Wafu Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) Hi, I’m building the 1/32 Intruder and am making a KA-6E of VA-65 embarked on US Independence 1974/75. My question is, did the Intruder have the strip Formation lights fitted, as depicted on the Trumpeter kit? I’m seeing conflicting pictures on the web and would like to make sure I’m getting the correct era aircraft. Thanks in advance. Ian. Edited January 15, 2020 by Wafu Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 This is not a definitive answer, but ... The Monogram/Revell 1:48 kit depicting an A-6E in the 1970s does not show or provide formation lights. However, a sheet from Fightertown, which has a very good reputation for accuracy, does show and provide formation light decals for aircraft from the 1990s. There are also a couple of Vietnam era videos at Youtube that clearly show A-6's without formation lights, and there are any number of photographs of them in Compass Ghost schemes that have formation lights just forward of the NAVY designator. I'd therefore speculate that they weren't originally fitted, but were added at some point between the 70s and 90s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 No slime lights. This is around '73-ish: Note this is probably all Indy had (early KA-6D's), later variants had the slime lights added. Below are two tanker intruders...you can see the different wingtip variants: Older: Newer: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) Doesn't look like they had them, here is a link to their 74/75 cruise book. GW https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv62-75/index.html Edited January 15, 2020 by GW8345 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 (edited) Those VA-65 markings in the first picture are....less than inspiring, shall we say? Edited January 16, 2020 by Darren Roberts Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 7 hours ago, Wafu said: Hi, I’m building the 1/32 Intruder and am making a KA-6E of VA-65 embarked on US Independence 1974/75. My question is, did the Intruder have the strip Formation lights fitted, as depicted on the Trumpeter kit? I’m seeing conflicting pictures on the web and would like to make sure I’m getting the correct era aircraft. Thanks in advance. Ian. Did you pick up the Steel Beach conversion set? I'd love to see some pictures when you're done! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wafu Posted January 16, 2020 Author Share Posted January 16, 2020 (edited) 13 hours ago, Darren Roberts said: Did you pick up the Steel Beach conversion set? I'd love to see some pictures when you're done! Hi Darren, Yes I did. I wanted to do something a little different from a bombed-up Intruder so your set provided me with the opportunity. I am using the Avionix cockpit with your panel’s, the decal sheet from AOA 32-023 and I plan to change the centre line tank with the deployable basket tank from SAC. Thanks to all who answered my question, I know you guys know your stuff. Cheers Ian. Edited January 16, 2020 by Wafu Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 15 hours ago, Wafu said: Hi Darren, Yes I did. I wanted to do something a little different from a bombed-up Intruder so your set provided me with the opportunity. I am using the Avionix cockpit with your panel’s, the decal sheet from AOA 32-023 and I plan to change the centre line tank with the deployable basket tank from SAC. Thanks to all who answered my question, I know you guys know your stuff. Cheers Ian. Awesome! Take pictures when you're done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 I've been looking at photos of A-6Es over at airliners.net. The earliest ones I've found of planes with the formation strips are dated 1985. Does anybody know if there was a particular point in time when the strips were officially mandated? Some of the photos show the strips overlapping the existing markings which suggests that they were MU rather than factory upgrades. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2015/?m=1 According to the link above, wingtip slime lights didn’t hit production on the Intruder until 1982. Confirms my thoughts above that your during your specific timeframe, a converted A-6A to a KA-6D would not have them. Collin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 Hi Collin. Just what I was looking for. Thanks for the link. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 11 hours ago, Collin said: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2015/?m=1 According to the link above, wingtip slime lights didn’t hit production on the Intruder until 1982. Confirms my thoughts above that your during your specific timeframe, a converted A-6A to a KA-6D would not have them. Collin A better link: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2015/09/grumman-6a-vs-6e-intruder.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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