Platz 1/144 A-4F Skyhawk "Ladie Jessie"
By Matt Bittner
The Kit
Typing "the kit" is actually misleading. The Platz 1/144 A-4 "box" actually has two kits in it. As I mentioned, there are two kits in one box. Each kit consists of 33 grey, injected plastic pieces and one clear canopy. There are decals for four aircraft:
- A-4E, Bu155022, VA-164 Ghost Riders 1969 ("Lady Jessie")
- A-4F, Bu155018, VA-164 Ghost Riders 1972 ("Lady Jessie")
- A-4F, Bu155022, VA-153 Blue Tail Flies 1969
Decals are very nicely printed - colorful - and in register.
Construction starts with - wait for it - wait for it - NOT the cockpit. Woo hoo! I can finally start one of these reviews on an aircraft where construction doesn't start with the cockpit. With that being said, construction starts by assembling the external wing tanks and the main landing gear (although you might want to wait until the end to add the tires to the gear).Now construction moves to the main aircraft. Before gluing anything together, though, you want to pay attention to the instructions that show you what holes should be opened for the various external stores. Now you can assemble both fuselage halves together (the "cockpit" is actually just a seat that glues onto a "solid" cockpit tub), the wing halves together, and then the fuselage to the wing. From there you add the intakes, horizontal tail, tail pipe (although again that could probably be left off until the end so it can be painted separate), ejection seat and canopy. The next piece - the refueling probe - is definitely best left off until the very end. I know I would probably break it off many times if I glued it on before the end.
The last step in the instructions is also best left until after painting. That's the addition of the external stores, pylons, landing gear and gear doors.Conclusion
Many claim that Revell is state-of-the-art when it comes to 1/144 models. I add to that in that Platz is also on-par with Revell. If you're thinking about purchasing any Platz kits - especially the A-4E/F - then do so without hesitation. They're awesome kits and the fact you get two in a box is just "icing on the cake".
My thanks to Platz for the review kit(s).