OA-4M Skyhawk

I built the first boxing of this kit by Fujimi when I was at uni and I recently found that built model stuffed in the back of a wardrobe at mum and dad's place a few months ago. I did take a picture of that old model sans a few items that I'll have to post up at some stage. 

I'm doing the green and grey H&MS-32 Bandits jet. The green/grey rolls onto the exposed slat well so no red on this one...perhaps the speed brake well??? 

A few etch items (and a mask). 

The IP's are the usual sandwich affair with the instrument layer at the bottom and then the colour overlay on top and the side consoles will get some attention in the way of coloured etch too. The cockpit side walls got the etch treatment as did the footwells in each cockpit tub. I've tried some Ultra Glue on these parts as it allows some additional working time and produces a good bond.

Enough etched parts for now. 

I'm on leave for another week so should be able to get a fair chunk of this done.

Today has been all about getting the etch onto the kits parts. Lots of the parts are overlays on the kit plastic with the only replacements being part of the kit seats and the IP's.

The kit seat modified before etch on the left and the original kit part on the right. Once painted up they'll also get harness straps and ejection initiator handles.

Etch parts added to the driver and backseat drivers offices. 

The ECM? fairing on top of the tail is completely missing from the right side and I don't mean short shot. It looks like the insert used for that part was removed or forgotten when it was molded. It's frustrating but easily fixed with some plastic card that I'll shape. 

The ECM? fairing on top of the tail is completely missing from the right side and I don't mean short shot. It looks like the insert used for that part was removed or forgotten when it was molded. It's frustrating but easily fixed with some plastic card that I'll shape. 

Fixed with some plastic card. A small amount of putty will be needed but nothing major 

The seats and tubs with their etch bits and pieces. I'll add the harnesses once the seats are painted. 

Starting to look like a Scooter. 

The rear fuselage and wing subassemblies have been joined. I've removed the arrestor hook arm that'll be replaced with some brass rod or similar. By doing this I can paint the black and white bands without the need to mask the part while attached the fuselage. 

And some work has been done on the ordnance. The LAU-10's will be on the outer stations loaded with the zuni rockets and the inner stations will carry the 150? Gal drop tanks. I'm thinking about an MER on the centreline though not sure if I'll put anything on it. I've had to apply some putty around the panel line around the nose as it doesn't match up. I'll sand and clean up the surface and then re-scribe it; the others panel lines are okay. 

The cockpit tubs are also done and some weight has been added to ensure it doesn't sit on its backside. 

The cockpit tubs are also done and some weight has been added to ensure it doesn't sit on its backside. 

The missing starboard side of the fin top fairing has been reinstated courtesy of some plastic strip and filler. Much better though I need to round over the edges a bit and sand the plastic smooth. 

Forward and rear fuselage halves togather 

I've added the cushions to the fairly plain seats. One done, another one to go. 

Harnesses and handles are on the first seat 

The seam going through the middle of the shroud of the exhaust didn't look good so I've skinned it with some plastic card to hid it. Putty would have been okay but the kit plastic also had a few small shrink marks so this was the easier option.