Hobby 2000 72047 - 1:72 Douglas A-4E Skyhawk

1:72 scale plastic model kit of the American Douglas A-4E Skyhawk attack aircraft

Hobby 2000 72047 represents the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk carrier attack aircraft — the version that introduced the Pratt & Whitney J52 engine and five hardpoints, becoming the standard strike aircraft of the US Navy and US Marine Corps in the early Vietnam years. Its compact shape with a delta wing and high-set tailplane makes the Skyhawk one of the most recognisable carrier aircraft of the Cold War.

The kit is based on Fujimi plastic from 1987 tooling, with recessed panel lines and well-rendered undercarriage bays and cockpit. Hobby 2000 has added its own illustrated assembly manual, a new sheet of waterslide decals printed by Cartograf and self-adhesive masks for the canopy glazing.

The decal sheet covers two marking options: an aircraft of VMA-311 "Tomcats", BuNo 150091 / code WL 16 from Chu Lai in 1970, and an aircraft of VA-155 "Silver Foxes", BuNo 150121 / code NL 510 from USS Coral Sea in 1964.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues (Fujimi)
• Clear parts for the canopy
• Ordnance and underwing fuel tank parts
• Sheet of waterslide decals printed by Cartograf for 2 marking options
• Self-adhesive masks for the canopy glazing
• Illustrated assembly manual

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 72047
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Assembled length: approx. 170 mm
• Assembled wingspan: approx. 116 mm
• Skill level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. This model is intended for self-assembly.

Assembly:

The Fujimi parts fit well and the parts count is moderate, so the build progresses calmly. The cockpit and ejection seat deserve the most attention — they should be painted before the fuselage halves are joined — as do the undercarriage bays. The characteristic avionics hump behind the cockpit and the cooling intake at the base of the fin are details that strongly define the A-4E silhouette, so a clean finish there pays off. The included self-adhesive masks make painting the canopy framing easier.

For painting you will need the US Navy scheme colours of the period: Light Gull Gray on the upper surfaces and white below, complemented by colourful squadron markings. Applying the decals over a gloss coat is recommended, as it limits decal silvering, with a satin varnish for the final finish. To raise the level of detail you may wish to consider aftermarket accessories available separately, such as seat belts or a turned metal pitot tube.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes or an airbrush
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish under the decals and satin varnish for the final finish
• Wash for emphasising panel lines and details

About the aircraft – Douglas A-4 Skyhawk:

The A-4 Skyhawk went against the trends of its day. While the US Navy expected ever larger and heavier carrier aircraft, Ed Heinemann's team at Douglas proposed a design half the weight of the stated requirement — so compact that it needed no folding wings, which earned it the nicknames "Scooter" and "Heinemann's Hot Rod".

The A-4E of 1962 was the first version with the Pratt & Whitney J52 engine in place of the earlier Wright J65, and the first with five hardpoints instead of three. It gave the aircraft markedly greater payload and range, making the A-4E the standard attack aircraft of the US Navy and US Marine Corps in the early years of the Vietnam War. Skyhawks struck targets in North Vietnam, supported the Marines from forward airfields such as Chu Lai, and operated from carrier decks.

The Skyhawk proved exceptionally long-lived — it remained in production from 1954 to 1979, with close to three thousand built. Beyond the United States it was operated by Israel, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, Singapore, Malaysia and Brazil among others, and trainer versions remained in service well into the 21st century.

Original aircraft specifications (Douglas A-4E Skyhawk):

• Crew: 1 pilot
• Length: 12.22 m
• Wingspan: 8.38 m
• Height: 4.57 m
• Empty weight: approx. 4,470 kg
• Maximum take-off weight: approx. 11,100 kg
• Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6 turbojet, approx. 37.8 kN thrust
• Maximum speed: approx. 1,080 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 12,900 m
• Combat radius: approx. 1,000 km; ferry range over 3,000 km
• Gun armament: 2 x 20 mm Colt Mk.12 cannon in the wing roots
• External stores: 5 hardpoints, up to approx. 3,700 kg of ordnance and fuel tanks
• Production: A-4E 1962-1966, approx. 500 built; all versions 1954-1979, close to 3,000 built

About the manufacturer – Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model company based in Katowice, known for releasing themed re-editions of existing kits. Rather than tooling its own moulds, Hobby 2000 sources sprues from established manufacturers and builds a complete package around them: its own box, an illustrated assembly manual, a fresh sheet of waterslide decals printed by the Italian printing house Cartograf and — in most of its aircraft releases — self-adhesive masks for the canopy glazing. This kit is based on Fujimi plastic. The brand is recognisable above all for its choice of subjects: releases focus on specific squadrons, campaigns and service periods, with a strong presence of Polish themes that rarely appear in the ranges of the large manufacturers. Kits are produced in limited runs, so older releases tend to disappear from the market quickly. For the modeller this means proven plastic combined with fresh, carefully prepared markings and extras that were not part of the original release.