The little 1/72 A-4B Airfix Skyhawk kit is a super nice & easy to build new tooling one.
It comes with a decal set for 2 markings; A US Navy one and a Argentinian livery.
As I love this plane & kit I build two; A version from Attack Squadron 15 (VA-15) "the Valions" and one from Attack Squadron 106 (VA-106) "Gladiators".
Build both straight from the box and only added small polystyrene mirrors and resin seats.
I used Vallejo primer and Tamiya acrylics for the paintjob for the first one (VA-15) and AK Real colors for the 2nd one (VA-106).
The decals from the box are of a very good quality and used Microscale Set & Sol for a very smooth result.
For the VA-106 version I used decals from Xtradecal.
Highly recommended kit imho since it's an easy & fun build!
Never did a US Navy hi viz scheme before and this was the perfect exercise for future US Navy plane projects like the F-4 Phantom & F-14 Tomcat. Vallejo acrylic primer, Tamiya acrylics & weathering pigments, Pledge floor varnish, AK-interactive washes and Watercolor pencils were used to paint the first bird. The second one was painted using AK Real colors but finished with the same weathering & finishing materials. The build was really straightforward with some minor filling. I shortened the front landing gear since I don't like the look of that... so took some artistic freedom right there. =+)
© 2022 by Marcel du Long