Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Ideas and Inspiration

[GTX_Admin]

Random idea:

Portuguese A-4 instead of A-7.  Same scheme as below:

[GTX_Admin]

Has anyone ever released a 1/48 conversion in order to do the Singaporean TA-4S:

[Scooterman]

Random idea:

Portuguese A-4 instead of A-7. 

That's an idea!

[upnorth]

Has anyone ever released a 1/48 conversion in order to do the Singaporean TA-4S:

I don't think anyone has released a conversion set for it in any scale.

From what I understand, the rear cockpit canopy has a bulged cross section that's nigh on impossible to replicate even with vac forming.

I've also heard the rear cockpit is classified even after retirement, though I don't know how true that bit is.

[elmayerle]

My understanding was that the rear canopy and windscreen were right off other single-seat A-4's as a cost-reduction measure for the two-seaters.

[upnorth]

My understanding was that the rear canopy and windscreen were right off other single-seat A-4's as a cost-reduction measure for the two-seaters.

Not at all.

In this picture, you can see the difference in cross section between the front and rear canopies and just enough of the rear windscreen too see that it lacks a flat front panel and associated framing:


net photo

[Rickshaw]

That rear canopy, from the front does make it look rather bizarre.  Also shows how little forward and downward vision a standard canopy would have.  Obviously the instructor has to hang his head out one side or the t'other to see.

[Kerick]

Perhaps the bulged canopy is a refit to replace the standard A-4 version.  I have also heard the story that the rear cockpit was taken from other A-4s.

[Scooterman]

For those who want to know...........

The Singapore TA-4S was created out of two single seat B's so the engine (J-65) could stay the same with the rest of their fleet.  The length and cockpit arrangements were the same as any other TA-4, but in place of the long one piece canopy, the RSiAF wanted better over the nose visibility for the backseater and again to keep a common parts theme, the rear canopy as delivered was the same as the front unit (albeit with a different rear windscreen).

About the time the T/A-4SU project started, the bulged sided rear canopy was developed and installed.

[GTX_Admin]

Subtle whiff:  Singaporean TA-4 with one piece canopy

[Weaver]

Couple of Skyhawk questions, folks:

1. What colour was the thermal cockpit shield (I presume white, but the only photo I can find is black and white)? Does anyobdy have a better picture of it than the one that appears on the Wikipedia page?

2. When a Skyhawk was preparing for launch from a carrier, would it's leading edge slats be in or out

[Kerick]

The leading edge slats on Skyhawks and Skywarriors were gravity controlled. Once airborne air pressure pushed them back against the wing. So any Skyhawk on the ground the slats would be down. Except the Blue Angel aircraft. Theirs was welded in the up position to prevent an aircraft accidentally getting one slat up and one down while in tight formation.

I believe the shielding was gray like the rest of the cockpit but don't quote me on it. Check out the website Prime Portal for all kinds of military equipment walk arounds. There may be cockpit pictures there. Also Airliners.net has military aircraft too.

[Weaver]

Ah Sod's Law: found the answer to the slats question just AFTER I posted it. 

What was confusing me was that I could find pics of A-4s on the cat with both slats in and slats out. However I've just found a Q&A on PPrune by somebody with the same question, and it seems that the slats were gravity operated, so they were always down when the aircraft was at rest, but they retracted VERY quickly when the cat was fired, so those pics that show them in were probably taken half a second after the aircraft started to accelerate.

[Kerick]

Just the inertia of the slat would slam it into the wing when the aircraft was shot forward. I believe a pre flight check was to make sure the slats were free to move as you definitely did not want to try and take off with one up and one down.
The pics of the Singapore Skyhawks show the slats down while taxing down the runway. They are up in the pic of the parked aircraft so that must be a maintenance procedure. The ground crew would have to push them up.
These types of slats were on other Douglas aircraft too.

[Volkodav]

Interesting stuff, I love it when discussions like this come up, I learn so much from them.  Thankyou gentlemen!

[Kerick]

I always found the Squadron Signal "In Action" series of books very helpful. Lots of pics and good explanations of various functions. Sort of like Playboy. (Did I say that out loud?)

[Weaver]

The Squadron Signal "In Action" books certainly are very helpful, but they're no substitute for having a good look at the real thing, particularly if you're allowed to play with it too. Sort of like Playboy.....

[Cliffy B]

The old "Detail and Scale" books are even better 

[Kerick]

Better than Playboy?

[Old Wombat]

Better than Playboy?

Probably up there with Hustler?

[Volkodav]

Or down there depending on your POV

[Kerick]

I think we have offended just about everyone!

[KiwiZac]

I was about to ask whether anyone had any new photos, colour scheme ideas etc for the Army Scooter, but I seem to have come into the wrong thread...

[Old Wombat]

All good, mate! :)

We're back on track now ... I think!?

I'd be looking at SEA or 3-tone NATO.

[Kerick]

Army paint jobs have to be OD green on top and grey underneath!