A-4C Skyhawk
Conversion and Decal Set

AMS / Zotz, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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The name AMS Resin will be familiar to most modellers who want to “go that extra mile” when they build a model and want to source excellent quality resin detail parts and conversions. Similarly, the name Zotz will also be familiar with those same modellers. Combine these two names and you will come up with some excellent conversion sets.

AMS/Zotz’s initial joint venture provides you with resin parts to backdate either the Trumpeter 1/32 scale McDonnell/Douglas A-4E or F Skyhawk kits into an A-4C and decals to decorate it with

The supplied resin parts comprise:

• An entire shorter nose,
  

• An ESCAPAC 1A-1 ejection seat – with cast-in seatbelts,
  

• A seven-part wiper assembly for the windscreen
  

• Four various antenna applicable to the Argentine Air Force versions flown during the Falklands War,
  

• The refuelling probe base,
  

• Shorter left and right hand side intakes
  

• Early spoked main wheels,
  

• Shorter exhaust.
  

The parts are cast in a tough but easily worked mid grey resin. The cast detail is very crisp indeed and there are no pinholes or short-casts on any of the parts in my sample.

The decals included in the conversion allow you to model any of the following options:

• Bureau number 148543, modex 401 of VA-15, aboard the USS Forrestal circa 1969.
  

• Bureau number 145143, modex 300 of VA-172 aboard the USS Franklin D Roosevelt circa 1966.
  

• Bureau number 147683 modex 200 of VA-192, at Naval Air Station Lemoore in 1965
  

• Bureau number 149564, Grupo 4, IV Brigada Aerea Argentina, at San Julian, in the May of 1982, and
  

• Bureau number 148556, Grupo 4, IV Brigada Aerea Argentina, at San Julian, in the May of 1982.
  

The decals are all in perfect register with excellent vibrant colours. Limited stencil data is provided (mainly the larger items only). The carrier film is a little on the thick side and you are provided with a single set of US and Argentine national insignia. Two sheets are provided in the set. The placement guides are well up to the excellent Zotz standard and a separate sheet is provided for each option that shows left and right hand side profiles as well as upper and lower surface plan views.

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You are provided with five pages of instructions of how to carry out the conversion into both the U.S. Navy version and the Argentine Air Force version using the resin parts as well as general observations on the Trumpeter kit regarding its accuracy including the fact that it has various errors such as the windscreen front shape (which should be oval) or the wing slat step and minor mid-fuselage corrections to remove the engine access door that wasn't on the A-4C.

Speaking of instructions, the set has ‘gone green’ in that there is no paper included in the set (apart from the sheets that carry the decals). You are provided with t a small CD that carries the conversion instructions as well as the placement guides for the decals. The disc carries 16.3mb of data and apart from the conversion instructions, placement guides and images of the parts it also carries some great reference shots of the various parts of the A-4C airframe (in both US and Argentine service) to assist you with detailing your model.

The decals and CD come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag with the resin parts in a smaller zip-loc bag that is place within the larger one.

All up a pretty comprehensive and excellent quality conversion that will set you off well armed on the path of converting the Trumpeter E or F kit into a C version of the “Scooter”.

Thanks to Eli from Zotz for the sample

Zotz decals are available from Zotz Decals Website
or Hobby Retailers including Squadron.com

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2012 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 16 April, 2012
Last updated 17 April, 2012

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