Skyhawk colours

[andyl1]

After many years away from modelling I have decided to take it up again. Having spent five happy years in NZ as a boy and having many happy memories of that time I decided to start a RNZAF collection. I've recently bought the new Airfix Skyhawk kit in 1/72 scale and want to alter it to depict the Skyhawks I used to see at Ohakea and ( I think ) Hobsonville ? This was the early 70s ( I sadly left NZ in '75)
and the Vampire had been retired and replaced by the BAC Strikemaster. I remember the Skyhawks coming from California and Australia ( correct me if I'm wrong.. it's a long time ago!!) and being painted in Vietnam period camoflage.
I think it was green with two shades of light earth colour and either white or very light grey undersides. My father insists they had the fern in the roundel but I disagree as I'm sure they had the kiwi !

If anyone can shed some light on the proper colours and the correct roundel for that time I'd very much appreciate it. Once I know the colours I can scoure the internet looking for RNZAF decal sheets. Oh.. and if anyone has a time machine I'm off back to Mt. Eden circa 73/75 !!! happy days... MASH on TV, trolley buses in the city... Aaarrhhh

Many thanks,
Andy Lawson

[skyhawkdon]

Hi Andy,

You need to buy a copy of my book on the RNZAF Skyhawks!

www.willsonscott.biz/catalogue/military/skyhawks-the-history-of-the-rnzaf-skyhawk/

Yes they had the silver fern in the roundal when they first arrived in May 1970. This was replaced by the kiwi from December 1970.

[andyl1]

Many thanks for that Don, and yes.. I will be ordering your book shortly. It looks a great book.
Really appreciate your help.

Regards,


Andy

[Dave Homewood]

Welcome Andy, there are numerous other threads on Skuhawk colours but Don's book is without doubt the best reference to RNZAF Skyhawks around in my opinion.

You shouldn't have seen Skyhawks at Hobsonville as they can't have landed on its grass airfield, but they did regularly visit nearby Whenuapai.

[rholland]

Hi Andy, the new Airfix Skyhawk is an A-4B which has a few differences from the RNZAF A-4Ks which were based on the A-4E/F. The most noticeable difference is probably the shorter nose of the B. I have got out of 1/72 but there will probably be someone here who can find you a Fujimi A-4E/F if you want an easier route to an RNZAF K. I can understand your motivation, I bought the Airfix 1/48 Canberra because of memories of them coming over our house in the early 1960s.

[phil]

The correct colours are:

FS34102
FS34079
FS30219

Undersides:
FS36622

Gunze Sangyo make these colours in Acrylic and Lacquer and Humbrol make them in Acrylic and enamel. I'm sure Model Master do as well since they are an american brand.

[andyl1]

Thanks guys, lots of useful info. Dave you are right... I'm thinking of Ohakea. I lived in Wanganui for a couple of years and remember going to airshows there. What do you reckon guys... is the 1/72 A4 B going to be too tricky to convert into an A4K ?
Maybe I should just build it in it's US guise and look for a larger scale A4 K. Is there one a/v out there ?
Also (I'm not sure until I trawl through the archives but...) didnt all the kiwi A4s have the 'hump' just aft of the cockpit canopy ?

Sorry to keep on with the questions. I will definitely get hold of Don's book as soon as possible.

Thanks guys.. really appreciate the helpful advice and really enjoying the site.. what a find !

[skyhawkdon]

Converting an A-4B to a A-4K would be a major job. Not only is the nose different but so are the intakes and the A-4B only has 3 underwing hard points, where-as the E/F/G/K has 5. The B didn't have a hump either. Yes our original A-4Ks had humps (but not the T-birds). The humps were removed in the late 1980s.

You are better to start out with a A-4E/F. Hasegawa make a good 1/72 A-4E/F. They are available at any good model shop or on TradeMe/ebay.

www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Hasegawa-1-72-A-4E-F-Skyhawk-00239-NIB-/390449230773?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae89673b5

[saratoga]

Also the wing top surface on the later mods had the spoiler flaps.

The Hasegawa A -4 is a bit oversize, being the same length as the TA-4.
The best model is the Fujimi, sometimes pops up on trade me, or the Esci and Italerei models make up nicely and with a few mods can be made into G or K variants .

[mumbles]

Aug 15, 2012 22:35:59 GMT 12 saratoga said:

Also the wing top surface on the later mods had the spoiler flaps.

The Hasegawa A -4 is a bit oversize, being the same length as the TA-4.
The best model is the Fujimi, sometimes pops up on trade me, or the Esci and Italerei models make up nicely and with a few mods can be made into G or K variants .

The Hasegawa is also now about the oldest mould on the market, if the original Airfix AD-4 has now been retired with the very nice looking A-4B arrival. It dates from the 60's, and is both overscale and not that accurate. Easy to build though, and it still looks like an A-4.

The Fujimi ones are the best, but also the fiddliest to assemble. The Italeri 1/72 A-4 E/F is a good option for an easy early A-4K. Goes together well, good level of detail, and the parts in the box can be modified to make a K without having to scratchbuild anything.

Don't be tempted to buy the Tamiya 1/72 A-4E/F though unless it is heavily discounted or cheaper than the Italeri one, because it is the same kit. That said though the Italeri 1/72 A-4 is currently available in NZ with RNZAF decals, but they are the lo-vis kind suitable only for the later all-over green post Kahu scheme.

[phil]

I would second the Fujimi kits, very nice.

If you wanted to go larger, any 1/48 Hasegawa A-4E boxing can be made into a pre Kahu K model. You just need the decals.

[general]

Hello, Andy.

It's a nice coincidence to hear of another A-4K fan.

For better options I concur on the 1/48th route.

I have the ESCI 48th A-4E/Fs. Nice shape though you're in for some surface prep.
Don't know what's happened to their molds but the kit parts have a rough, pebbly texture.
The fuselage has recessed lines while the wing has raised.
'Pit is very basic - tub, IP (small and plain and the IP and console decals are your basic B&W). basic seat.
Canopy is two-piece.

I started prep on the fuselage and wings. Filled in where recessed and scribed new; sanded down wings and re-scribed.

Natch, you'll have to modify the fin tip, to show the square kahu shape.

The Monogram, IIRC, has raised panel lines. But still makes up into a good A-4K.

Best part, though, is I have a full sheet of RNZAF markings in 48th.
These are the hi-viz for the SEA scheme.

Give me a shout and I'll happily snip out a couple sets if you need some.

Regards

General