Talon Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) About time I hit something in a larger scale, so here goes. Got given the Hasegawa Hi-grade kit by a friend some time ago. The kit had been started and the original modeller had intended to build it as a TA-4K. I have managed to confirm that all of the parts are present (and in some cases there were spares!). I have carefully disassembled the kit and removed as much paint and glue as I could (poor quality pic of the parts courtesy of my iPhone). To dress the kit up, I'll be using the following aftermarket: 2 x Aires Escapac ejection seats Flying Leathernecks Decals Mk.82 Thermally Protected 500lb bombs w/ BSU-86 fins My own custom masks and decals for the aircraft markings to produce 01 from H&MS-32 just before the unit was disestablished in 1990 Edited January 6, 2023 by Talon blackbetty, Marcel111, EmperorKai and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) Have just cleared the man cave and cleaned the bench, then set up the photography space, so will endeavour to get some pics up soon. Work to date: Rescribing the kit's raised panel lines (and correcting them where necessary) Modifying and correcting kit cockpits Cutting off the various parts of the TA-4 to fit the updated parts of the OA-4M Correcting the leading edge slat recesses to remove the step and reposition the slat rails correctly Removing the flap/spoiler area from the wing, so I can add scratcbuilt lowered flaps Fitting the speedbrakes to the fuselage and filling all of the sinkmarks Hasegawa's kit is nice in many respects and still holds its own, but there are a number of areas that need correcting to get this looking like It should. It looks like Hasegawa had access to either the OA-4M NATOPS or the real aircraft as their etched instrument panels are OA-4M specific, but there are a couple of small changes needed which I'll detail once I get the camera in action. The side consoles however are very generic, so I'll need to scratchbuild the detail on those. The kit cockpits are too big front to back. The rear instrument panel shroud is too small and needs to be extended forward 3mm, and the rear cockpit's rear bulkhead needs to be shifted forward a similar amount. Because of this, Hasegawa also have you cut the tail fin leading edge fairing to fit the hump in the wrong place. The cockpit rear bulkheads are too tall and the wrong shape. The side consoles are too deep and have a strange kink in them. By changing all of this, the resin seats sit better and a scale pilot could then actually see over the instrument coamings. I'm also going to add a set of Aires wheel wells as the kit ones are pretty bland. Edited January 9, 2015 by Talon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vandy 1 VX 4 Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Talon Avionix makes a TA-4J Skyhawk Cockpit Set 32040 in 1/32 http://www.squadron.com/1-32-Avionix-TA-4J-Skyhawk-Cockpit-Set-BLC32040-p/blc32040.htm I will be watching your build. I like to build mine as the Samurais H&MS-12 but no decals for them Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) Thanks, I was aware of that. However I believe that the Avionix set uses the incorrect dimensions of the Hasegawa TA-4J kit it was designed for. There are also too many differences between the TA-4J and the OA-4M pits for it to be useful without extra work I'm already doing anyway.. Edited January 6, 2023 by Talon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Hooray,a jet build! I have a TA-4J about 90% completed. Shelf of doom for about 4 years. Perhaps your build will get me fired up enough to restart mine. I will be following your build closely. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loic Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 That sounds very interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted January 12, 2015 Author Share Posted January 12, 2015 (edited) Ok. Finally got a chance to get the camera out and get some progress pics. Lots happening here, though it doesn't look like much. Top of the fin and leading edge of the fin removed (Hasegawa's instructions are wrong meaning the leading edge has been removed too far back and I'll need to add some plastic here to correct once the hump is installed). Hot dog ECM fairing fitted to the top of the tail. Both fuselage halves are about 80% rescribed and rivets added where necessary. Speed brakes have been glued in, sink marks filled and sanded flush and the outlines rescribed. I still need to add the JATO bottle attachment points. Rear white metal ECM antennae have been cleaned up and glued to the exhaust fairing. The slot on the side of the fuselage (black area in front of the speedbrake) was filled and a vent redrilled. I've also removed the rudder to clean up the two halves and get a better fit of the parts. Previous owner glued the intakes on too well, so I have cleaned up the joins and left them as is. Means I can't easily do full intakes so will probably opt for making some intake blanks (they'll add some colour to the jet anyway). Removed the canopy fairing behind the cockpit to accept the new hump. The forward cockpit is fitted to test the new shape and position. As mentioned the kit cockpit is too deep and incorrectly shaped. I've reshaped the rear kit bulkhead, added new bases for the side consoles, removed the seat base which was moulded to the bottom of the tub and added new seat guide rails from some Evergreen I-beam cut down to a [ cross section. Also added are some 15 thou canopy sills and the small scallops on the rear of the instrument console coaming. The front of the rear console coaming has also had the start of the 3 mm forward extension added to correct the positioning of the rear bulkhead. The nose has been cut off each fuselage half and the OA-4M nose halves glued in place. Rear cockpit showing the mods. Rudder pedals were moved aft and the front of the tub shortened by 5mm to fit behind the front cockpit. The pencil lines on the side consoles are where the instrument panel will sit. Port wing showing where spoiler and flap assembly have been removed from the rear of the wing, so I can build some dropped flaps later. This wing has had the slat well raised to remove the step and the slat track openings repositioned and resized to be more prototypical. The old openings can be just seen as darker outlines. The shiny lines are where I've rescribed the panel lines and used Tamiya extra-thin cement to clean them out. Comparison of the port wing with the starboard wing showing old slat recess on the starboard wing and the corrected one on the port. Starboard wing has the new spoiler glued in place, cut from some 10 thou styrene sheet, using the removed parts as a template. Another view of the exhaust fairing showing the white metal ECM antennae fitted. The new hump assembled and cleaned up. Because Hasegawa have you remove the fin leading edge too far back, they also make the hump too long. I have removed the necessary amount and will need to add that much back to the fin leading edge. I've also opened up the vent on the spine so it doesn't just end. The kit photo-etched instrument panels match the OA-4M pretty well, but will need some switches and knobs added to give them a little more detail. Edited January 12, 2015 by Talon Anthony in NZ, MDuv, Seversky and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vandy 1 VX 4 Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 here is some intake plugs for you http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/sba32001.htm Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted January 12, 2015 Author Share Posted January 12, 2015 Appreciate the info, but as good as Darren's products are, I'll scratch build some myself for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vandy 1 VX 4 Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Appreciate the info, but as good as Darren's products are, I'll scratch build some myself for this. I thought so Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Talon, very ambitious build, and a very good job so far. I like it.....Harv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Lovely work so far! Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geedubelyer Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Hi Talon, This looks like it could prove to be a spectacular build. That is some crisp, sharp and skillful work on show. I've never been bitten by the Skyhawk bug but I do recognise high quality modelling when I see it. Perhaps I'll tag along for the ride. I've a suspicion I'll end up learning some stuff. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfighter Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 That is some very nice progress! Looking forward to seeing more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karimb Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 (edited) Hi Talon Great choice of subject, as this is the first time i get to know there is something called 'collector hi grade' kit from hasegawa I quickly went and read a review of this kit, so out of curiosity are you planning on rescribing the aircraft (as i read it had raised panel lines)? Looking forward to the build progressing Karim *EDIT* I got my answer in post #2 lol my apologies nonetheless i am really looking forward to the build Edited January 12, 2015 by karimb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now