Squadron Signal’s latest Walk Around title deals with the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. The book is presented in its typical 80-page softcover landscape format. You can also get the book in hardcover format for an additional $10. It is chock full of clear and well presented color and black & white photos which provide not only overall long-shots, but the typical Walk Around up-close detail shots. All photos are accompanied by descriptive captions, although I did find an error to the caption of a photo on page 58 which describes the photo as a Marine loading an Mk-82 Snakeye, when in fact, he is loading ammo for the 20mm gun. Otherwise, all seems in order.

All A-4 variants are covered in the pages, although I was a bit disappointed not to see more detail coverage of the A-4C to help me out with my build of the Hasegawa 1/48 kit – but that’s my problem. The book does do a good job of covering the A-4’s of the Blue Angels, which I had had the good fortune to have seen in flight many moons ago. There are also a lot of nice shots of IDF A-4’s (both close-up and overall), which make for quite colorful modeling subjects.

There are four pages of nice color profiles of various A-4’s. And if you like cockpits, you’ll find lots of nice, clear photos and drawings of the Scooter’s office. If detailing and plumbing wheel wells is your bag, then you’ll have some good photos to help you out there, as well. Remember, these books are about photos, not history, so they are big on photos and short on verbiage.

Basically, this book represents the typical good value and format of Squadron Signal’s Walk Around titles – I should know, I own most of them in armor and aircraft. If you’re a fan of the little Scooter, then you’ll enjoy this volume.

I’d like to thank Squadron Signal Publications for providing this review sample and IPMS/USA for giving me the opportunity to write this review.