1:48 A-4N S.A.

Photo-etched accessories for the A-4N, 1:48 scale

A photo-etched set for a model of the A-4N Skyhawk attack aircraft in 1:48 scale. It is not a kit but an accessory to one. Thin sheet metal makes it possible to produce items that in plastic are either too thick or do not get into the mold at all.

The real subject

The Skyhawk came about as a small, light carrier-based attack aircraft. Its delta wing is so short that it did not have to fold for service on an aircraft carrier, which simplified and lightened the whole design. Behind the designation A-4N lies a late attack version of the family. Machines of this type flew for decades, and modelers know them above all for the varied finishes of their individual operators.

Building and painting tips

• Cut the items from the fret with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not by breaking them out.
• Make the bends across the full width of the part, best with a bending tool or flat-jawed tweezers.
• Before applying them, check in the instructions whether the parts have a self-adhesive layer; if not, they are glued with super glue applied on the tip of a toothpick.
• Degrease the metal before gluing and before painting, otherwise neither the joint nor the paint will hold.
• Lay the small parts out beforehand on a piece of double-sided tape, so that they do not get lost.

Who the set is for

For modelers who are building the Skyhawk in 1:48 scale and want to push the detail beyond the contents of the box. Working with photo-etch calls for tweezers, a sharp blade and patience, but the result is visible at first glance. The extent of the set and the assignment of the individual parts are given by the manufacturer in the enclosed instructions.

The package contains photo-etched parts only. The model, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.