Looking for a Good A-7 Kit- Fit, Detail etc… I want to build a USN attack variant so I think that makes it an A,B,or C model.
HobbyBoss seems to be the main thing out there but just looking for opinions… Any Help??
What scale?
I’ve built the Hasegawa “E”, have another stashed along with the Hobby Boss “A”($15 from Squadron.com). The “E” went well for me, haven’t done the “A”, but it looks alot like the “E”, but the “E” has better detailed equipment bays, gear bays, and pit. There’s a quarter inch or so difference in length between the two. I’ve read a review of the Hobby Boss A-7, said the intake trunk was a bit flat and wide and the canopy isn’t quite right. They both have pros and cons. H/B is pretty weak in the pit area and bays, has seperate wings that mount to the sides of the fuse, but has ordnance. The Hase kit has pylons and MERs, but no ordnance, the wings are a 1 part top piece(with bottom halves seterate, that mounts to the top of fuse). Just looking at the sprues, I’d go for the Hasegawa kit. I’d imagine it could be backdated(I don’t really know the diff. between em though)
In 1/48, for an A-7 A/B/ or C Hobby Boss makes the best kit. They also make the only twin seater in 1/48. For the D or E in 1/48 Hasegawa is the best kit.
The Hasegawa 1:48 A-7E is my favorite in 1:48 and the Fujimi kit in 1:72.
I just added a Hobby Boss 1:72 TA-7C to my stash; it looks good in the box, but haven’t started it yet.
Over the years I’ve built several older 1:72 Airfix and Revell A-7s. They’re not as detailed as newer kits and the Revell kit has some fit issues, but they still build up into some nice-looking models. I liked the fact that you could build them with the wings folded to save some space on the shelf.
I also had a soft spot for the old Aurora/Monogram 1:48 kit. It had a very nice cockpit, but the shape of the intake was off and it made the finished kit look a bit “squashed”.
If you’re into major modeling challenges, then checkout the old ESCI kit in 1:48 and the Matchbox 1:72 kit.
Mark
I built the A-7D by Hasegawa. It seemed to be a very good kit. [2cnts]
I have the Monogram A-7 in the stash. Yes it certainly is the kit for a sentimental soft spot, being based off the old Aurora A-7. That is one kit I wish that would get the new tool approach from Revell.
And I have built the ESCI kit. It is certainly a challenge to make presentable, but with reference, innovation, persistence (and stuff borrowed from here and bought from there) and some TLC, it does make a good looking SLUF.
