Gekko Graphics 1/48 A-4G/K Skyhawks Royal New Zealand Air Force Part 2 Decal First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Gekko Graphics is a name many will recognize as producing high quality decals of interesting and overlooked subjects. Many will also know that Gekko Graphics shut down their business, but good news folks, they're back. Richard Chafer, owner of Gekko recently advised that he had restarted the decal line and was kind enough to share three of his releases.

This second release also provides a very interesting array of marking options for the A-4G and A-4K Skyhawks of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. You can see the first release review here. Twenty (20!) different aircraft are covered in this set (and this is only part one) which provide a nica array of camouflage and markings covering thirty one years of Skyhawk operations from 1970 through 2001. The aircraft included in this set are:

1. A-4K Early Kahu, NZ6213, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, July 1986
2. A-4K Skyhawk, NZ6201, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, 1970
3. A-4K Late Kahu, NZ6213, 2 Sqn, RNZAF, Nowra NAS, Australia, 1986
4. A-4K Late Kahu, NZ6201, Composite Sqn, RNZAF, Thailand, 1997
5. A-4G Skyhawk, 154903, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, 1985
6. A-4K Skyhawk, NZ6209, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, 1971
7. A-4K Late Kahu, NZ6206, 2 Sqn, RNZAF, Nowra NAS, Australia, 1987
8. A-4K Skyhawk, NZ6203, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, early 1970s
9. A-4K Skyhawk, NZ6204, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, early 1980s
10. A-4G Skyhawk, 154903, 805 Sqn, RAN, Nowra NAS, Australia, 1982
11. A-4K Late Kahu, NZ6201, Composite Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, 1997
12. A-4K Skyhawk, NZ6201, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, Nov 1970
13. A-4G Skyhawk, NZ6215, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, 1986
14. A-4G/K Skyhawk, NZ6211, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Nowra NAS, Australia, 1988
15. A-4K Skyhawk, NZ6210, 2 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, Late 1970s
16. A-4G Skyhawk, NZ6212, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, Oct 1985
17. A-4G/K Skyhawk, NZ6217, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Darwin, Australia, 1988
18. A-4G Skyhawk, NZ6217, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, Oct 1985
19. A-4G/K Skyhawk, NZ6215, 75 Sqn, RNZAF, Woodbourne, late 1980
20. A-4K Skyhawk, NZ6202, 2 Sqn, RNZAF, Ohakea AFB, NZ, 1988

These decals are beautifully printed and in perfect register. They're printed by Cartograf, so you won't see any decals that need to be stacked atop one another to recreate a design. While there are profiles and markings for twenty aircraft, there are enough national markings for three, and maintenance stenciling for perhaps two. Nevertheless, at the $16 USD, you're getting lots of options and good quality for your money. With all of those nice Skyhawks released by Hasegawa, now you have some interesting color options to choose from.

My sincere thanks to Gekko Graphics for this review sample!