As you can see from the pic the A/C has a white radome.



But HB tell you to paint it black as can be seen here.



So do I paint it black or white?

And the pic is before Operation "Evening Light"

TIA

Cheers Daz

Daz, i'd be tempted to follow the picture reference. I always think that the black radomes look a bot comical on the old SLUFF...sort of doggy looking...woof!

I'd normally go with 'picture ref' but your pic doesn't have the yellow and black stripe on the stbd wing. So maybe the black nose is correct for the wing stripe. I'd guess radomes were changed every now and then so you might get away with pickinh the one you prefer.

cheers

Grant

Paint it pink! The hell with the refs!

Hi Daz,
Maybe I can help here. That photo was taken during the 1983/4 cruise. VF-21 was flying F-4Ns (their last before going onto Tomcats), and some of the corsairs are in lo-viz/intermeadiate colours. The fighter squadrons during Evening Light were VMFA-323 and VMFA-531, both Marines, and both flying the N. Most of the Warhawks Corsairs had black noses during this cruise, including the CAG bird.
Hope this helps you mate
Joel

depends if you want the operation wing markings, Daz

though it does appear that they had black radomes at some point
http://www.amv83.fr/Navycag/va/va97.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...-2007-07-27.jpg

use the force, trust your instincts........................follow the photo

The stripe is only on the top of the starboard wing, which is folded up in the photo, so you can't see if it there or not. Port wing has the stripe on the bottom, which is not visible in the photo either.

I would normally go with the picture reference, but there are quite a lot of differences between the photo and the decal diagram (the colours on the tail and the position of NK are quite different for instance).

That photo matches the decal diagram.

Thanx for the responses guys.

Now does anyone know what the loadout would have been for the "Evening Light" operation?

Hi Daz,
You wouldn't go wrong with MK.82s, either slicks or Snakeyes. At least 12 of these on the centre wing stations. Probably 2 fuel tanks on the inner stations. As for the outer stations, you could hang another 6 or 12 MK.82s, 4 or 8 CBU units, 2 shrikes or AGM-62 Walleyes. I would put 2 sidewinders on the shoulder pylons as a stiff resistance was expected. I don't know an exact loadout, but an excerpt from Wings of Fury states "I never saw as many bombs, rockets and missiles in my life". This was a pilot on the Kitty Hawk but you can bet Nimitz and Coral Sea were the same.i.e. plenty of bombs!.
HTH Joel

Hi Joel.

Thanx for that, would the A-7 have had the FLIR pod too?

As this is included in the HB kit.

Cheers Daz

Hi Daz,
The FLIR pod would have been carried by the sister squadron, VA-27, if any of their corsairs had them in 1980 (they were introduced in the late 70's by VA-146). Not all corsairs could carry them, even in the mid 80's. Usually, the low numbered squadron would use them.
HTH Joel

Doh! What a numpty I am.

Grant von EasilyConfused

Right guys I'm assembling the TER's for my A-7 and what I want to know is.

Is it ok to paint the Mk 82's FS 34087?

Cheers Daz

Not Quite !! The intake is lined in red in the picture, not shown on the decal diagram !! Isn't life difficult !! OR is it an intake/FOD cover !!

Actually I think that is the intake cover that is red not the actual intake.