Tailspin Turtle

Yes

There will be nothing in my blogs on Skyraider landing/taxi lights because that was one of the changes/modifications associated with a USAF/VNAF A-1s. That said, since I've been working toward a configuration/markings summary for Paul Fisher's A-1E conversion kit, I do have some information on the family model. See http://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2017/08/usafvnaf-1es.html

Bell built the wing. Rockwell Tulsa built the fuselage.

It doesn't work over at Hyperscale though. The address is shown instead of the picture, at least on preview.

Ooh - that worked. Thanks very much.

Robert - thanks for that. It doesn't appear to work that way in Firefox and I'm reluctant to load a third browser...

That worked - how is it done?

Not on Firefox on a Mac

Ditto - very frustrating. The web page seems to be refreshing constantly. If you go back quickly enough, the previous page appears or at least it's not far down on the list. Dilly dally, and the current page goes on forever, or what seems like it...

For what it's worth: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2016/01/f-4-phantom-outboard-pylon-and-mer.html For everything I know so far on F-4 external tanks: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2013/06/things-under-wings-f4h-f-4-phantom.html

http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2011/02/transition-to-martin-baker-ejection.html

The multiple-bomb racks were created for the early A4D Skyhawk, which only had three pylons, one or two of which were usually dedicated to an external fuel tank. It was originally a one-trick pony and intended to carry only one bomb. The Marines wanted it to have a close-air support capability as well, which resulted in a pylon kludge that became standard on many jets. The AD Skyraider was configured with 15 pylons so a TER was unnecessary, as well as adding weight and drag. Also see http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2013/04/things-under-wings-va-25-1-skyraider.html

Somebody else wrote: "Photos of the Eagle Claw '53s show them be in a more yellowish shade of sand, possibly Tan Special 20400, or Sand 33531. Seeing how Navy and Marine Corps aircraft during the 80s, especially helicopters, occasionally received local desert camo schemes in the Middle East using 20400, Tan Special, I would suggest that as a more likely color." Someone else suggested it might have been 30279. See: http://www.colorserver.net/showcolor.asp?fs=20400+33531+30279 20400 looks pretty close to me in most online pictures, a bit too dark in others, and nowhere close in a few. The other two colors don't look close, but again that's relying on what those chips and the photos look like on my computer screen. Note that the helicopters were painted aboard ship, having arrived in the standard overall dark blue-gray paint scheme, which might have affected the resulting color. There are not only no stencils in the pictures available to me but no national insignia either.

This will answer some questions: http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-short-tragic-operation-of-f-4.html

I updated my blog post to show the F4D Sidewinder pylon alternatives: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2010/10/bat-out-of-hell.html