douglas skywarrior jamming pods

[TOPGUN88]

I was wondering does anyone know if the jamming pods on the ERA-3 skywarriors were the same as the pods on a EA-6B prowler. I want to do one of these conversions on my hasegawa skywarrior kit. also did any of these carry the russian stars on the tail for an agressor aircraft. 

[datguy]

The ERA-3B carried ALQ-76 pods.  Pods on the EA-6B were part of the ALQ-99 system.  Their internal fit,operation, and performance were very different.  That being said, the external shape is generally similar.

 

You can't do better for A-3 information than Tommy Thomason's Tailhook Topics blog: The Mighty Skywarrior

 

 

Edited May 6, 2017 by datguy
edited to correct ERA-3 pod designation

[Don McIntyre]

They do look a lot like ALQ-99 pods, may be they're "close enough for government work?"

I took these photos of a VAQ-33 EA-3 at NAS Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico.

 

 

 

Unfortunately these were scanned from matt finished prints...

[Don McIntyre]

Unfortunately the forum won't let me edit, again.

The VAQ-33 photos were taken at NAS Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico in, IIRC, 1980.

[huvut76g7gbbui7]

5 hours ago, TOPGUN88 said:

carry the russian stars on the tail

One at least did..I'll get back to you later with details.

Richard.

(haven't had a chance to look for your Mosquito tanks yet)

[huvut76g7gbbui7]

If you google 'VAQ-34' and look at images there's a few.                                                                                                                            To whet your appetite..see this link:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/c6/23/bb/c623bb7496ae1fa094a326849b8551d4.jpg

and another couple :

[Finn]

The pods are AN/ALQ-76, used early on by the EA-6A and EA-6B.

 

edit: AN/ALQ-76

Lt - 182"

W - 15"

Ht - 25"

 

Jari

Edited May 6, 2017 by Finn

[TOPGUN88]

thanks guys. scimitar they are cracking pics. especialy the one in the link. 

 

thanks jari. im just wondering what type would come in the kit that I have. its not a hasegawa boxed kit. it does have early markings and a built model on the front of it. (not airfix) 

[datguy]

It sounds like you may have the Minicraft boxing of the Hasegawa EA-6B plastic.  Sprue shoots are here:  Hasegawa EA-6B review.  You'll see some pods with a wide flare along the lower edge.  Those are the "low band" pods of the ALQ-99 system.  There are also pods with parallel sides and no flare at the bottom.  Those should be the same outline and size as the ALQ-76 and therefore suitable for the ERA-3B.

[Hook]

If you sand down the flared lower bulges of an AN/ALQ-99, so that the sides are flat, you'll get a reasonable AN/ALQ-76.

 

Close enough in 1/72nd, at any rate.  

 

Cheers,

 

Andre 

 

[TOPGUN88]

thanks guys. Its not the minicraft box either. all that it has on the box is the made kit and an english address in it. 

[TOPGUN88]

I was thinking could 1/144 rocket pods be converted into RAT turbines on the sides of the forward fuesalage? 

[dalea]

To see which kit you have,check Scalemates.  Appears to be Testors

[TOPGUN88]

thanks guys. I now have what im looking for. 😁

[Don McIntyre]

On 5/9/2017 at 0:03 AM, dalea said:

To see which kit you have,check Scalemates.  Appears to be Testors

Testors did a release of the Italeri B-66. Until the Hasegawa (1/72) and the Trumpeter (1/48) the only other A-3 kit that I can recall is the ancient box-scale Revell (also released by Advent) kit.

[tempestfan]

On Sunday, May 07, 2017 at 2:12 PM, TOPGUN88 said:

thanks guys. Its not the minicraft box either. all that it has on the box is the made kit and an english address in it. 

Is it a relatively recent boxing?  If so, it could be a  supermarket version of Zhengdefu's Hasegawa Prowler clone. Has it slightly pebbly surfaces? 

[TOPGUN88]

this is the one I have guys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tempestfan]

99% sure that's a boxing of the Zhengdefu. Confirmation would be if there's a ZF3xx number on the box and/or the sprue Tabs.

[71chally]

James, I would say (like the Zhengdefu) that it's based on the Hasegawa Prowler, the poseable access ladder would suggest so.

[71chally]

Nice link to many ERA-3B pictures (inc red stars) on this VAQ-34 page,  http://www.vaq34.com/vaq34/vaqa-3's.htm