Skyhawk

mikeblaze · Post by **mikeblaze** » 25 Sep 2012, 20:54

I am starting this thread with the blessing of Mark Griggs, and the substantial help of Steve Holland; to showcase my until-now quiet Skyhawk project. I probably started my work on the Scooter a little after the MAIW guys started theirs, so I was careful to release around their schedule, and not advertise too much on this site. Now that the MAIW TA-4 package has had enough time to sink in, I am getting ready to release the remainder of my Skyhawks, and fix a couple of the older ones. As usual, I have a huge schedule of release material for this aircraft, but what is unusual for me is that I have nearly all of it done before advertising it. Nearly all that is left at this time is mass-painting, and that goes pretty quick. Here is my release schedule, to be done in multiple parts:

A-4A, B, C, E (early/late), F, M (early/late), TA-4F/J, OA-4M; all for USN/USMC. This will be a very nice companion aircraft with the Phantom and upcoming Crusader.
A-4S/SU, TA-4S/SU for Singapore
A-4E/H, TA-4H for Israel
version 2 upgrade of my Kuwaiti Skyhawks, the very first (and most in need of repair, lol).

On no particular schedule, again with the blessing of Mark, I will do the RAAF/RNZAF/RAN Skyhawks as well, with individual base models.
To round these out, I will also do the South American variants (Brazil, Argentina).

Mike Mac has done a whole mess of brand-new version-2 FDE for me, so these aircraft will have his signature function as well.

Pictures to follow.

mikeblaze · Post by **mikeblaze** » 25 Sep 2012, 21:00

Some preview pix, of course.....

Makadocias · Post by **Makadocias** » 25 Sep 2012, 21:42

Nice!

fishlips · Post by **fishlips** » 26 Sep 2012, 06:09

Better than Nice, fantastic collection!

SeanG · Post by **SeanG** » 26 Sep 2012, 08:33

mikeblaze wrote: On no particular schedule, again with the blessing of Mark, I will do the RAAF/RNZAF/RAN Skyhawks as well, with individual base models.

You sir, deserve a large beverage of your choice... you've just made my day!

Looking forward to replacing the A-4 models in my Ohakea/Nowra retro package

SeanG

Victory103 · Post by **Victory103** » 26 Sep 2012, 19:52

Very cool, outstanding job on these Scooters.

andrea81 · Post by **andrea81** » 29 Sep 2012, 18:07

looking good, thanks a lot

miljan · Post by **miljan** » 29 Sep 2012, 18:53

Like the Singaporean twin sitter

mikeblaze · Post by **mikeblaze** » 13 Oct 2012, 20:08

Just published my first part of this revised Skyhawk schedule; the A-4A/B/C of the USN/USMC. 16 models and 32 repaints will add to anybody's retro AI world.

DaleRFU · Post by **DaleRFU** » 13 Oct 2012, 20:47

Lovely stuff Mike. Thanks for these

TheFoufure · Post by **TheFoufure** » 14 Oct 2012, 07:46

And can we expect Israeli repaints ?

mikewmac · Post by **mikewmac** » 14 Oct 2012, 20:05

mikeblaze wrote:Just published my first part of this revised Skyhawk schedule; the A-4A/B/C of the USN/USMC. 16 models and 32 repaints will add to anybody's retro AI world.

Mike,

That looks a lot like the MacIntyre Tartan on 8445. I didn't realize that our clan might have our own carriers and Skyhawks.

Mike M.

SeanG · Post by **SeanG** » 15 Oct 2012, 00:21

mikeblaze wrote:Just published my first part of this revised Skyhawk schedule; the A-4A/B/C of the USN/USMC. 16 models and 32 repaints will add to anybody's retro AI world.

Thank you! thank you! thank you!

SeanG

mikeblaze · Post by **mikeblaze** » 05 Nov 2012, 06:26

Taking a little break from nearly-finished first releases of Crusaders and some Mirages..... Working on my first Israeli package today, for the Skyhawk to start (Mirage/Nesher/Kfir and Phantom to follow.....). I'll have some pre-release pix in a couple of hours, and this package is no-holds-barred, with early models and late models after the IDF strapped on the exhaust extenders. Six main models will be represented (A-4E/H/N & TA-4E/F/H), with lots of variants and paints, as usual. I'm going to try to stuff this into one zip, so it will probably be the largest single-project file I have posted so far (estimated around 50MB), but I will definitely make it worth your while....... This is going to be the start of a great holiday season for me and models given to the hobby.

MP

campbeme · Post by **campbeme** » 05 Nov 2012, 07:18

mikeblaze wrote:Taking a little break from nearly-finished first releases of Crusaders and some Mirages..... Working on my first Israeli package today, for the Skyhawk to start (Mirage/Nesher/Kfir and Phantom to follow.....). I'll have some pre-release pix in a couple of hours, and this package is no-holds-barred, with early models and late models after the IDF strapped on the exhaust extenders. Six main models will be represented (A-4E/H/N & TA-4E/F/H), with lots of variants and paints, as usual. I'm going to try to stuff this into one zip, so it will probably be the largest single-project file I have posted so far (estimated around 50MB), but I will definitely make it worth your while....... This is going to be the start of a great holiday season for me and models given to the hobby.

MP

WoW I cant wait for these Mike....

Mark

ronniegj · Post by **ronniegj** » 05 Nov 2012, 16:54

Wow, again! This is amazing. Thanks! Ron

mikeblaze · Post by **mikeblaze** » 05 Nov 2012, 21:44

Okay, here we go..... I just posted a 42MB file to AVSIM, it has six main models of the Skyhawk, broken into eleven sub-variants representing local upgrades (tailpipe); for a whopping 60 models and 68 paints. I think I hurt my brain on this one a little, but you would be hard-pressed to not find either a variant or a squadron who used them in this package. Have fun with it, and the other IDF stuff I have planned will get the same service.......mp

AndyG43 · Post by **AndyG43** » 05 Nov 2012, 22:57

Amazing stuff Mike, thank you. Astonishing to think that the Israelis have been operating Skyhawks (of one sort or another) since 1966 & still use them today in the training role; my understanding is that they are due to be replaced by the M-346, but not before 2012 at the earliest!

Anybody else noticed that just about the liveliest part of this forum of late has been the retro AI section? We have been truly blessed recently and, without wanting to sound greedy, hope there are lots more goodies on the way. Mind you, if was being greedy, a proper AI Buccaneer ...... no, that would be too much to hope for.

bismarck · Post by **bismarck** » 06 Nov 2012, 21:52

Another wonderful job Mike. Just in time to add something special to my upcoming Hatzerim Airbase.

Giorgio

mikeblaze · Post by **mikeblaze** » 11 Nov 2012, 08:17

It's that time of the week again, remember I said I was going to try to publish a package per week until New Years....... This is this week's installment........ I wanted to get this one done soon, as a tribute to the guys down under who have been very patient waiting for me to get off of my backside and finish it. I painted all twenty delivery serials, in all generations of VC724/VF805 schemes; and each serial is painted sometime in its career in one of the schemes. I was careful with my research to make sure the written-off aircraft were not painted in later schemes then when they were lost (it's a respect thing). This is my Veteran's Day/Armistice Day contribution........

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