Victory Productions

1/48 Douglas A-4 Skyhawks decal sheet

Product # VPD48004

Product Article by Steve Bamford on July 18 2003

 

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Instruction sheets

 

 

This new decal sheet from Victory Productions is sure to please the fans of the popular little A-4 Skyhawk.  The decals are designed for the family of 1/48 Hasegawa A-4's.....but with work....it might be possible to get the decals to fit the other A-4 kits.  Included are markings for 10 different USN A-4's.  You don't get enough basic stencils to do all ten aircraft....but with kit stencils.....you may be able to build quite a few of these aircraft (if not all of them).

This decal sheet features

  •  2 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients...one was the only Navy jet pilot to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions performed during a combat mission) . 

  • 1 Silver Star recipient. 

  • Skyhawks from 8 different carriers.....USS Enterprise, USS Kitty Hawk, USS Hancock, USS Intrepid, USS Independence, USS Forrestal, USS Ticonderoga, USS Oriskany. 

  • A "Lady Jessie" plane.....read below about Skyhawk #10.

  • High mission markings Skywawks

  • Plane of pilot who had the distinction of piloting the first strike aircraft launched into combat from a nuclear carrier.

  • Planes featuring "Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club" artwork

  • One of Skyhawks destroyed during a shipboard fire caused by a Zuni rocket from an F-4 firing and striking an VA-46 A-4E aboard USS Forrestal.

  • Skyhawk flown by CDR James B. Stockdale when he was shot down.  He spent 7 years as the senior POW.

Skyhawk #1 is a A-4C Bu No. 147681 NG401, VA-94 'Mighty Shrikes', USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) June 1966.  Of note is the massive number of mission markings (176!!) on the side of the engine on this A-4.  Paint scheme is FS 36440 Light Gull Gray on upper surfaces and FS 17875 Gloss White on control surfaces and undersurfaces.  Plane carries the name of CDR Otto E. Krueger who had the distinction of piloting the first strike aircraft launched into combat from a nuclear carrier.
Skyhawk #2 is a A-4C Bu No. 148566 NH302, VA-144 'Roadrunners', USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) 1966-67.  Paint scheme is FS 36440 Light Gull Gray on upper surfaces and FS 17875 Gloss White on control surfaces and undersurfaces.  This plane was shot down by N. Vietnamese AAA on Nov. 7 1967 while flying with the "Blue Blasters" of VA-34...pilot was safely rescued.
Skyhawk #3 is a A-4C Bu No. 148576 NP681, VA-216 'Black Diamonds', USS Hancock (CVA 19) 1966.  Paint scheme is FS 36440 Light Gull Gray on upper surfaces and FS 17875 Gloss White on control surfaces and undersurfaces.  This plane was assigned to CDR Carl 'Tex' Birdwell who was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during  a strike against the Haiphong petroleum facilities on July 7 1966
Skyhawk #4   is a A-4C Bu No. 149493 AK312, VA-66 'Waldos', USS Intrepid (CVA 11) 1968-69.  Paint scheme is FS 36440 Light Gull Gray on upper surfaces and FS 17875 Gloss White on control surfaces and undersurfaces.  This plane was unique in that it carried the name of 2 different junior officers on each side.....one pilots name on port side....other pilots name on starboard side.
Skyhawk #5  is a A-4E Bu No. 149993 AG303, VA-72 'Blue Hawks', USS Independence (CVA 62) 1965.  Paint scheme is FS 36440 Light Gull Gray on upper surfaces and FS 17875 Gloss White on control surfaces and undersurfaces.  This plane was piloted by LCDR Jack Davis during the first successful anti-AAA mission at Kep airfield north of Hanoi.  Markings also include "Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club" artwork which was applied on the cruise home.
Skyhawk #6 is a A-4E Bu No. 150118 AA414, VA-46 'Clansmen', USS Forrestal (CVA 59) 1967.  Paint scheme is FS 36440 Light Gull Gray on upper surfaces and FS 17875 Gloss White on control surfaces and undersurfaces.  This plane was one of the planes lost during a shipboard fire caused by a Zuni rocket from an F-4 firing and striking an VA-46 A-4E.
Skyhawk #7 is a A-4E Bu No. 151073 NM208, VA-192 'Golden Dragons', USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) April 1967.  Paint scheme is FS 36440 Light Gull Gray on upper surfaces and FS 17875 Gloss White on control surfaces and undersurfaces.  This plane was flown by LCDR Estocin (the only Navy jet pilot to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions performed during a combat mission).  He sadly did not survive the second heroic for his heroic actions on two missions.  The USS Estocin is named after him. 
Skyhawk #8 is a A-4E Bu No. 151134 AH352, VA-163 'Saints', USS Oriskany (CVA 34) 1965.  Paint scheme is FS 36440 Light Gull Gray on upper surfaces and FS 17875 Gloss White on control surfaces and undersurfaces.  This plane was flown by CDR James B. Stockdale when he was shot down.  He spent 7 years as the senior POW and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his resistance the N. Vietnamese interrogation and coercion.
Skyhawk #9 is a A-4E Bu No. 151165 AG401, VA-86 'Sidewinders', USS Independence (CVA 62) 1965.  Paint scheme is FS 36440 Light Gull Gray on upper surfaces and FS 17875 Gloss White on control surfaces and undersurfaces.  This plane was flown by CDR William W. Bowers...the Skipper of VA-86.
Skyhawk #10 is a A-4E Bu No. 152048 AH406, VA-164 'Ghost Riders', USS Oriskany (CVA 34) 1967.  Paint scheme is FS 36440 Light Gull Gray on upper surfaces and FS 17875 Gloss White on control surfaces and undersurfaces.  The "Lady Jessie" tradition, so long associated with VA-164, originated with LCDR Richard C. Perry who applied the name to his aircraft in honor
 of his friend Mrs Jessie Beck.  Perry had become good friends with Jessie Beck while he was a student working at her Reno Hotel and casino.  On August 31 1967, LCDR Perry was killed in action when his Skyhawk (A-4E BU. No. 151991, AH402) was hit by a N. Vietnamese SAM.  In the year that followed, the squadrons CO's aircraft continued to carry the name "Lady Jessie" in remembrance of LCDR Perry and as a continuing tribute to Jessie Beck who adopted the entire Squadron as special Guests at her hotel.  This plane (A-4E Bu No. 152048 AH406) was shot down over N. Vietnam and it's pilot killed in action.  This is one of two aircraft known to have carried the "Lady Jessie" markings during this combat cruise.

There are 2 decal sheets included in this decal set.  Lots of lovely colorful markings as well as a wide variety of A-4 markings.  The 2 decal sheets are clearly printed and well laid out....making it quick and easy to find the decals for any particular aircraft featured on this decal sheet.  The quality of the decals is first class and in perfect register.  The clear carrier film is very tight around the decals.  The decals appear to have very good color fastness but don't appear overly thick.....these decals look like they will be a treat to use...they should conform very nicely to your A-4 model.  Victory Productions has done an admirable job covering this special aircraft from the Vietnam War.  All too often US Aircraft from the Vietnam War are forgotten and it is a welcome experience to see this decal sheet featuring so many Vietnam era A-4 Skyhawks.  This decal sheet is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in the Vietnam War or USN jet aircraft or the A-4 Skyhawk.  After reading on the instruction sheets about the missions flown by the aircraft featured on this decal sheet......I am quite interested in adding a  USN A-4 to my display cabinet.

I'd like to thank Paul at Victory Models for bringing this sheet to my attention by sending me a review sample.

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford