1/48 A-4G/H/K/M Skyhawk II late ejection seat (ESCAPAC 1F-3/1G-3 type)

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was one of the most successful light attack aircraft of the Cold War. It was designed as a compact and economical machine capable of carrying armament comparable to much larger types, while its small size allowed it to operate from smaller aircraft carriers and land bases. The A-4 served in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and was exported to a number of countries where it remained in service into the 1990s and in some cases longer. The A-4G/H/K/M versions were late development variants with upgraded avionics, armament and safety systems, including improved ejection seats.

The ESCAPAC 1F-3 and 1G-3 ejection seat was installed in these late versions of the Skyhawk, replacing the older types. ESCAPAC (short for Encapsulated Seat Capable of Automatic Parachute) was a family of seats developed by Stencel Aero Engineering that provided the pilot with a higherThe pilot was given greater safety during emergency egress even in adverse conditions (low altitude, high speed). The seat was equipped with an automatic parachute separation and opening system, a protective cover and other features increasing the chance of survival. For the modeler, the cockpit with the ejection seat is one of the most visible and important parts of the interior, especially in models with an open canopy or when using a transparent cover.

Aires' resin add-on replaces the standard plastic kit part with a more accurate casting that captures the distinctive shapes, harness system, controls and other details of the actual ESCAPAC seat. Resin allows for finer detail of small features than conventional injection molded plastic, which you'll appreciate when painting and highlighting details with dry brush, oil paints or pigments. Installation requires basic resin work (removing casting blocks, sanding, gluing), but the result will greatly improve the overall cockpit feel. The add-on is compatible with common 1:48 scale A-4 Skyhawk kits (Hasegawa, Hobby Boss and others) in G/H/K/M versions. The package does not include the paint or glue needed for assembly.