Jump to content

EA-3B cabin windows question


Recommended Posts

I have a Hasegawa 1/72 KA-3B that I want to convert into a VQ-2 EA-3B. One of many modifications involved are the cabin windows on the side(s) of the fuselage, in the former bomb bay area. I started designing 3D CAD parts recently, and high on my list was an insert for the kit, that included the three windows plus the escape door. The main dimensions were taken from a photo (shown below) and a photo of the escape door in the Aerograph book (page 91). I measured 15" windows, a little smaller than what's shown in the Aerograph book.

 

ea3b-03.jpg

Shown below is the first version of the CAD model. It features a very slight bulge (large radius) in the the fuselage side, that you can see on the right edge of the part. I measured that radius on the model itself. The three window openings have coamings to mount transparant parts.

 

ea3b-05.jpg

The escape door was by far the most laborious part, with chamfers everywhere and in all directions, a few of which I could not incorporate. It needs some more fine-tuning, especially in the extra thickness of its lower part. It looks extra thick because there's no fuselage in the model. The door handle and the hinges are missing.

 

ea3b-06.jpg

Now for the main question: did EA-3Bs have plugged windows on the left side too? I see them fairly clearly in this Prime Portal walkaround photo of BuNo 146453:

http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/bill_spidle4/ea-3b_146453/images/ea-3b_146453_11_of_17.jpg

But they are absent in this photo of BuNo 146454:

https://www.dstorm.eu/pictures/nose-arts/ea-3b/146454_36.jpg

Both were originally built as A3D-2Q / EA-3B, so they are not conversions of a type that always had windows on the left side. I probably will do BuNo 146457, and I do not know whether it had left-side windows, hence the question. If yes, I will design another part to do the left side.

Rob

Edited by Rob de Bie
Link to post
Share on other sites

I've never seen an EA-3B with window or window plugs on the left side and I've done two cruises with them on deck.

 

Here's some pics of EA-3B's left side

 

a-3-lift-30-apr-09-037.jpg

 

NSA.jpg

preflight.jpg

 

To my knowledge, the only Skywarrior that had windows on the left side were the TA-3B's and the RA-3B (had one round window).

Link to post
Share on other sites
25 minutes ago, GW8345 said:

I've never seen an EA-3B with window or window plugs on the left side and I've done two cruises with them on deck.

 

Here's some pics of EA-3B's left side

preflight.jpg

 

To my knowledge, the only Skywarrior that had windows on the left side were the TA-3B's and the RA-3B (had one round window).

 

I don't want sound like an arm-chair expert, but it now seems that all 'Versions' A-3s were built with four windows on either side. I can see the upper left corner of one of them in your third photo, roughly where the refueling duct makes a slight bend.

 

Here are three other EA-3B photos where you can see them, if you look closely (use the magnification):

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/htf2wfd/27487226045     (look in the shadow part)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajw1970/18659177876

https://www.flickr.com/photos/spb1967pics/39793140645/

 

I started a similar thread on BritModeller, and Tommy Thomason posted his knowledge there:

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235074891-ea-3b-cabin-windows-question/

 

This is the part that I plan to install. Whether it's useful is open to debate 🙂

ea3b-09.jpg

Rob

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Rob de Bie
Link to post
Share on other sites
5 hours ago, Rob de Bie said:

 

I don't want sound like an arm-chair expert, but it now seems that all 'Versions' A-3s were built with four windows on either side. I can see the upper left corner of one of them in your third photo, roughly where the refueling duct makes a slight bend.

 

Here are three other EA-3B photos where you can see them, if you look closely (use the magnification):

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/htf2wfd/27487226045     (look in the shadow part)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajw1970/18659177876

https://www.flickr.com/photos/spb1967pics/39793140645/

 

I started a similar thread on BritModeller, and Tommy Thomason posted his knowledge there:

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235074891-ea-3b-cabin-windows-question/

 

This is the part that I plan to install. Whether it's useful is open to debate 🙂

ea3b-09.jpg

Rob

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Understood they had the panels there for where the windows would be but I've been up close and personal with operational EA-3B's and you can't see any panel lines, they are covered by paint.

 

I was on the Nimitz when 146453 came aboard for CQ's back in the mid 80's (85/87 cruise). I remember the following Whales doing time on the Nimitz during the 85 and 87 cruise; Ranger 12 (144850), Ranger 14 (146448), Ranger 15 (146453), Ranger 16 (146454) and Ranger 17 (146455), you could not see any window panel lines on the port side and I was on the cats when they launched (had to push those things backwards numerous times because the yellow shirts always  taxied it too far forward for the cat guys to hook up the bridle).

 

Not saying that they panels didn't exist, just saying that you operational aircraft, you couldn't see them unless you were six inches away from them or you stripped the paint.

Edited by GW8345
Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, GW8345 said:

Understood they had the panels there for where the windows would be but I've been up close and personal with operational EA-3B's and you can't see any panel lines, they are covered by paint.

 

I was on the Nimitz when 146453 came aboard for CQ's back in the mid 80's (85/87 cruise). I remember the following Whales doing time on the Nimitz during the 85 and 87 cruise; Ranger 12 (144850), Ranger 14 (146448), Ranger 15 (146453), Ranger 16 (146454) and Ranger 17 (146455), you could not see any window panel lines on the port side and I was on the cats when they launched (had to push those things backwards numerous times because the yellow shirts always  taxied it too far forward for the cat guys to hook up the bridle).

 

Not saying that they panels didn't exist, just saying that you operational aircraft, you couldn't see them unless you were six inches away from them or you stripped the paint.

 

I think everyone agrees that the left-side windows were very difficult to see. Adding them to a 1/72 model is on the edge of sillyness - but I will probably do it anyway 🙂

 

Great memories of launching those VQ-2 jets! I saw a few flying at Rota, Torrejon and Moron.

 

Rob

Link to post
Share on other sites
16 hours ago, Darren Roberts said:

Could it be just the EA-3B that had those on the left side? I'd like to see pictures of the RA- and ERA-3B's to see if they had them. 

I'm sure that the EA-3B had a plugged window frame aft of the one that had a round window in it, at least on the right side. I'm all but certain that the next window location was eliminated by the incorporation of the small bomb bay in the aft area of the cabin. Whether the last plugged window on each side was present is a definite maybe. It's there on the initial Douglas A3D-2P access-panel drawing.

Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, RCarlson said:

Rob I'm glad you are creating this. It was something that bothered me about the kit as well. Will these be something that will be available for purchase?

 

Ron

Yes, that is the plan. Two 'buts':

 

- it's the first time that I will do 3D printing from my own files, so I do not know what quality will result, and how much traditional finishing work will be needed, before I can make resin copies

 

- there's no time planning 🙂

 

I have a liitle shop on my homepage, with a few items that I made for my own models. It pays for the silicone and resin, and about 1 euro per hour 🙂 You can see the current offerings here:

 

https://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/models/forsale.htm

 

Rob

Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, Rob de Bie said:

Yes, that is the plan. Two 'buts':

 

- it's the first time that I will do 3D printing from my own files, so I do not know what quality will result, and how much traditional finishing work will be needed, before I can make resin copies

 

- there's no time planning 🙂

 

I have a liitle shop on my homepage, with a few items that I made for my own models. It pays for the silicone and resin, and about 1 euro per hour 🙂 You can see the current offerings here:

 

https://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/models/forsale.htm

 

Rob

 That's great to hear. I have a couple of EA-3's that I would like to do and if you produce these I would be happy to get a couple sets.

 

Ron

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...