Looking for aftermarket details for Hasagawa’s 1/32 A-4 E/F kit.
Boarding ladder, cockpit details, ordinance etc… Anybody have an idea if anything is out there?
Welcome to FSM
Might try these sights while you wait for the experts to post.
http://www.eduard.cz/
http://www.blackboxkits.com/
http://www.verlinden-productions.com/
http://www.squadron.com/
How long have you been Retired?[:)][:p][:p][:D]
I retired in May of 2001
USMCSM,
Gary Mason, former Devil Dog Sergeant, here. Is the kit in question the “VA-153 Blue Tail Flies” kit? If so, I have the same kit, awaiting building. Have you started on yours yet? I’m kinda curious as to how good of a build it is. Any in-progress information you could provide would be extremely appreciated!!
As a side-note, may I assume that the “SM” in usmcsm is for Sergeant Major? Where did you serve? I was at Cherry Point, NC, for about 8 of the 11.5 years I was in the Corps (1984 -1995). I was with H&MS-32 originally, then MALS-32 (with a 6-month pump to Iwakuni, Japan, and then 6 months in the Persian Gulf), then two years recruiting in Alabama, then MALS-14 at Cherry Point until my EAS in July 1995. My oldest son will be graduating Parris Island on 17 Oct 2003, and I guarantee you I’ll be there to see him become a US Marine! Sorry, got off on a tangent there. Back to modeling.
Look forward to hearing more about the A-4E/F. I’m considering making it my next project, but still undecided as of now. I’ve got the Academy 1/32 F/A-18C Hornet to finish right now. Man, does that thing have a lot of parts!!
SEMPER FI!!
camdecals.com has some different units for 1/32 A-4, several of which are USMC units.
Semper Fi!!
Hey Gary. Yep, Sergeant Major is correct. Retired 2 years ago. I was in H&MS 32 at Beaufort and Cherry Point. TA-4J’s and later OA-4M’s. 331 at Cherry Point A-4M’s. H&MS 15 in Iwakuni, Did some time in MALS-13, Drill Instructor at Parris Island from 79 to 81, Recruiting from 89-91.
I have built the Hasagawa A-4 a few times. 1st time was in my barracks room at Iwakuni! None survived my several moves but now that I am more or less stable I have two of them in work. It’s a fun kit to build and with a little extra attention makes a respectable model. Ordinance is a minor problem. The Mk-82’s can be improved to respectability but I absolutly refuse to put those bull-pup missles on the outboard stations! I am scratch building some zuni pods. Patience, sanding and filling, and you’ll like the results.
Sergeant Major,
I remember when I got to H&MS-32, they were still flying OA-4M’s, and the gun squadrons were still flying AV-8C’s & AV-8A’s. VMAT-203 still had TAV-8C’s. This was back in mid-1985. It wasn’t long before H&MS-32 became MALS-32 and got rid of the OA-4M’s, and the rest of MAG-32 converted to AV-8B’s. They used one of the old AV-8C’s to put on a stick in front of the Havelock City Hall building. Oops. there I go down memory lane again.
Good to hear that the Hasegawa A-4 is a good build. I’ll definitely be buying some Marine decals for it soon. What kind of aftermarket sets are available for it? Talk atcha later!!
Sgt. Maj. in the Marine Corps? I have heard that a Marine Sgt. Maj. sits at the right hand of the Almighty and provides his council, or is it permission?
Hasagawa also produces an TA-4 F/J and the OA-4M in 1/32 scale . The OA-4 M was produced as a high tech kit and may be hard to find, but it’s out there. Hopefully someone will produce a decent A-4 M in 1/48 and/or 1/32 scale. (The Hobbycraft kit doesn’t qualify).
There are a number of detail and conversion parts available at the web sites previously posted.
Lastly, don’t call me sir, I work for a living! rangerj
I have a TA-4 kit on the shelf but had no idea the OA-4M kit was out there. I must locate one. It must have come out after I left Okinawa in 1997. While I was there I snapped up a whole bunch of the Japanese kits at stores out in town. Couldn’t beat the prices especially when the yen rate was up!!!
Sgt. Maj.,
My best friend is one of the Marines that walked out of the Chosin Resivoir. I’ll check around with folks I know from the local modeling clubs and see if someone is willing to let an OA-4M (1/32 Hasagawa) go for less than an arm and a leg.
rangerj
Is that 3/4 time as in cadence?
I THINK I MAY KBOW SOMEONE WHO HAS A 1/32 SCALE HASEGAWA OA-4M. LET ME LOOK I NTO IT OK ?
Sounds good to me. I would love to have one.
Now I have to ask why, if they made a 1/32 OA-4M, can’t they make an A-4M?
I’ll take what I can get until this wrong is righted!
hey sarge…
i talked to my friend and i apologize he sold it on e-bay a while back. as far as a-4m i dont know. i know hobbycraft from canada makes a few variants in 1/4 scale.if not look into after market . you can usually find alot of options there. good luck.
Sgt. Maj.,
I’ll keep looking for an OA-4M for you. Unless I get lucky, I suspect it will take a while to find one. It is more a problem of finding someone willing to sell one. As I said in an earlier post it was a “High Tech” kit, and it was a limited production kit.
If and when I find one available for sale I’ll let you know the details and/or tell you how to get in touch with the seller.
richmos,
The following is intended to inform and educate;
As a matter of courtesy and respect, you do not address a Sgt. Maj. as “hey sarge”. A Sgt. Maj. is to the enlisted ranks what a General is to the officer ranks, that is the top of the ranks. As such, it deserves full courtesy and respect. I know you meant no disrespect, and as I said above this is intended to educate.
rangerj
WELL SAID, RANGERJ!!!
As far as the OA-4M kits go, the 1/48th HobbyCraft kit isn’t worth the money. I bought that kit about a year ago, without opening the box first, and wound up selling it at a loss a few months later. It has recessed panel lines, but they’re way too wide and deep. Makes the kit look like a toy more than anything else. And the overall detail is very disappointing. If it wasn’t for the cost of the kit (I think mine was $17.99), it would be an ok beginner’s kit.
I have seen, and built, the Hasegawa 1/72nd OA-4M. It’s a very good kit, with decals for H&MS-12 in Iwakuni, Japan. Just needs an aftermarket cockpit set to help it out a little. But I wasn’t aware that Hasegawa, or any kit maker for that matter, had produced a 1/32nd version of the OA-4M. Would you happen to have a kit number for that?
Didn’t Monogram make a 1/48th OA-4M with H&MS-32 markings a few decades ago?
For the modelers out there that don’t know, the OA-4M is a two-seater A-4 with the large avionics hump just behind the cockpit.
Sergeant Major, how’s your two Scooters coming along?
Ola, as we say here in the SouthWest,
Sorry it took so long to respond amigos, I had to pause for what turned out to be a minor family emergency. Everything turned out ok Thank God.
RANGERJ: 1) Thanks for the clearification on rank structure. After 28 years of honorable and faithful service it’s nice to know there are people with a little knowledge.
2) My Uncle was also one of the Few to walk out of THE CHOSIN. He was U.S. Army Infantry. Few people know that there were soldiers in that action and that they came through in a most professional manner. They too recieved the PUC but were noted on the Citation as “Attached Units”. I know this because I hear about it every time we get together and start the old inter-service brew-ha-ha. He brings it out and reads it to me.
richmosh: Sweat not the load bro, I have been called much worse! Thank’s much for the OA-4M effort. We must be honest here. I have over 100 kits on my shelf and I am willing to sell none! I have been known to trade on rare occasions, for the most part it is just not happening. My wife often sees some of my kits on E-BAY and informs me of their value but lets face it, if I didn’t want to build it I wouldn’t have bought it! The shrink wrap is removed from every kit on my shelf. I’m like a kid when ever I buy one, gotta’ look inside!
garydmason: Going well on my A-4 builds. Waiting on orders on some detail sets. The Camdecals parts hold much promise.
There was a OA4-M in 1/72 by Hasagawa in H&MS 12 markings. I know because I almost bought it but decided to wait for the price to come down!?!?!? I know better now.
To all; Thanks for the input and search fo the elusive A-4 Mike. I have a lot of hours invested in “The Scooter”! The hunt continues!
PS: rangerj- Livin’ and Dyin’ in 3/4 time is from a Jimmy Buffet song. Since I retired I have been taking it easy…for now…
Sergeant Major,
Glad to hear that everything’s ok at home.
I just bought the Monogram 1/48th OA-4M with Yuma H&MS markings yesterday at a local contest/show for $5. Couldn’t pass it up. I’ve also got the Steve Ginter books on the A-4 series, so I should be set as far as building an accurate OA-4M.
Earlier in this thread, there was mention of a 1/32 OA-4M by Hasegawa. Does anyone have the kit number for that? Or, is there a conversion kit for the TA-4J that can convert it to the OA-4M?
By the way, SgtMaj, what was your MOS? Were you I-level or O-level maintenance? Did you ever know a GySgt. Joe Peebles while at Cherry Point? Semper Fi!!!
Sargent Major and co. i have just looked on one of my favorite mail order sites and have found the following Hasegawa kits,
1/72, OA4M Skyhawk. £7.99
1/72, TA4J Skyhawk £7.99
1/32, TA4J Skyhawk £24.99
1/32, TA4J Skyhawk (Diamond Aniversary) £21.99
the site address is www.kingkit.co.uk
Hope this is of some use to you. Greg
Sgt Maj.
I will stay “on watch” for a Hasagawa 1/32 OA -4- M that the owner is willing to part with. I will dig into my storage area for my OA 4 M and get the kit number, when I get a chance. Like you, I love the “Scooter”. What’s not to love?
I also intend to build every kit I ever purchased. My wife refers to my kits as the other woman! As age has played its rotton tricks on my eye sight, I have decided to divest my collection of most of my 1/72 scale stuff. My local club holds an auction a couple of time per year. The club gets 10% of the selling price, and I gave the rest to “Toys for Tots”.
I wanted to give them the kits, but they only take cash or complete toys, i.e. no kits. Oh well.
My friend has told me many times that the Army was at the Chosin Resivoir, and that they took their share of casualties.
Jimmy Buffet? A Marine Corps Sgt Maj that is a “Parrot Head”? (No disrespect intended)
rangerj (three hard stripes!)
Gary,
I started out as a 6077 I-level with H&MS-32 GSE. I did some flightline time with TA-4’s before heading back to I-level GSE at NAF Andrews AFB. Became a flightline bubba on F-4’s with VMFA-321. After 2 years with HMX-1 and 2 as a Drill Instructor I landed in the line shack with VMA-331 for 2 years until the squadron stood down to await transition to AV-8B Harriers. Back to I-level GSE.
Don’t remember Gunny Peebles. Is it possible he was with VMA-223? They were the other A-4 unit on Cherry Point at the time.
Rangerj: At ease mister! I was listenin’ to Buffett before there were “Parrot Heads”!
I feel your 1/72nd scale pain. When I finally retired I decided to get back into modeling with both feet. I had been collecting kits for years and now I could actually set up a real work bench with spray booth and the whole 9 yards. I ordered some photo etched detail kits for the 1/72nd WWI kits on the newly constructed shelf. They arrived, I got down to work on a Fokker D-VII and…man, the old eyeballs are no longer up to the challange! On to 1/48 and 1/32 scale projects! Full speed ahead! Be advised, however, that I can still hit the 5v ring at 500 yards!
I think I found a site with kit numbers for A-4’s and related after market stuff. I’ll post it as soon as I get a chance to check it out.
Later men!