TA-4J Skyhawk
Aggressor

Classic Airframes, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Classic Airframes' 1/48 scale TA-4J Skyhawk is available online from Squadron

I have rarely seen such anticipation of a Classic Airframes kit as after the announcement of their 1/48 scale TA-4J Skyhawk.

After waiting vainly for years for Hasegawa to release a two-seater version in their Skyhawk family, Classic Airframes has now made the dreams of Scooter fans come true with this very nice offering.

Classic Airframes' 1/48 scale TA-4J Skyhawk "Aggressor" comprises 93 parts in grey injection moulded plastic, 12 parts in clear and 15 grey resin pieces.

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Thumbnail panels:

The plastic is shiny and smooth, and features consistently recessed panel lines. There is no evidence of sink marks or any other imperfections on the outside surfaces of the model, although some raised ejector pins will need to be removed from the inside of some of the parts prior to assembly (most notably the wings). Some fine flash is present on a number of parts, so adequate time should be allowed for clean-up.

The resin parts are just gorgeous - beautifully detailed and perfectly cast in my sample. These resin parts include two seats with harness straps and cushions cast in place, two cockpit tubs with side consoles, engine fan, exhaust, wheels and busy wheel wells chock full o' plumbing and structural details.

Speaking of the wheel wells, I am pleased to report that the casting blocks are attached to the edge not to the top, so cleanup will be simple and fast, and there should be no problem fitting the wells between the wing halves.

The clear parts are very nice, although they could probably benefit from a bath in Future floor polish to make them really shine. The canopy is supplied in two pieces, making it a simple matter to display the well-detailed cockpit.

The parts breakdown looks very simple.

Options include separate leading edge slats, three large drop tanks and and ACMI pod.

Four very colourful Aggressor marking options are provided on the decal sheet, luxuriously printed by Cartograf.

Details are as follows:

• TA-4J Aggressor - VA-127 around 1982 finished in a wraparound scheme of Dark Green, Grey and Light Brown

• TA-4J Aggressor - VA-126 around March 1984 finished in a wraparound scheme of Medium Blue Grey and Light Grey

• TA-4J Aggressor - VA-126 in the mid-1980s finished in a scheme of Dark Green, Medium Green and and Brown upper surfaces with Light Grey under the wings

• TA-4J Aggressor - VC-8 in the mid-1980s finished in a wraparound scheme of Dark Blue-Grey, Light Blue-Grey and medium Blue-Grey

The decals are glossy and in perfect register, with lovely rich printing.

Aggressor TA-4J Skyhawks must share the mantle as the most colourful US military aircraft of the modern era alongside the F-5 Tiger II, so it is great to see this model released with a nice selection of these wild finishes.

Classic Airframes' 1/48 scale TA-4J is fairly simple in parts breakdown, but it is still a limited run kit so extra time should be taken when cleaning up the parts and aligning the critical assemblies. Experience will certainly be helpful, and patience absolutely necessary, but there do not seem to be many traps awating the unwary here.

With schemes like these, Scooter fans will have trouble stopping at just one Classic Airframes 1/48 scale TA-4J!

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Classic Airframes for the review sample.

Classic Airframes kits are available worldwide through hobby retailers and from Squadron.com

Review and Images Copyright © 2008 by Brett Green
Page Created 12 June, 2008
Last updated 12 June, 2008

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