RA-5C Vigilante RVAH-6, Trumpeter 1/72 - First model completed after ages

[davetur]

Here's my modest Vigilante, one of the most beautiful airplanes ever designed, just one step below the SR-71, in my opinion.

The Vigilante is one of the first efforts of Trumpeter's mad riveter...

It is a good build when viewed from a distance (not too close) but overall I'happy with it 🙂.

Few aftermarket (Aires exhausts, Master pitot and AOA sensor) and few mods shown after.

Decals HAD Models 72200 - Fleurs RVAH-6 Squadron USS Nimitz. This is intended to be displayed together with a still-to-be-built F-14A of the same period, one of the few where Vigilantes and Tomcats shared the same deck...

Thank you for looking!

 

Davide

 

 

First, I corrected the wrong shape of the internal lips of the intakes (must be rounded instead of straight) by cutting and shaping with files..

 

 

I created a very crude representation of the internal intakes and added engine faces from the spares box. Just to avoid the void.

 

 

 

Replaced the plastic part with steel tubing to replicate the fuel dump pipe. I also added metal hinges (from paper clips) for the stabilisers and rudder, which leaves the possibility to adjust the angle, and makes for a more sturdy attachment.

 

 

The inside of the beautiful Aires nozzles, now discontinued (but Reskit makes some nice ones).

 

 

Replaced the too flat and straight ECM antenna of the the kit with one from sprue shaped to fit.

 

 

And did some carving to try to replicate the "Mae West" shape of the cockpit sides.

 

 

The finished stuff.

 

 

 

 

Just a minimum of weathering below

 

 

 

 

 

 

The decal sheet reprents one most NO STEPped Vigilantes ever...

 

 

It was my first effort to try and replicate paint patches... not too good but not too bad either, from photos on airliners.net the aircraft were worn but not too much. Nothing like later Tomcats or Hornets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, on a still unfinished Italeri deck section:

 

 

[Lost_Erik]

👍Fantastic!

[Dutch]

Just lovely!  Gotta love the Vigilante!  And it will look really cool next to a F-14A on the deck.  Was that the deployment with USMC VMFA-333 flying F-4Js as well?  Might as well build and display all three!

[davetur]

18 hours ago, Lost_Erik said:

👍Fantastic!

Thank you, Erik

 

4 hours ago, Dutch said:

Just lovely!  Gotta love the Vigilante!  And it will look really cool next to a F-14A on the deck.  Was that the deployment with USMC VMFA-333 flying F-4Js as well?  Might as well build and display all three!

Thanks Dutch!

I don't know, I have got photographic proof of Tomcat and Vigilantes sharing the Nimitz deck from this thread:

 

https://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=109865

 

From what can be seen, the only fighters on board seem to be Tomcats,  of VF-41 (those are the decals I'll use, HAD 72217) and VF-84. Intruders and Corsairs as attack aircraft, plus Vikings

[Dutch]

Thanks for the link. Ah! That was the 1978 cruise!  As one of the link responders states (Paul N):

Re: Nimitz, Portsmouth 1975 (?)

• Quote

Post by PaulN » Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:26 am

Hi

I think you will find this is the 1978 visit , on the 1975 shakedown cruise visit she did not have F14's embarked , but VMFA-333 F4's with a couple from VF-31 as well

She visited again in September 1980

I don't want to hi-jack your thread but if interested my shots from the 1975 visit to Scotland and 1980 visit to Stokes bay can be found here

http://www.pbase.com/usnavypatchman/cvn6875

http://www.pbase.com/usnavypatchman/cvn6880

Nice record of the visit  

Paul

 

During the 1975 shakedown cruise, she had F-4Js from VF-31 & VMFA-333 plus Vigilantes with green tail bands, etc.... the usual suspects.  But can't argue with Viggies and Tomcats!  Build away!

 

 

[davetur]

Just for completeness, the only other picture I've found (later) of F-14s and RA-5Cs on the same deck is this, found on a 1980 book "CV: Carrier Aviation".

This one:

 

 

Interesting also the presence of an F-14 in Ferris scheme

Edited February 5, 2025 by davetur
Addition

[GW8345]

Link to the 1978 Cruise Book.

https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cvn68-78/index.html

[STEN8]

Gorgeous. Love the RA-5C. Sheer elegance, what a great job.

 

Harry

Lutz, FL