Moving forward on the TA-4Gs and A-4Gs....if you have a request or refs, now would be the time to get 'em in.

The TA-4 2-tone gray jet is done, but not in the profiles....any chance it ever carried the chess knight?

There's room for 3 or 4 more things.


[IMG][/IMG]

Scott runs a decal manugacturer in the USA and he is looking at doing some RAN markings for the A-4.

David Harvey
Editor
Aussie Modeller International
www.aussiemodeller.com

The response to the all Aussie themed F/A-18 sheet was SO great that anytime we get the chance to make a RAAF or RAN themed sheet in the future, we're going to take it. (Yup, this includes F-111s)

Aussie Hornets II is being hacked on as we speak, and the scooters are on the fast track.

Drop by and have a gander 'round.

www.afterburnerdecals.com

Hope it helps

Made about 6 months ago this 1GB PDF would have the most information in one package available online about the RAN FAA A-4G. There are other larger PDFs with supporting information that is likely not relevant to the various paint schemes:

http://www.filefront.com/13602748/1GB-A4G-ONLY-15apr09.pdf/

One scheme from 1974 NAS Nowra Air Day display by VF-805 'Checkmate' aerobatic team tail is shown below. This backwards facing rook was not popular, so this scheme did not last. It was replaced by the all over red/white check tail.

154911 (880) was the only T bird that was repainted in the aggressor scheme and never carried the knights head as it was a 724 bird. The knights head was VF805 and that squadron ceased to exsist ( good on ya scum bag pollies!) not long after 880 returned from overhaul and repaint.
154912 (881) had its overhaul deferred and later cancelled just before the disbandment of VC724 and the sale to the RNZAF
D

Since U been gone I can breath for the first time; Kelly Clarkson

been waiting for this sheet for a long time. Schemes look great so far. Phil Thompson and Danni are the boys and girls you want to speak to, hopefully they get in touch with you. Also looking forward to the hornet and pig sheets
Regards
Bruce

Superb stuff!

I really want to get this right.

Got a couple of Scooters itching to be done in your decals! Looking forward to your next Aussie Hornet sheet too,the first was freakin awesome.

cheers,Daz

"the 1st time I saw a jet I shot it down"-General Chuck Yeager

Looks good to me with a nice set of choices.
I might jest git me sum o' that.

Bring em on.

Andrew P (A1)

I know you've specifically asked for Aussie Scooter suggestions but I couldn't miss this opportunity to request a decal option for an A-4K with the 'European I' camouflage scheme in 1/32 scale. Gekko Graphics produced a very popular sheet which included options in this scheme, but never in 1/32 scale! I'm sure a 1/32 scale Anzac A-4's decal sheet would sell like hot cakes! This is the scheme I'm talking about:http://hyperscale.com/features/2002/a4kbg_1.htm

I've got a big scooter that I coverted to a K but its under a metre of dust cause I cant get decals for it!
D

Since U been gone I can breath for the first time; Kelly Clarkson

First is, Gekko has covered Kiwi scooters to the nth degree....no place to go.

Second is, 1/32 has proven to be a non-starter for us.

Oh well, I live in hope that someone, one day will produce a 1/32 A-4K sheet. In the meantime, I sincerely hope you sell a truckload of 1/48 Aussie Scooter sheets.

We did 2 initial 1/32 sheets with the intent to do almost everything in 1/32.....until we couldn't give them away. Kits are just too expensive and guys just don't need that many sheets. I'm a 1/32 guy....I own a decal concern.....I can't get 1/32 markings, argggghhh!

We've had some success with combo sheets....1/48 with a couple of 1/32 jets tossed on....that's a route I sorta like but for scooters, I dunno. The major hangup is again, Gekko really left us no place to go on Kiwi subjects.

Thanks for taking an interest in Aussie subjects. I've got the Part 1 Hornets sheet. Excellent stuff. Any or all aussie subjects would be welcome, from all of us.

Ben.

Things that make u go HMMM!

We miss anything?

[IMG][/IMG]

Also, here's the layout....

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

THAT'S GOLD !!!

Ben

Things that make u go HMMM!

Otherwise I'm looking forward to set of these. Nice work Scott

Regards

Andrew

Is this a one-off then? LOL, I'd really hate to jack that up....which is why we post stuff before we print.....sharp eyed people out there catch all sorts of stuff.

I haven't looked astoundingly close at 871....the jet in the shot has a white rudder.

I'll get to digging on it.

Thanks!!

[IMG][/IMG]

Hi Scott,

I know this is not decal artwork, but the small number on the fin of 889 (top subject) seems a little on the small side.

This photo from Airliners.net of 886 shows it to be a little larger based on a comparison with the checks on the rudder.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Australia---Navy/McDonnell-Douglas-A-4G/1375143/L/

The same seems to apply to other subjects with the small fin tip number based on photos.

BTW there are a lot on Airliners.net if you search the keyword "A-4G Skyhawk".

Hth,

Ken

and in between.... The first batch of new A4Gs had a more squarish slightly larger thinner numeral font compared to the slightly smaller rounder numeral font used most of the time when it changed (whenever that was). Photos show original numbers for Side Number 882 with then the later Side Numbers. Some of the names on second photo are probably incorrect. So various features of the details of each scheme changed over time, sometimes in different combinations to after a while become more harmonised and the same with every aircraft in any particular scheme. The original batch of A4Gs had a small capital letter 'B' after the Bu.No. which took a while to be dropped. Apparently the 'B' is only relevant to the 'batch number' when made in the factory and has no relevance outside the factory. The second hand batch did not have the 'B' (I think?).

BTW it is usually relatively easy to distinguish the original dull paint from the later semi-gloss or high gloss paint grey. The oil/hydraulic vent forward of the speedbrake is always heavily discoloured whenever there is a dull paint scheme. Note also there is a different antenna aft top of cockpit. That changed relatively early - after a few years.

Of course sometimes the dirt was just bad - as seen in one of the few photos of 873 (the first A4G lost - engine failure) here seen with the (now I realise) different font (2nd batch A4Gs) again! My guess would be the reason the two different fonts for the side number was harmonised would have been this difference.

I mentioned the small number on the fin tip, but I think you are refering to the pennant number on the nose. Is that the case?

Ken, I meant to refer also to your question but did not when composing answer to some errors in the decal sheet, very late yesterday... I'm hoping that you can at least download the 1GB PDF at FileFront to have in one package a lot of A4G photos so you can compare and contrast how various aspects of the paint schemes changed over time.

Because I do not have a written history of such changes most can only be inferred inexactly to various time periods. In any event changes usually happened slowly as aircraft were repainted etc (not all at once). Getting all the paint schemes on one squadron harmonised was impossible in the circumstances when for example VF-805 was going to sea needing a replacement for a sick aircraft at the last second, they would take the best available from VC-724.

By highlighting the font changes my intent was to show that various details changed with a font change also most likely making a size change. I could have made that clear but in the late of night got tired of taking screenshots from a PDF that has all the pics I take screenshots from....

You will see any aircraft with at least many variations of paint schemes to see any difference, especially between what are nominally the same paint scheme. Until today I did not twig that the side number font of the second batch of A4Gs was quite different to original font and what became the standard font later. I'm reluctant to provide screenshots.

If you missed the secondary thread with my late night answer may help but the 873 pic is not in that thread (for some reason replies could not be added to this thread perhaps due to early morning maintainance?): [actually the time is incorrect it was almost 2am and my powers of thought are NIL at that time]

http://www.network54.com/Forum/219149/message/1257691094/ROOK+TAIL+in+CIRCLE+CHECKMATES+A4Gs

Then to answer your question where it would seem that all the tail numbers in any given example on the AfterBurner Decal sheet are all the same then in some instances they might be wrong. Problem of generalisation. In some instances there are no tail numbers. The original ten A4Gs had a single digit painted on the top of the nosewheel strut, facing forward; but that practice was discontinued when or before second batch arrived. How far do we want to go for authenticy/accuracy? My PDFs have all the answers for the keen-eyed.

My concern was the physical height of the number on the tail fin as it appeared too small compared to photos which show it to be about 1 1/2 checks in height vs the rudder. I have not even gone so far to as to deal with the font issue, although reviewing all the photos shows some variation on the fin, in the same way as the nose.

Unfortunately due to the vageries of indonesian broadband I cannot download the pdf, I know I have tried about eight or nine times - connection rates are just too slow and drop outs are regular. (Indon broadband is about the same on average as dial up in Australia, even with cable internet). Hopefully Scott can work something out re the pennant and fin numbers from our discussion. As one of the guys who helped put the Aussie Hornets sheet togethor and proof it before printing I know how painstaking the process is to get right and how much effort Scott will put into it.

Ken, Click on my name top right of the page to send me an e-mail about this issue. A PDF could be made that has only a bunch of A4G photos without any other information so as to make the smallest PDF possible. Never thought about making a 'boring' PDF.

In the past there have been smaller PDFs but they have disappeared as the PDF information expanded.

The 1969 photo of Side Number 886 on the catapult shows some difference to the 1970 photo by Wal Nelowkin (I have his permission to use his photos) reproduced from the previous URL. To my eye the original squared side number font really is distintive in 1969 without any piping paint on the leading edges of the slats in an effort to stop the original dull paint pealing that you can notice on the 1970 photo. However there is already piping on the tail in both photos. 1969 does not have the squadron badge because it may have been applied but been stripped off. This was another problem only really solved by getting better quality badges and applying them amidships as seen in the red/white checked tail era.

The first new build batch of A4Gs did not have white rudders in original paint scheme. It gets complicated and I hope you will find explanation in the 1GB PDF (I don't have a ready example to give you relevant page numbers). However a cheap and nasty short explanation would be that only gradually may have the rudders been painted white (on any side number 88x).

However any second hand batch later A4Gs (side number 87x) all had shiny paint jobs with white rudders and ailerons because that had become standard USN. Keep in mind the original dull paint scheme was not hard wearing so many experiments on individual aircraft were carried out to ameliorate the effect of paint stripping off; amongst other problems with this dull paint. The original dull paint was also much more expensive and very difficult to supply so the original paint scheme gradually changed to the high gloss scheme via a semi gloss in some cases.

And the differences don't end there. The originals did not have the black nose top in front of the windscreen. However the TA4Gs did. Then all the second hand batch had this black panel so gradually the originals took on this panel also.

I'll just go back into my hole. Does surprise me though.

Regards

Andrew

reversed insignia like that rook go against the rules of heraldry so you were right to raise it.

its a subject that I'm not familiar with. The reason I post stuff like this in advance is precisely so we can get feedback on it before it prints. Its easy to fix now....much harder later.

I frankly don't understand why some other companies don't do this all the time. The "experts" are out here on the boards. They are going to say something anyway after its already done when its too late....seems like a better plan would be to let them comment beforehand while you can still do something about it. I dunno....I just don't have ego about it. I'm more interested in a good product than being thought of an an expert on our subjects. I don't have the slightest problem with putting the people who know the subjects we do in charge of the references and what we print.

Point being, your input is MUCH appreciated.

Scott,

Would you consider doing older RAAF type jets if as a collective we could provide reference for you? I tried doing a RAAF Dual seat Vampire sheet but my software is garbage and I haven't got the bucks for better software.

I have alot of recent walkaround pics of a RAAF 'Telstar' Vampire and some others but some of the other guys here would have other schemes applicable to RAAF Vampires.

These decals would be highly sought in Australia and the UK for the Hobbycraft and Classic Airframe kits. I don't know whether they would be of interest for the US market though.

Just a thought for your consideration

Regards

Andrew

we print what we get reference on. There are several sheets in our line that were not our idea. Several times we've had people do the legwork, and send us something easy to just run with.

50s-60s commonwealth jets aren't our "forte" but when we started, I hadn't envisioned scooters and 'varks.

Regards

Andrew

we collect stuff all the time.

I have a copy of a photo from Phils Pdf file that shows 875 with a white rudder, red & white disc & rook also.

There is also a photo of 870 with white rudder in Phil Thompson's entry headed 'All the 1974 'rook head in red/white check circle'. It was 2 lines below this entry.

I guess its up to the modeller which colour rudder they want to portray.


Cheers.....Doug

The second batch of A4Gs (second hand) all had the same colour scheme (semi-gloss/gloss) with white rudders and ailerons with the black nose topping. All these A4Gs had side numbers 87x, therefore any paint scheme with these side numbers would have such white control surfaces. The control surfaces were high gloss hardwearing white so that the paint did not peel off. Gradually all A4Gs acquired a similar scheme - with variations - along the way.

The Rook faced backward as per the photo from Phil above but it was short lived and unpopular. I have photos of 888 and 875 which show the backwards facing rook as being correct per the Afterburner drawings. Could not confirm for 871 but highyl likely.

On the tail faced backwards. Possibly for a short time one example had the rook head facing forward but quickly changed to facing backward like the others for the Air Day "CheckMate" VF-805 Squadron aerobatic team. Probably on the day though NOT all of the four (or more) painted in this scheme flew that day with possibly one different scheme in the mix. I have only photos that may or may not have been taken on the day. Not always clear because sometimes photos taken on a previous 'practice day' were said to be on the actual day.

These details don't worry me so much but others might want to confirm against other photos... if you follow.

Here is a formation photo: (note No.2 no tail insignia)

Could not post earlier part thread about the VC 724 Ramjet rudder in 1969. Anyway looking at the TA4G colour photo I think it is clear how the rudder looked (perhaps). Below is my final corrected rudder (trimmed?). Until otherwise...

G'day Scott,

Is it too late for any tweaks or additions?

Cheers,
Motty.

I keep meaning to e-mail. For some reason I can't see the flying leathernecks site properly. Any news on when the 1/72 Marine AV-8B sheet will be available?

You ought to e-mail Dave Roof about it

oops ...

Gents,

I just recieved my "Lakenheath Varks" decal sheets from Scott, and once again I am astounded at the quality of the package that Afterburner produces.

I purchased the Aussie Hornet's I sheet a year or so ago, and thought that it was one of the best, if not the best (but then again I'm baised being an Aussie) decal sheets around.

Even if you are only contemplating picking up any of Scott's decals, don't hesitate - grab them. You won't be sorry. But be warned - you may just want to build more than one kit once you see the options on offer. I'm struggling with exactly how many F-111F's I want to build now - where is the Hobby Boss kit??

Scott, any inside info on the RAAF F-111 sheets? Whats on offer?

Cheers,

Jeff M
Brisbane

p.s. I don't work for Afterburner decals - just a very, very satisfied customer.

Fantastic decals and great service too!

cheers,Daz

"the 1st time I saw a jet I shot it down"-General Chuck Yeager

but again, the response from Australia to RAAF and RAN themed sheets warrants continued ones. Legacy hornets are by FAR our poorest selling thing....which surprised me....except Aussie Hornets #1....which is juuust about gone.

When we see which way Hobby Boss is going to go, we'll explore the pigs further, but be assured its a subject that interests us.

Thanks for the props....its neat to hear that folks are happy with the product, but this scooter sheet is a good example of why our stuff is the way it is....and that's customer input. Great sheets are easy when you get the kind of reference and technical support that you see here. Boom....the whole enchilada. I know Richard all about RAN A-4s, but I don't have to....you guys know about them and that's what gets printed.

The 111 sheets just literally materialized due to the work of the guys listed on the instructions. All we did was draw what they sent in....they deserve the praise. Aussie Hornets was mostly the work of Ken Bowes and Darren Mottram...neither Geoff or I could tell an RAAF one from a duck, LOL!