Martinsson Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Hi, I´m on another color hunt here. When I read about the VF-1 F-14 Heater scheme in the book "The Cutting Edge" by C.J. Heatly, I discovered what looks to be an A-4E from Top Gun with the avioniks pack on the back. From what I understand, that was unusual in itself. What´s more, the painting scheme looks different. I wonder if anyone can help me with the color call out and possibly the pattern. The pictures in the book only shows the left side. Serial no: 150044 Nose no: White 55 Fin No: 555 Pilot name: Lt Heater Heatly I will try to post a scan as soon as I can. TIA Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Martinsson Posted January 26, 2007 Author Share Posted January 26, 2007 Brian P? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sundowner Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 (edited) Brian P? Hi Martin , Please can you give us the scan of this Topgun bird , I am really curious to see it ! Cheers, Henk "Omar" Edited January 27, 2007 by sundowner Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 (edited) Hi Martin , Please can you give us the scan of this Topgun bird , I am really curious to see it ! Cheers, Henk "Omar" Here's the best I could get with my scanner Henk ... Sorry for the crease, that's where the centerfold is ... HTH ... Gregg Edited January 27, 2007 by GreyGhost Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Martinsson Posted January 27, 2007 Author Share Posted January 27, 2007 Thanks for the picture Gregg. Henk, I´d be happy to post more photos of this a/c but I have no place to upload the pictures. Martin Here's the best I could get with my scanner Henk ... Sorry for the crease, that's where the centerfold is ... HTH ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Hi,I´m on another color hunt here. When I read about the VF-1 F-14 Heater scheme in the book "The Cutting Edge" by C.J. Heatly, I discovered what looks to be an A-4E from Top Gun with the avioniks pack on the back. From what I understand, that was unusual in itself. What´s more, the painting scheme looks different. I wonder if anyone can help me with the color call out and possibly the pattern. The pictures in the book only shows the left side. Serial no: 150044 Nose no: White 55 Fin No: 555 Pilot name: Lt Heater Heatly I will try to post a scan as soon as I can. TIA Martin Martin, There are two pic's of the same side of this a/c, but from the top (clearly showing the upper camo for the left side) in Airpower magazine, May 1982. Unfortunately, there are no views of the right side. I checked my slide collection, but I don't have any slides of this jet with the hump. Sorry :) Fred K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Martinsson Posted January 27, 2007 Author Share Posted January 27, 2007 Hi Fred, I sent you an e-mail earlier today. Can you include this new information in your reply? It is interesting that they chose to keep the hump. Not very common for Top Gun I believe? Do you have any idea of what colors they used? Cheers Martin Martin, There are two pic's of the same side of this a/c, but from the top (clearly showing the upper camo for the left side) in Airpower magazine, May 1982. Unfortunately, there are no views of the right side. I checked my slide collection, but I don't have any slides of this jet with the hump. Sorry :) Fred K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Hi Fred,I sent you an e-mail earlier today. Can you include this new information in your reply? It is interesting that they chose to keep the hump. Not very common for Top Gun I believe? Do you have any idea of what colors they used? Cheers Martin Hi Martin, I just checked my email, and the one you sent hasn't got here yet. I don't have a flatbed scanner, so I cannot scan the magazine pics I have of #555. Maybe someone else out there has a flatbed, and the mag and can help out? I did find a pic of the right side of the a/c in my files. I will email it to you directly. Take care, Fred. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 That jet (and I presume those markings) were done by Fujimi in their 1:72 kit #F24. If anyone has a scan of the instruction sheet..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Martinsson Posted January 27, 2007 Author Share Posted January 27, 2007 Hey, thanks habu2! That would be very intersting. Let´s hope for the best! Martin That jet (and I presume those markings) were done by Fujimi in their 1:72 kit #F24. If anyone has a scan of the instruction sheet..... ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 That jet (and I presume those markings) were done by Fujimi in their 1:72 kit #F24. If anyone has a scan of the instruction sheet..... ;) Looks like I presumed wrong... :D from this page: http://fanakit.chez-alice.fr/boxart/boxart_fujimi.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I'll take a stab at the colors, but it's not Gospel, keep in mind.... Light blue, either FS 35414 or 35450. "Ochre" tannish-gray, maybe 36307, though plenty weathered and stained. Blue-Gray, probably 35164. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 (edited) Gee, there was a 1/72 Testors/Italeri kit produced a long while back that had a Top Gun Scooter on the box that still had the avionics hump attached. At the time I thought that it was a mistake on Testors/Italeri part. As it turns out, based on the photo above, there was at least one Top Gun A-4 that had the "hump" still on. Where there more? I will check to see if I have that 1/72 Testors kit down in the stash to see if the markings are the same (but IIRC they are for "Jesters"/"Vipers" A-4 from the movie...so wrong color scheme). Regards, Don PS: Just checked my stash. I do have the Testors kit and it indeed shows the avionics hump, but the aircraft is not painted in the markings as seen in the picture posted above. The markings are for "Jesters"/"Vipers" A-4 from the movie as I suspected...sorry but I tried. Good Luck! Edited January 28, 2007 by Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Cheetah Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Interesting find. Wasn't Heater Heatley a tech consultant or pilot for the movie "Top Gun"? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Interesting find. Wasn't Heater Heatley a tech consultant or pilot for the movie "Top Gun"? Both ... and he briefly appears in the movie as well ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vesper Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I think he got the "foreign relations" good gestier :lol: I'm not an expert, but if any of the A-4E/Fs (I believe the Mikes are another bag of chips altogether) had the Av. hump while in Adversary service, it was short lived due to peformance enhancement the a/c got without it fitted. Now about the A-4M, did they retain the hump or was it removed as well? Ves B) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Ves, I've seen pics of Mikes both with and without the Av hump in Adversary duty ... I can't give specifics though ... Perhaps Gary can ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Well, I've never seen an M without the hump...got pics? I'd love to see.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Gee, there was a 1/72 Testors/Italeri kit produced a long while back that had a Top Gun Scooter on the box that still had the avionics hump attached. At the time I thought that it was a mistake on Testors/Italeri part. As it turns out, based on the photo above, there was at least one Top Gun A-4 that had the "hump" still on. Where there more? I will check to see if I have that 1/72 Testors kit down in the stash to see if the markings are the same (but IIRC they are for "Jesters"/"Vipers" A-4 from the movie...so wrong color scheme).Regards, Don PS: Just checked my stash. I do have the Testors kit and it indeed shows the avionics hump, but the aircraft is not painted in the markings as seen in the picture posted above. The markings are for "Jesters"/"Vipers" A-4 from the movie as I suspected...sorry but I tried. Good Luck! IIRC, the Testors kit was much closer to representing an A-4M, especially with the forward fuselage design and canopy, am I right? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Martinsson Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share Posted January 28, 2007 Hi Andrew, Thanks for the color suggestion. As ususal, it is a matter of mixing and and re-mixing until you have something that looks good and is close enough to the photos. But it is good to have a starting point that is in the right vicinity colorwise. It is interesting that they had the a/c long enough to re-paint it in adversary colors and yet the chose to keep the hump for some reason. The colors look good and I´m intent on doing this a/c. Thanks Martin I'll take a stab at the colors, but it's not Gospel, keep in mind....Light blue, either FS 35414 or 35450. "Ochre" tannish-gray, maybe 36307, though plenty weathered and stained. Blue-Gray, probably 35164. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Martinsson Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share Posted January 28, 2007 habu2, No worries mate. I appreciate that you piled in! By the way, the scheme on the Fujimi box is a cool one in its own right! Definitley worth considering for a future project! Thanks Martin Looks like I presumed wrong... :( from this page: http://fanakit.chez-alice.fr/boxart/boxart_fujimi.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Both ... and he briefly appears in the movie as well ... Gregg What scene was he in? Do you recall? Heater's been a childhood hero of mine ever since I got "The Cutting Edge". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 IIRC, the Testors kit was much closer to representing an A-4M, especially with the forward fuselage design and canopy, am I right? I *think* the Testors kit was, indeed, a reboxed Italeri A-4M. Italeri did come out with a modification of this kit as an A-4E/F later (in addition to an OA-4M), but the Testors kit predate these. HTH, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom726 Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 (edited) What scene was he in? Do you recall? Heater's been a childhood hero of mine ever since I got "The Cutting Edge". JackMan, Courtesy of www.fast-rewind.com: "In the bar scene where Maverick is sitting by himself after he thinks "Charlie" just dumped him, the man sitting next to him is none other than Cmdr CJ "Heather" Heatley, a real Top Gun instructor, author of several Navy jet books and photo technical advisor in the movie. Also, in the scene where all the students are graduating at the pool, when Maverick receives his order to report to the ship for duty, Cmdr Heatley is seen in the back drop to Tom Cruise's right side" Comparison shots of another Echo in what appears to be a similar scheme: http://www.skyhawk.org/5e/g149647/html/149656j.htm http://www.skyhawk.org/5e/g149647/html/149656k.htm Sorry guys - cant' resist: Merlin: What are you doing? You're slowing down, you're slowing down! Maverick: I'm bringing him in closer, Merlin. Merlin: You're gonna do WHAT? :) :blink: Bjarne Edited January 28, 2007 by Phantom726 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 (edited) What scene was he in? Do you recall? Heater's been a childhood hero of mine ever since I got "The Cutting Edge". He's in the Graduation Scene near the end of the movie, you see him behind Tom Cruise as they are opening their Orders Envelopes, he's the guy with the mustache ... There are several Aviators in that scene ... BTW, that "Older Guy" Charlie is meeting in the bar is Pete Petigrew, Top Gun Instcructor and MiG Killer ... Gregg Edited January 28, 2007 by GreyGhost Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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