Hobby Master 1/72 USN A-4B Skyhawk Gladiator VA-106 Cdr L W Baldwin USS Essex (HA1402)

Hobby Master 1/72 USN A-4B Skyhawk Gladiator VA-106 Cdr L W Baldwin USS Essex (HA1402) | Antics Online

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Hobby Master 1/72 USN A-4B Skyhawk Gladiator VA-106 Cdr L W Baldwin USS Essex (HA1402)
Sometimes models just hit the mark, and this is one! True 1/72 scale, professionally painted, great attention to detail, all markings Tampoed (pad applied) and displayable stand that is provided or with the landing gear in the down or up positions. Loads of optional armament provided plus canopy opens! Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic. Highly desirable.

Designed as a lightweight low-cost attack and ground support jet for the US Navy and eventually the USMC** to replace the A-1 Skyraider the A-4 Skyhawk was first delivered in late 1956. It weighed less than half the Navy’s requirements and small enough not to need folding wings for carrier operations. The Navy started replacing the A-4 in 1967 with the A-7 Corsair II but production continued until 1979 when the Marines started to replace the A-4 with the Harrier. More than ten other countries flew the A-4. **United States Marine Corps The first US Navy A-4 Skyhawk entered service in 1956 to replace the A-1 Skyraider but by 1979 the A-4 was being replaced by the A-7 Corsair II. VA-106 started as Strike-Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO SIX in January 1945 but became VA-106 “The Gladiators” in 1955. A total 2,960 A-4s were manufactured with 542 of them as A-4B (originally designated as A-4D-2) Skyhawks. Many of these were later modified and/or refurbished and sold to foreign countries. The Skyhawk flew more missions than any other US Navy plane during the Vietnam War and because it was so nimble it was chosen by the US Navy Aerobatic Team the “Blue Angels”.

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