11bee Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Always though the OV-10A with the PAVE NAIL laser designator modification was a pretty interesting aircraft. Now that we have a 1/32 kit out there, I've been thinking about building one in this configuration. Especially since I found this picture: https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=OV-10+PAVE+NAIL&view=detailv2&&&id=5D154C967882D7539C64B40C94F3DD97914ECEF2&selectedIndex=0&ccid=Y06Nepbl&simid=608024020913161045&thid=JN.DyoyD8jgpXuqmbcyRq57Qg&ajaxhist=0 A bit more colorful than most of the SEA OV-10's, due to the fin tips and the green and white camo'd underwing fuel tanks (which only the PAVE NAIL aircraft flew with in SEA). My problem is that there is next to nothing out there (at least that I can find) for detailed pics on the laser pod and cockpit mods. I also think the NAIL had some additional antennas but I can't figure those out either. Does anyone have any additional info they could share? I guess I could submit a FOIA request as I've done on other project (highly doubtful that any of this remains classified) but I'm hoping there might be some links out there that would save me the time. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cubs2jets Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 NAIL was certainly the assigned callsign for OV-10's stationed at NKP. Don't know how or if this plays into your research. C2j Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loach Driver Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 http://www.loran-history.info/Operation_Tight_Reign/PAVE%20NAIL.pdf LD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ziggyfoos Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 14695 apparently was photogenic inflight for some reason. I think I’ve seen at least three photo of just it alone from different angles, one is in the old Squadron Signal in action book. (by the way it had the yellow arrowhead marked spinners) I ended up receiving about 20 or so photos of PAVE NAIL aircraft, none though show any detail of the designator other than outline. It being (apparently) all black makes it look completely devoid of any details unfortunately in any photo - even in the high resolution photos taken on the ground. The only antenna difference I’ve seen in all the photos compared to a standard USAF one is the addition of that large clothesline type antenna on the left rear room (I assume maybe this is the LORAN?) Good luck with your quest. If you end up getting any info hopefully you can arrange a conversion set. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted July 5, 2015 Author Share Posted July 5, 2015 Thanks guys. Loach Driver - that PDF was pretty interesting, never knew this system had night capability, thought it was a crude - daylight only designator. It also sounds like late in the war, the NAIL's were retrofitted with RWAH gear so I'd need to add those "lumps and bumps". Pretty cool subject, I'll have to do some more digging! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ikar Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 I'm not sure how much help, if any these might be, but here's some shots of the 23rd T.A.S.S. after they were transferred to Korat: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted July 7, 2015 Author Share Posted July 7, 2015 (edited) Thanks Ikar but none of those appear to be NAIL aircraft. However, a few are sporting RWAH bulges so that is helpful. Edited July 7, 2015 by 11bee Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ziggyfoos Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 As mentioned previously "nail" was just the existing callsign of the 23rd TASS as a whole. The addition of the warning receivers wasn't unique to the PAVE NAIL aircraft, or part of the conversion. Many photos (possibly most I've seen actually) show PAVE NAILs without them - like the one you linked to for example. Standard Broncos got them too (1973ish?) At least thankfully the Kitty Hawk kit gives the option out of the box to use them or not. Meant to mention, only clear overhead view I've seen of a PAVE NAIL (coincidently it is also of 14695 but without the yellow tail) shows what appears to be an odd vertical thin "wall" around the entire centerline light on the stab, not sure what this was for? Interference? Night ops? I'd approximate it at around 3" tall. If interested these aircraft are confirmed to be converted to PAVE NAIL: 67-14623 67-14694 67-14695 67-14697 68-3790 68-3810 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted July 7, 2015 Author Share Posted July 7, 2015 As mentioned previously "nail" was just the existing callsign of the 23rd TASS as a whole. The addition of the warning receivers wasn't unique to the PAVE NAIL aircraft, or part of the conversion. Many photos (possibly most I've seen actually) show PAVE NAILs without them - like the one you linked to for example. Standard Broncos got them too (1973ish?) At least thankfully the Kitty Hawk kit gives the option out of the box to use them or not. Thanks Steve. Yes, I know that NAIL applied to the entire squadron, was just using that for brevity. Good to know that the KH kit comes with the RHAW gear, wasn't sure that this was the case. John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 Not the Pave Nail you are looking for but a few details can be seen on these 19th TASS ones, captions says 1970 with a Aussie exchange pilot: https://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_SCREEN/P05581.001.JPG https://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_SCREEN/P05114.001.JPG https://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_SCREEN/P05581.003.JPG https://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_SCREEN/P05581.004.JPG https://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_SCREEN/P05581.009.JPG https://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_SCREEN/P05581.010.JPG Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loach Driver Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 I don't know if this is old news to anyone or not but here is a side-view with a tiny little bit of additional detail as to what the AN/ASQ-13(?) might have looked like when fitted to the Bronco. The wing-mounted 100 gallon drop tanks come from an A-37, apparently. http://www.geocities.ws/jcpc5775/ov10-usaf-vn.jpg LD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted September 1, 2016 Author Share Posted September 1, 2016 (edited) I don't know if this is old news to anyone or not but here is a side-view with a tiny little bit of additional detail as to what the AN/ASQ-13(?) might have looked like when fitted to the Bronco. The wing-mounted 100 gallon drop tanks come from an A-37, apparently. http://www.geocities.ws/jcpc5775/ov10-usaf-vn.jpg LD. Nice profiles LD! In another article LD graciously provided, it mentions that OV-10A's (don't know about later versions) were never equipped with air conditioning. Pilots often came back from a mission over Vietnam 3 pounds lighter from fluid loss. A bit of a design flaw, especially for an aircraft that was designed primarily for COIN work in Vietnam! I'd love to build a PAVE NAIL but aside from the pod and the other bits (which I could probably scratchbuild), I don't think there are any 1/32 A-37 drop tanks out there. Edited September 1, 2016 by 11bee Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ikar Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 I'm not surprised that you're having trouble finding the shots you want. Photography on the flight line was tightly controlled. First you had to have a line badge just to get out there, and they were only issued to personnel whose job required them to be there and were controlled items in themselves. If you were allowed permission to go out and take pictures, you had to sign a document about classified aircraft and materials you might see. They also applies this to any dead due to an accident and/or enemy action. It was enforced to the point that any aircraft maintenance person had to report a violation to their supervisors or Air Base Defense personnel or patrols. You could never tell if they might be working for the enemy or the place developing the shots could be. I've known people trying to get shots of a visiting U-2 or SR-71 home through customs get in trouble. I know some made it through, but the risk generally wasn't worth it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ziggyfoos Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 I don't know if this is old news to anyone or not but here is a side-view with a tiny little bit of additional detail as to what the AN/ASQ-13(?) might have looked like when fitted to the Bronco. The wing-mounted 100 gallon drop tanks come from an A-37, apparently. http://www.geocities.ws/jcpc5775/ov10-usaf-vn.jpg LD. I wouldn't use those profiles to base anything off of, they're not exactly accurate (profiles/shape, antennas, colors, etc). Here's a detail shot of the pod Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted September 2, 2016 Author Share Posted September 2, 2016 I wouldn't use those profiles to base anything off of, they're not exactly accurate (profiles/shape, antennas, colors, etc). Here's a detail shot of the pod Best picture I've seen of the pod. Never knew the entire housing could rotate. Thanks for posting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loach Driver Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 (edited) I wouldn't use those profiles to base anything off of, they're not exactly accurate (profiles/shape, antennas, colors, etc). Here's a detail shot of the pod Thanks for that photo. Yea, it could rotate through 360 degrees. Many of the details in the side profile are inaccurate but maybe the position/sizing of the Pave pod is reasonably accurate. Thankfully there are two goodish photos of one particular PAVE NAIL Bronco that assist with antennae positioning. Can it be assumed that the Pave pod and its base is mounted along the fuselage centre-line? LD. Edited September 2, 2016 by Loach Driver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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