One of my modeling goals is to build all of the 1/48 scale A-4 kits that have been produced. This is the third in that project. All I can say for the Lindberg kit is…well…um…let’s see… My mom told me that if I didn’t have anything nice to say, than I shouldn’t say anything at all. How about I leave it at this kit got hit with the ugly stick a few times too many. In all seriousness, there isn’t much to the Lindberg kit. I think I got a later release, because there were updated parts for the nose, and IFR probe, and the avionics hump on the spine. There’s no detail to speak of. The only redeeming quality is that it comes with the test boom, so if you wanted to use a Hasegawa kit, you could graft on the test boom from the Lindberg kit. The kit comes closest to representing an XA4D-2, even though the box says it’s a -1. The -1 had a solid rudder but the kit comes with the ribbed rudder. Since I’m doing these projects out of the box, I went with the -2. I did find some interesting markings, although I’ve come to hate spraying Day-Glo Orange. In the end, it was a bit of a modeling adventure, so all wasn’t lost.
Recipe: Take 1 mediocre kit, 1 very talented builder, add lot’s of expertise and patience, shake and bake, paint. Recipe yields one terrific model, for everyone to enjoy seeing. Very nicely done, Darren.
The kit may have been krap but you made a silk’s purse out of that sow’s ear! I find natural metal and DayGlo orange to be some of the most difficult colours to paint but yours look perfect! Kudos sir!!!
I actually don’t have many in my house. They are scattered across the country in people’s houses, at a couple of museums, and with some pilots. It’s weird, but the fun part is building them. Once they are done and on the shelf, I kind of lose interest in them. However, I love it when I can bring some joy to someone else with something I created. That’s almost as much fun as building! I have many of my previous builds at steel-beach.com if you want to check them out.
WOW. I know the Lindberg kit well and what you did with it is nothing short of amazing. Many of those early jets modeled by Lindberg were more or less the prototype aircraft like the A4, F100, F-8, F-7 , F11F1, and the F104. The rivets were huge and the detail lacking. I have several of the old Lindberg kits for nostalgia reasons as I would not spend the time and effort to build them given todays products available. The “Scooter” is a great old bird and I, like you, have build many of the various versions, but have not considered the early test models until now. Your model is an inspiration. Thank you.
The early A4 would qualify as a “light aircraft” by the FAA as it weighed less than 12000 pounds. IIRC it weighed about 8000 pounds empty. It is an amazing little aircraft and is still in service (Brazil, U.S. Navy -“Top Gun”?) since it began production in about 1953/54. Again, a great build.
