Platz Hobby

 1/144 A-4E Skyhawk model kit

Product # PD-20

Product Article by Steve Bamford on July 18 2011

 

This is another lovely 1/144 kit from Platz Hobby...actually you get two kits in the box.  The fine panel line detail as well as excellent detail in other areas of this kit is easily as good as 1/72 scale.  Platz Hobby has taken the 1/144 scale kit to a very delicate looking and well detailed level.  All panel lines are fine and recessed.  The canopy and windshield are a one piece affair and there is even the oval winshield glass common on the A-4.  If you want to pose this model with an open canopy, you have 2 choices.  Use an Xacto knife and carefully cut the windscreen apart from the rest of the canopy.......or just cut grind/sand/file away the unwanted parts from the 2 canopies included in this kit.  Yes you actually get 2 kits in this one box......so if you are willing to sacrifice the second kit to have an open canopy on your model, then this is an option.

Cockpit detail is spartan and only includes a separate ejection seat, so maybe opening the canopy wouldn't be the best route to go.  Super micro detailers could have fun doing up this cockpit if they were crazy enough to try.  The wheels have nice spoked hub detail and smooth tread tires.  

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There is 2 centerline fuel tanks to go under the wings that also come with each kit.  The engine exhaust has some nice detail on the face inside the exhaust cone.  The nose wheel and nose gear leg is very delicate and nicely detailed and of course the main landing gear look very good as well.

Platz was careful to select some very appealing paint schemes. The decals include markings for 4 colourful A-4E Skyhawks which include the following:  

  • A-4E Skyhawk Bu151988 with VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers

  • A-4E Skyhawk Bu150076 with VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers

  • A-4E Skyhawk Bu159651 with VMA-153 / VMA-311 Tomcats

  • A-4E Skyhawk Bu15050 with VMAT-102 Skyhawks

The decals are excellent quality and in register and include stencils and are packed in a separate bag with protective paper.  All canopies are packed in a separate bag from the other sprues to protect them from being scratched.

1/144 models are a blast to build out of the box and I guarantee you will enjoy building in this tiny scale and if you are crazy enough to try.......I've seen some stunning detailing in 1/144 scale.

Platz Hobby has an ever growing selection of 1/144 kits that are well done and beautifully detailed and if you haven't built a 1/144 kit, you really should give it a try.

Check out http://www.platz-hobby.com/ for this and other fine products.  I'd like to thank Platz Hobby for the review sample......this kit is made in Japan and the high quality is evident throughout this tiny model kit.

Steve Bamford

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Photos and text © by Steve Bamford