dhdove Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Hi All I'm making progress with my Trumpeter 1/48 Vigilante and will be using just one underwing store, the photo flash pod under the port wing. I do not know it's manufacturer nor part number. I have been unable to find any references to the colour scheme of this, nor pictures. It seems unlikely that it was all plain white? Or maybe it is? Can anyone help please? BTW this is a challenging kit to build but it's shaping up to be a fantastic end result. Thanks in advance TonyS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huvut76g7gbbui7 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Two clear pictures in 'Naval Fighters No 64' and 'Warpaint No 97' show it as white. Pictures are black and white but I see no difference in tone from that on the wing. RG 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 There's a good enough colour picture in Ospreys' Vigilante units book and the pod is clearly white. This is not strange at all actually as the pod had to be fitted under a white "camouflaged" wing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhdove Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 Thanks guys I guessed it was white, but was interested in bands, markings etc. I think that it ejected flares from the rear??? Would there have been discolouration? TonyS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 The pod did not eject flares, it had an electric strobe flash system powered by a kind of turbine at the rear end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhdove Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 Thanks Giorgio I didn't realise that the rear end was a power turbine which powered the electric flash system. Do you know who made it and the part number? I cannot find any pics or info on the net. If nothing else I'll just paint it white, but I'm sure there must be some detailing t be added on it. TonyS 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) Here is a pic: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/RA-5C_RVAH-14_in_flight_over_NAS_Albany_1969.jpg edit: and another one: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/RA-5C_on_cat_USS_America_1966-67.jpg Jari Edited January 28, 2015 by Finn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhdove Posted January 29, 2015 Author Share Posted January 29, 2015 Thanks for the pix Jari. This is an interesting piece of kit I think, can anyone offer details re manufacturer, part no., specs etc? TonyS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Sorry, don't have any more information on the flash pod, I'll have a look at some books, there may be something. The best bet would however be the Naval Fighter book that unfortunately I don't have (I say unfortunately as I always loved the Vigilante) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 The Aerofax booklet may also contain something. I'll have a look at home if I can locate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 (edited) Found my copy of the Aerofax book and while I've not found any designation for the pod, there's quite a good picture of a test unit. Edited January 29, 2015 by Giorgio N Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony.t Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Technically, it's the "Flasher System Photographic, Aircraft" (designated the LS-43AI). I think it was made by North American as part of the RA-5C package - most gear was procured that way as part of an overall "weapons system". It was used after Vietnam too, but was seldom seen as it was unnecessary for daylight ops where 99.9% of the images of Vigis were taken. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upnorth Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 If it helps you with colour reference, there's a tail turbine from that type of pod on Ebay right now. Click and save the pics while they're up: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NORTH-AMERICAN-AVIATION-RA-5C-VIGILANTE-RAM-AIR-FLASHER-NAVY-RECON-AIRCRAFT-PART-/161569570785 If you look at the third picture along in the advertisement, you'll see a manufacturer's plate identifying Allison as the builder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony.t Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Very useful close-ups of the RAT section. Allison made engines and generators. All the bits were most likely subcontracted. Wonder which firm made the flashers ? I've had a copy lurking in its box for ten years - was put off by all the rivet holes, but nothing a bit of filler can't correct. The shape issues are not that bad and it is a beautiful jet. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huvut76g7gbbui7 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Seems the kit wasn't used operationally very often. The lights gave away the aircraft's position and obviously the crew didn't want that! RG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony.t Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 http://rvahnavy.ning.com/photo/flash-photography-from-1-500-feet Shows a flasher unit illumination from 1,500 ft. It would make for interesting Cold War snaps of Soviet ships, but would have been used mostly in low threat areas in combat - the Vigi featured AN/AAS-21 IRLS in station 7 at the rear of the "canoe" for use in high threat areas. It was elegant but relatively large, making a big target for AAA gunners. IIRC 18 were lost in combat in SEA. Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) Another pic: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/RA-5C_Vigilantes_of_RVAH-5_in_flight_over_Georgia_c1966.jpg edit: more pics: http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/a5pics/156631.jpg http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/a5pics/156626.jpg http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/a5pics/149283.jpg http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/a5pics/146701.jpg This one had a pod at one time: https://www.flickr.com/photos/skyhawkpc/8672874442/sizes/l/in/photostream/ Jari Edited January 30, 2015 by Finn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhdove Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) Thanks everyone for all that info and pics. Here's the Trumpeter offering..... It's very different at the rear from those pictured, kinda like a torpedo with the prop faired in, except there's no prop! Time for some modification I think..... TonyS Edited January 30, 2015 by dhdove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 The Aerofax book that shows the pod has the same setup at the back, most likely a safety guard to protect the blades. Jari Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upnorth Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 The Aerofax book that shows the pod has the same setup at the back, most likely a safety guard to protect the blades. Jari I'd agree with that going by pictures I've seen of it on the net. Any picture I've seen of the aircraft in the air with one of those pods on shows no such structure at the back of the pod, just the ram turbine blades and spinner. The big ring structure is likely a guard that gets removed before flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhdove Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 Thanks That makes sense, maybe I'll paint the "prop guard" red then...... TonyS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhdove Posted February 3, 2015 Author Share Posted February 3, 2015 (edited) Thanks again, here's my representation, not sure if the bluish tint in the flash gun windows is right but I think it looks OK? TonyS Edited February 3, 2015 by dhdove 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tailspin Turtle Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 Most of the links in this topic are broken but I did my best with what I found elsewhere: http://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2021/08/north-american-ra-5c-flasher-pod.html Additions and corrections are welcome. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Here is one with the flasher pod, pylons and a AERO 8 practice bomb dispenser: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/80/92/5d/80925d5235a850fd0d9830848e5447d2.jpg Jari Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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