Seats and Barrel

Finally got around to super-gluing the Quick Boost resin barrel to the OA-4M now TA-4H kit.  I obviously have a lot of work ahead of me to blend everything together.

All hail having a good stockpile of sheet plastic.  Built the aft bulkheads from flat sheet plastic.  The ejection rails are very thin tubing, still a bit over-sized since I cut each rail to a length of one inch.  Used a magic marker to keep track which bulkhead goes where. 

Progress Picture

L to R: HobbyCraft AF-1, Hasegawa TA-4J, and Monogram OA-4M converted to TA-4H

Skyhawk Progress

Building the AF-1 has prompted me to re-start the TA-4H.

Wing is glued to the AF-1 and now fixing the usual seam issues with the leading edge slat area plus wing root and where the wing trailing edge joins the fuselage.  Looks like the avionics hump now fits properly.

For the TA-4H, started to scratch build the bulkheads behind the ejection seats.  Also fixing the leading edge area of those seams.  I think this time its will get sorted out.

Non-sticky problem

I am not sure what is going on.  But with two different bottles of Testors glue and a bottle of Weld-On I am experiencing the same problem on the HobbyCraft A-4N model kit.  Sometimes the glue will bind the pieces together.  Other times the glue will dry and the parts seem to be joined, but the slightest pressure the parts will pop apart.

Latest example - the avionics hump.  It has been curing for 24 hours after being glued.  Even glued in a sheet styrene bulkhead to help make it stronger.  Then with test fitting find the hump does not fit flush, there is too much side in the middle of the hump.  So sand and sand more, think I have it.  So lay down the Testors glue and tape the hump down.  So the rear the hump splits at the seam as if never glued.  So having to fix it again after pulling the hump off.

AF-1 N-1012

 AF-1 N-1012 of the Brazilian Navy.  Decals for this aircraft are included in the HobbyCraft A-4N model kit in 1/48th scale.  Notice no cannon is fitted at the wing root.

One of the things missing from the model kit is an A-4M/A-4KU HUD.  So from sheet plastic and careful cutting/sanding I have crafted one.  I also replaced the ejection seat with a resin True Details Escapac seat.  Pulled from the spare parts box a control column from a Monogram A-4 to replace the T-handle HobbyCraft calls a stick.

Canopy Work

The fuselage is now glued together and the rounded tail tip. Also have glued the fuselage and wing together. So progress is being made.

Now starting on the canopy for the TA-4J.  Compared the Monogram OA-4M canopy, the crystal clear and delicate canopy Hasegawa offers is awesome.  Masking off the clear areas in preparation for detailing and painting.

I would use the Missing Link vacu-form TA-4J canopy on the TA-4H except it has been in the bag for so long there is now a long white streak along one of the curves.  So have to make do with the OA-4M canopy.  So I have to reshape the back of the OA-4M canopy to fit the Missing Link resin TA-4J fairing.

Off Topic Rant Pt 2

I finally got around to emailing that seller on eBay who is selling pre-built A-4N Ayits.  Their sample aircraft is 322 of the Flying Dragon Squadron.  The one with both the Colt 20mm cannons and the DEFA 30mm cannons installed.

Luckily I have a reference photo to base my questions on.  In Shlomo Aloni's book Israeli A-4 Skyhawk Units in Combat, Osprey Combat Aircraft 81.  On page 33 is a nice color picture of the right side of the plane.  Showing only DEFA cannons plus other inconsistencies as seen on the pre-built model.  So I asked the sellers a few questions.  I wonder what reply I will get.