Hobby 2000 72052 - 1:72 TA-4J Skyhawk IAF

1:72 scale plastic model kit of the Israeli Air Force TA-4J Skyhawk trainer

Hobby 2000 72052 represents the TA-4J Skyhawk — the two-seat training version of the famous American attack aircraft, with a lengthened fuselage and two tandem cockpits. In Israeli service the Skyhawk was among the most intensively used types, and the two-seaters remained in the training role for decades.

The kit is based on Fujimi plastic from 1987 tooling with recessed panel lines. Hobby 2000 has added resin parts, its own illustrated assembly manual and a new sheet of waterslide decals printed by Cartograf.

The decal sheet covers two Israeli marking options: aircraft no. 725 of 102 Tayeset "Flying Tiger" from Hatzerim air base in 2007, and aircraft no. 723 of 140 Tayeset "Golden Eagle" from Etzion air base in 1973, that is from the period of the Yom Kippur War.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues (Fujimi)
• Resin parts
• Clear parts for the canopy
• Sheet of waterslide decals printed by Cartograf for 2 marking options
• Illustrated assembly manual

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 72052
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Assembled length: approx. 180 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. The tandem cockpit remains clearly visible on the finished model, so it pays to paint both stations and the ejection seats carefully before joining the fuselage halves. The resin parts should first be freed from their casting blocks — cut them away with a razor saw or a cutting disc and level the surface with sanding paper; washing the resin in water with detergent and applying a primer before painting is good practice. Cyanoacrylate glue is used to bond resin to plastic.

Israeli Skyhawks wore distinctive desert schemes in browns and sand tones on the upper surfaces, later replaced by uniform training finishes. 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 TA-4J Skyhawk:

The A-4 Skyhawk was designed as a light carrier attack aircraft by Ed Heinemann's team at Douglas, against the contemporary trend towards ever heavier machines. Its compact delta-wing layout made folding wings unnecessary, and its low weight translated into excellent agility and the nickname "Scooter".

The two-seat version was developed for training. The TA-4J, a simplified trainer derived from the TA-4F, had a lengthened fuselage and two tandem cockpits under a common divided canopy. For decades aircraft of this type were the standard advanced training equipment of the United States Navy.

Israel acquired Skyhawks in the late 1960s, and the type saw combat during the War of Attrition and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, suffering heavy losses in close air support missions. The two-seaters remained in service far longer than the single-seat combat aircraft — they were still used for advanced pilot training well into the 2010s, making Israeli Skyhawks among the longest-serving examples of the type anywhere in the world.

Original aircraft specifications (Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk):

• Crew: 2 (instructor and student)
• Length: 12.98 m
• Wingspan: 8.38 m
• Height: 4.66 m
• Maximum take-off weight: approx. 11,100 kg
• Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney J52 turbojet, approx. 37.8 kN thrust
• Maximum speed: approx. 1,000 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 12,000 m
• Ferry range: approx. 2,500 km
• External stores: hardpoints under the wings and fuselage, ordnance and fuel tanks depending on configuration
• Production: two-seat versions from 1965; all A-4 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. 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.