squadron and of course I no longer have.  I forgot how much I enjoyed the Scooter and I now find myself looking at more A-4 kits…