1/48 Hasegawa TA-4J Skyhawk Navy Trainer

Gallery Article by Rafi Ben-Shahar on July 21 2010

 

Hasegawa's 1/48 Skyhawk line is probably their best ever kit for that scale thanks to accurate dimensions, detailed features, superb panel engraving and a good part breakdown engineering. I chose for my last (and final) Skyhawk build a representation of an aircraft, currently stored at the El Toro Historical Foundation Irvine, CA.  It has a nose "borrowed" from an Aggressor Skyhawk and shows the first signs of outdoor static display deterioration.

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Weathering was done using the usual techniques plus paint fading and bleaching. Decals were adapted according to the particular aircraft including serial number with the exception of recent aircraft carrier name (it should be USS Forrestal) and the pilot's name on the canopy frame.

Enjoy the photos.

Rafi Ben-Shahar

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Photos and text © by Rafi Ben-Shahar