Pappy121 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 (edited) G'day people, I recently picked up a second hand 1/48 Trumpeter kit and since I know embarrasingly little about this brute I did some research which lead to more questions. So I need some help from the ARC brains trust, 1. The Trumpeter tail is incorrect as the tip slopes 'down' the wrong way, that is to say, the trailing edge is higher than the leading edge. The fix is to cut a wedge out of the top such that the TE is now lower than the LE, but how much lower? 2. The kit includes four pylons and three sets of stores: A pair of photoflash pods, a pairs of Mk. 28 and a pair of Mk.23s. Apparently external stores carriage was not really a thing but the jet looks a little naked in a clean config, was anything else carried externally? 3. I will be building a later aircraft so will be using the kit supplied intakes (earlier aircraft had curved inlet sides and lacked the intake LEX) and I know that the rear ECM fairing is the larger of the two supplied. I also know that the two doors of the rearward facing bomb bay are undersized and incorrectly shaped for a later version, is there anything else that needs correction? cheers, Pappy Edited February 24 by Pappy121 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 I recommend this book: https://books.google.com/books/about/North_American_Vigilante_A_5A_RA_5C.html I wanted to link directly to the publisher but Ginter's website seems to be down right now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IAGeezer Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 I picked this kit up recently, and would recommend getting either the Nautilus fuselage brace(Wood), or the 3D printed one from Flying Leatherneck. I got the 3D one, and it is worth every penny! Now, if someone would just do something about that hump... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BillS Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Get this as well. It has a nice set of drawings and cockpit references. Eduard offers an etched cockpit and there are decals floating about. Print Scale for one. Here’s one I did up as an A-5A (or A3J-1)using an old Cutting Edge Design conversion set. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
STEN8 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 I agree with BillS, the Aerofax book is a great Viggie reference. Love that bird! Harry Lutz, FL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 I have also posted a fair amount of info on the HS-1 seats here, page 4. The color cockpit shots are from a simulator that the Air and Space museum has. Jet AC ejection seats - Jet Modeling - ARC Discussion Forums Enjoy... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SinisterVampire319 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 On 2/22/2025 at 1:47 PM, habu2 said: I recommend this book: https://books.google.com/books/about/North_American_Vigilante_A_5A_RA_5C.html I wanted to link directly to the publisher but Ginter's website seems to be down right now. I read somewhere that he retired or something to that effect. Which is why the books are hard to find and fetch a crazy ebay amount. On 2/22/2025 at 2:12 PM, IAGeezer said: I picked this kit up recently, and would recommend getting either the Nautilus fuselage brace(Wood), or the 3D printed one from Flying Leatherneck. I got the 3D one, and it is worth every penny! Now, if someone would just do something about that hump... Also the typical Trumpeter squashed canopies. On 2/22/2025 at 1:02 PM, Pappy121 said: G'day people, I recently picked up a second hand 1/48 Trumpeter kit and since I know embarrasingly little about this brute I did some research which lead to more questions. So I need some help from the ARC brains trust, 1. The Trumpeter tail is incorrect as the tip slopes 'down' the wrong way, that is to say, the trailing edge is higher than the leading edge. The fix is to cut a wedge out of the top such that the TE is now lower than the LE, but how much lower? 2. The kit includes four pylons and three sets of stores: A pair of photoflash pods, a pairs of Mk. 28 and a pair of Mk.23s. Apparently external stores carriage was not really a thing but the jet looks a little naked in a clean config, was anything else carried externally? 3. I will be building a later aircraft so will be using the kit supplied intakes (earlier aircraft had curved inlet sides and lacked the intake LEX) and I know that the rear ECM fairing is the larger of the two supplied. I also know that the two doors of the rearward facing bomb bay are undersized and incorrectly shaped for a later version, is there anything else that needs correction? cheers, Pappy Check out this company. https://amurreaver.ru/?tag=ra-5c Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bozothenutter Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 8 hours ago, SinisterVampire319 said: Also the typical Trumpeter squashed canopies. not so much squashed, but they ARE too wide, the real Vigi has much more of a shoulder. You can see the 'pinch line' running rearwards up to about midway of the rear canopy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pappy121 Posted February 25 Author Share Posted February 25 16 hours ago, BWDenver said: I have also posted a fair amount of info on the HS-1 seats here, page 4. The color cockpit shots are from a simulator that the Air and Space museum has. Jet AC ejection seats - Jet Modeling - ARC Discussion Forums Enjoy... G'day Brian, Thanks very much for the fascinating HS-1 info and the awesome detail pics. Mad respect to Fred Stencel and his conviction regarding the cabopy spreadder! The more I read about this beast the more I am in awe of how advanced a design it was, cheers, Pappy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 Thanks pappy, the Viggy seats are indeed an interesting piece of engineering. A large percentage of the combat ejections during Viet Nam were supersonic. The crews never suffered any wind related injuries because of the "packaging system" N American came up with. I saw a video once of Stencel jumping off a bridge with one of his QFOP parachutes. Quick Fast Opening Parachutes. By the time he hit the water he was under a full canopy, and the bridge was not that tall. The spreader was a marvelous piece of kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 On 2/22/2025 at 4:47 PM, habu2 said: I recommend this book: https://books.google.com/books/about/North_American_Vigilante_A_5A_RA_5C.html I wanted to link directly to the publisher but Ginter's website seems to be down right now. Steve has closed down his website: the guy who did it no longer can. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 1 hour ago, Tailspin Turtle said: Steve has closed down his website: the guy who did it no longer can. Is Steve doing his books or has he stopped doing them also? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 I was a pilot in a CH-47D outfit at Ft Meade MD, up until they moved us to Ft Eustis VA. We had a mission to sling an RA-5C from NJ to the southern tip of cape may NJ. The fuselage was stripped of engines and rigged for a two point sling. S=the rear sling failed, likely mis rigged and flown too fast, and the first thing the pilots knew was when the nose of the Viggy started filling the cockpit windscreen. The unit SIP was flying the bird, often referred to a "Potato Head", the Viggy went nose down then evened out and landed flat in a road, about 30 yards from a pickup truck. When the Hook flew back through the area an hour later, there were multiple police and fire trucks at the sight, looking for the "pilots"... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Corey Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 6 hours ago, BWDenver said: I was a pilot in a CH-47D outfit at Ft Meade MD, up until they moved us to Ft Eustis VA. We had a mission to sling an RA-5C from NJ to the southern tip of cape may NJ. The fuselage was stripped of engines and rigged for a two point sling. S=the rear sling failed, likely mis rigged and flown too fast, and the first thing the pilots knew was when the nose of the Viggy started filling the cockpit windscreen. The unit SIP was flying the bird, often referred to a "Potato Head", the Viggy went nose down then evened out and landed flat in a road, about 30 yards from a pickup truck. When the Hook flew back through the area an hour later, there were multiple police and fire trucks at the sight, looking for the "pilots"... I was there for that! Worked at the airport at the time, South Jersey Regional airport. That RA-5 was going to the Air Victory museum. I went out to Lakehurst to help the museum staff prep that RA-5, an E-2, an A-7 and an F-4 and maybe an A-4. The E-2 was towed over roads but the the A-7, F-4 and maybe the A-4 was successfully sling loaded. The RA-5 not so much, which was a real shame because that airplane was in pretty good shape. The year was 1995 or 1996. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ReccePhreak Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 (edited) My only question would be - Why would an aircraft, whose SOLE mission is Photo Reconnaissance, be carrying ANY bombs, much less the 2 different Nukes that Trumpeter supplied in the kit? That's like sticking nukes on an RF-4C Phantom II, SR-71 or U-2R. It would only happen in World War 3 IMHO. But then, it's your model. You can build it any way you feel like. Larry Edited February 26 by ReccePhreak Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SinisterVampire319 Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 (edited) 17 hours ago, Bozothenutter said: not so much squashed, but they ARE too wide, the real Vigi has much more of a shoulder. You can see the 'pinch line' running rearwards up to about midway of the rear canopy. It's just the appearance I'm referring to. To me it looks squashed. I know it's wider. Just like their A-7's. The Museum I belonged to here nearby almost had a Vigi. But the board voted against it because they had too many projects at the time. I've crawled around the ones at PIMA. At the time to see how much work it would take to accurize the kit. As it turns out. A lot! That was about 20 years ago. Also the one at Castle. That was 10 or so years ago. Also what about this seat? https://www.super-hobby.com/products/RA-5C-Vigilante-Ejection-Seats.html Edited February 26 by SinisterVampire319 Added more info Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 1 hour ago, ReccePhreak said: My only question would be - Why would an aircraft, whose SOLE mission is Photo Reconnaissance, be carrying ANY bombs, much less the 2 different Nukes that Trumpeter supplied in the kit? Larry Inscrutable oriental mind? IIRC they kept the bomb bay system between the engines and instead of a nuke and fuel tanks, just had fuel tanks... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 (edited) 1 hour ago, Corey said: I was there for that! Worked at the airport at the time, South Jersey Regional airport. That RA-5 was going to the Air Victory museum. I went out to Lakehurst to help the museum staff prep that RA-5, an E-2, an A-7 and an F-4 and maybe an A-4. The E-2 was towed over roads but the the A-7, F-4 and maybe the A-4 was successfully sling loaded. The RA-5 not so much, which was a real shame because that airplane was in pretty good shape. The year was 1995 or 1996. It is a shame the bird got written off. There was some thought that Potato Head was cruising too fast for the load. I did an AFCS off ILS with him, basically take the computers away and the bird wants to swap ends. Anyway, I got down to Decision Height at Patrick Henry in Newport News, and pulled in climb power, initiated a Go Around and told him to take the controls. We went down the runway sideways. He liked to never get it back under control. He was not the best of pilots. I had a hard time to keep from laughing... Edited February 26 by BWDenver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 23 hours ago, GW8345 said: Is Steve doing his books or has he stopped doing them also? Still doing them - the latest: $34.95, shipping included (Media Mail, US only). 1754 Warfield Circle, Simi Valley CA 93063. You can contact him at nfbooks at sbcglobal dot net for availability and pricing of his other books. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 14 hours ago, ReccePhreak said: My only question would be - Why would an aircraft, whose SOLE mission is Photo Reconnaissance, be carrying ANY bombs, much less the 2 different Nukes that Trumpeter supplied in the kit? That's like sticking nukes on an RF-4C Phantom II, SR-71 or U-2R. It would only happen in World War 3 IMHO. But then, it's your model. You can build it any way you feel like. Larry If needs must, it was therefore available for and capable of strike missions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bozothenutter Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 14 hours ago, ReccePhreak said: My only question would be - Why would an aircraft, whose SOLE mission is Photo Reconnaissance, be carrying ANY bombs, much less the 2 different Nukes that Trumpeter supplied in the kit? That's like sticking nukes on an RF-4C Phantom II, SR-71 or U-2R. It would only happen in World War 3 IMHO. But then, it's your model. You can build it any way you feel like. Larry Who knows what Trumpeter are thinking? Could be they had plans for an A-5A in the future.... They seem be really good at messing up kits, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory so to speak. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jon Krol Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 On 2/22/2025 at 5:12 PM, IAGeezer said: I picked this kit up recently, and would recommend getting either the Nautilus fuselage brace(Wood), or the 3D printed one from Flying Leatherneck. I got the 3D one, and it is worth every penny! Now, if someone would just do something about that hump... I would avoid the nautilus brace. It is made from flimsy wood and breaks easily along the grain.The 3D printed one sounds much b etter.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bozothenutter Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 1 hour ago, Jon Krol said: I would avoid the nautilus brace. It is made from flimsy wood and breaks easily along the grain.The 3D printed one sounds much b etter.. Or find a pic of the brace, scale that, and cut some styrene. Would glue easier too....😈 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ReccePhreak Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 2 hours ago, Bozothenutter said: Who knows what Trumpeter are thinking? Could be they had plans for an A-5A in the future.... They seem be really good at messing up kits, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory so to speak. Trumpeter "thinking"? Funniest thing I have heard about them in years! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
davetur Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 On 2/22/2025 at 10:02 PM, Pappy121 said: G'day people, I recently picked up a second hand 1/48 Trumpeter kit and since I know embarrasingly little about this brute I did some research which lead to more questions. So I need some help from the ARC brains trust, 1. The Trumpeter tail is incorrect as the tip slopes 'down' the wrong way, that is to say, the trailing edge is higher than the leading edge. The fix is to cut a wedge out of the top such that the TE is now lower than the LE, but how much lower? 2. The kit includes four pylons and three sets of stores: A pair of photoflash pods, a pairs of Mk. 28 and a pair of Mk.23s. Apparently external stores carriage was not really a thing but the jet looks a little naked in a clean config, was anything else carried externally? 3. I will be building a later aircraft so will be using the kit supplied intakes (earlier aircraft had curved inlet sides and lacked the intake LEX) and I know that the rear ECM fairing is the larger of the two supplied. I also know that the two doors of the rearward facing bomb bay are undersized and incorrectly shaped for a later version, is there anything else that needs correction? cheers, Pappy Hi Pappy, if it may help, I've just finished a Trumpeter late RA-5C in 1/72. I think most of the issues I've found also apply to the 1/48 case. Regarding your questions: Point 1: thanks, I did not notice that!!! I'm still in time to correct it on my model. Based on different drawings in different books, I've made some rough calculation and the trailing edge should to be 2,5 to 3 millimeters lower (in 1/48). Point 2: I'm almost sure it could carry external fuel tanks, although I don't recall having seen any photo of the RA-5C with them. Just on some A-5, but that's anothr story. By the way, why do you want to spoil the beatiful lines of the Vigilante with external stores...? 😉 Point 3: In my Display Case model, you can find a comparison of the late ECM fairing I built from sprue with the one supplied by Trumpeter. It's not difficult Regarding what you call "two doors of the rearward facing bomb bay" I honestly don't understand what you mean... what you see in the photo is the end of the loooong internal fuel tank. In the 1/72 model, its shape is not so bad compared to that, only on some cases I have seen photos of Vigilantes with a lightly fatter end, but if you choose carefully the aircraft you want to model, the Trumpy end will be OK. Cheers Davide Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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