A-4 Skyhawk Decals

Cutting Edge Modelworks

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor Productions

Reviewed by Brett Green

Cutting Egde has released a selection of decal sheets for Hasegawa's 1/48 scale A-4E Skyhawk kit. The subjects are all colourful and interesting.

Both sheets feature excellent printing with perfect registration and minimal carrier film. Because there are only two subjects on each sheet, the main profile diagrams are especially large. Upper views are provided for to supplement the single side profiles for each aircraft.

The contents of the sheets are as follows:

CED48147

Two Skyhawk subjects in standard US Navy Light Gull Grey and White camouflage are covered in set CED48147:

1. A-4E Skyhawk, CAPT Conrad Cadman, VMA-311. The task of painting the complex rudder markings will also be eased by using Black Magic Mask set no CEBM 48487.

2. A-4F Skyhawk, CDR Fred Gosebrikk, VA-164, USS Hancock. Note that this machine was upgraded to "SuperFox" standards, requiring Cutting Edge's conversion set with the larger intakes. The catalogue number for the conversion is CEC 48316. 

CED48148

An image of this decal placement sheet is included at the top of this review. Skyhawk subjects covered in set CED48148 are:

1. A-4G Skyhawk, Royal Australian Navy, in a two-tone wraparound camouflage scheme. My initial impression was that the roundels looked small and the Kangaroo a little undernourished. Comparison to reference photos suggest that the roundels on these interestingly camouflaged Skyhawks were smaller than those worn on the grey and white A-4Gs. The roos on these wraparound Skyhawks also varied slightly in size and position inside the blue circle.

However, the absence of lower and starboard side views for this aircraft means that the modeller will have to find their own references for these aspects of the wraparound scheme.

1. A-4F Skyhawk, CDR Mark Gilfrey, VA-55 War Horses, USS Hancock 1974. Note that this machine was upgraded to "SuperFox" standards, requiring Cutting Edge's conversion set with the larger intakes. The catalogue number for the conversion is CEC 48316. The task of painting the complex rudder markings will also be eased by using Black Magic Mask set no CEBM 48487, but Cutting Edge have also included individual decals for the coloured horizontal stripes and the chequered fin tip.

These new decals from Cutting Edge will provide some colourful variations for your Hasegawa Scooters. They also give you two nice options if you want to convert your standard Skyhawk to "SuperFox" configuration via Cutting Edge's separately available resin conversion set.

Recommended.

Thanks to Meteor Productions for the review samples. 
 

Cutting Edge Decals are available from Meteor Productions Website

Review and Images Copyright © 2002 by Brett Green
Page Created 22 January, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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