with Cutting Edge resin seat
VMA-214 ‘Blacksheep’, US Marines Corps, Japan 1977
This Marines A-4M Skyhawk from Hasegawa was built alongside my A4D-2 and A-4K. The kit is modified by Hasegawa to correctly depict the later model Skyhawk by coming with a new fuselage and nose, new bulged air intakes, new instrument panel, coaming and canopy, new dorsal hump, new ‘Hot Dog’ tail and new antennae, air intakes, rear fuselage insert and tailpipe. It builds well, but the fit of the new nose isn’t great. The main fit problems are still there: wingroot inserts, rear lower fuselage inserts and the rear of the dorsal hump. However, the fit of the wings to the fuselage, the intakes and the tailplanes are perfect. I only added a seat from Cutting Edge, which is much more visible than in the A-4K because of the bigger canopy. The finish is Humbrol enamel coated with Johnson’s Klear and an oil wash. The decals are thinner than normal Hasegawa decals, but still thick compared to aftermarket or their limited edition offerings. They didn’t react too well to Mr Mark Softer, but did go down very nicely with Microsol and Daco Strong Setting Solution without silvering. Hasegawa has started supplying decals realising that many modellers like to paint as much as possible. So they do provide the tail markings with white stars on black decal, but also with separate stars so the the rudder can be painted black, which is what I did. The finish is a mixture of Pollyscale Flat and Satin varnishes. This kit went together very well, and I’m fairly happy with the end result.
Year bought: 2004 (Hannants, Duxford)
Year built: 2005 (Chesterton, Cambridge)
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Jon's Models 
Dear Jon
Thank you for the great pictures. I am building the same model. I am having a bit of difficulty with the large decal of the US Navy roundel on the top of the wing, which is refusing to set properly despite multiple applications of Microsol. As you remember there are some large raised details in this part. Do you have any advice? did you use a stronger setting solution?
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Hi Marcello, thanks for your comments. That is a very difficult decal to settle over the surface detail. I did use a stronger setting solution. I think I used Mr Mark Softer.
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