Hey gang, here’s the first of three Heinemann Honeys that I just finished up.
My wife picked up a lot of 5 kits for $2 at a yard sale. This kit and a Monogram Skyraider had all their parts in the box, but both were missing decals and instructions. While searching the web for markings options, I ran across this photo on the China Lake Alumni Organization.
It served as inspiration for both, this Skyhawk, and the Skyraider.
The kit is built OOB with the tail markings masked and painted on. All the other markings were sourced from my stash. The kit is painted using a mix of AK RC and MM paints. The only addition I made was the FOD covers that were formed from glue soaked tissue paper.
It’s far from perfect, but it served as a fun opportunity to practice and hone my modeling skills. It’s a solid three-footer that’ll look good on the shelf next to my VX-5 Skyraider and SLUFF.
Of course, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome. Feel free to drop your two cents into the bucket on your way out.
Cheers!
-O
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Who doesn’t love an A-4 Scooter? Another great job on a “vintage” kit. I’m wondering if this was the edition that came with the little fret of PE? I love the A-4 version that doesn’t have the avionics hump. A great deal on these kits and you did a terrific job with them.
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Absolutely fantastic build O!
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Always loved the Scooter. Nice work. Probably the first jet kit I ever built, circa 1977 or so.
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Stop flooding the zone with great builds ‘O’! I can only give out so many compliments a day!
Ok, enough clowning around. That’s a great looking build ‘O’. Personally, I am always scared to build a Skyhawk due to fear of applying the star n bar decal over that line of fins on the upper wing.
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Solvaset. Straight from the bottle. I know that stuff is “hot” compared to other setting solutions, but it got the decal to snuggle down.
I started with some very warm, almost hot, water. Then laid down some Micro Sol. After letting the decal sit for a while, I carefully poked some small holes through the decals in the spaces between the vanes. My goal was to provide an escape route for the air beneath the decal. After I saw the decal start to sag a little from sitting in the Sol, I applied a generous coat of Solvaset. A few subsequent coats got the decal to settle around the detail.
-O
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M_T_S, thanks for the pat on the back. I appreciate your compliment!
No, this was not the version with the PE. This was the ol’ skool white box version.
According to Scalemates, the white box editions date back to the 1900s! 1977 to be exact.
The hump is included in the kit, but like you, I like a Scotter without the hump.
Again, thanks for looking and dropping a compliment. Much appreciated!
-O
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Everyone else, thanks for the kudos! I appreciate the feedback!
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Both are classic kits and as you’ve shown can still be turned into “real head turners.” Keep turning them out “O”!!!
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Yep, I built one of those white box kits a few years ago; I had bought it new and it had been sitting in my stash for years. The plastic had the Monogram copyright molded into the plastic - on the OUTSIDE! Had to sand that off, but the date was 1976!
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1976, you could have used a “Bicentennial” Color Scheme on it.
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That was common with a lot of Monogram molds.
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Very nice builds. But 5 kits for $2? I need to stop at yard sales!
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