Ozzyman69 Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 The North American A-5/RA-5 Vigilante W.I.P. by Andrii Dzhuran, Revell kit 1/72 History: The rapid evolution of aircraft design in the 1950s led to new aircraft types with sleek lines and impressive performance. One such aircraft was the North American A-5/RA-5 "Vigilante". The Vigilante was designed as a carrier-based strategic nuclear bomber, but would see action over Vietnam as a fast reconnaissance aircraft. In the postwar period, the US Navy was determined to obtain a nuclear strike capability, first acquiring the North American AJ "Savage" and Douglas A-3 "Skywarrior" bombers. These were both subsonic aircraft, and since aircraft design was evolving quickly at the time, both soon became obsolete for the missions for which they had originally been designed. The new aircraft was originally referred to as the "North American General Purpose Attack Weapon" and later given the company designation of "NA-233". After discussions with the Navy, the NAA-233 concept took shape as a twin-engine aircraft with advanced combat avionics, Mach 2 performance, and an interesting "linear bomb bay" in which a nuclear weapon was popped out the tail to give the aircraft a better chance of escaping the atomic blast. North American engineers also considered fitting the aircraft with an auxiliary rocket engine powered by jet fuel and hydrogen peroxide for an additional burst of speed over the target area -- but the Navy didn't like the idea of handling a nasty, toxic, reactive, and unstable substance like hydrogen peroxide on board a ship, and so it didn't happen. The Vigilante was long and sleek, with a relatively small high-mounted swept-back wing, and all-moving slab tailplanes and tailfin. The aircraft had tricycle landing gear, with the main gear retracting into the fuselage. All three gear had single wheels and retracted forward, with the main gear rotating 90 degrees during retraction to fit into the wheel wells. The Vigilante was powered by twin General Electric YJ79-GE-2 engines, with engine bays made mostly of titanium, and covered with gold film to reflect heat. The aircraft had a large fuel capacity to give it long range and permit extended flight in afterburner. This period of history is interesting to me. Also, you might be interested. My new build in the WIP chapter “The North American A-5/RA-5 Vigilante” by Revell`s old kit begins with: Day 1 - Review of the kit; - Instructions study; 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 A nice trip down memory lane. Watching with interest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 21, 2017 Author Share Posted February 21, 2017 9 minutes ago, snapper_city said: Watching with interest. What are your recommendations for some additional set, aftermarket or laser prints? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossofiron1971 Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Thanks for the history lesson! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 21, 2017 Author Share Posted February 21, 2017 12 minutes ago, Crossofiron1971 said: Thanks for the history lesson! You're welcome, but now I ponder on about cockpit interior & compartments area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 36 minutes ago, Ozzyman69 said: What are your recommendations for some additional set, aftermarket or laser prints? I have no idea to be honest. I built one of these maybe 20 years ago. Scalemates shows a few items for it. https://www.scalemates.com/kits/147933-revell-4367-ra-5c-vigilante 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 21, 2017 Author Share Posted February 21, 2017 Just now, snapper_city said: I have no idea to be honest. I built one of these maybe 20 years ago. Scalemates shows a few items for it. https://www.scalemates.com/kits/147933-revell-4367-ra-5c-vigilante Many thank`s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davmarx Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 What a wonderful jet ! 12 hours ago, Ozzyman69 said: This period of history is interesting to me. Also, you might be interested. Me too... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbudde Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 I'm in here of course for this one. Built the Airfix one I guess as a kid She's even big in 1:72 Liked the old box art with her thundering low level over a heavy sea. Cheers This one 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Great. I was given the Airfix Vigilante for Christmas one year. It was one of the first ones I fully painted to match the instructions. I remember it as turning out pretty well, the real Vigilante must have been a real sight when launching or recovering to a carrier! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngstROM Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 36 minutes ago, malpaso said: ...the real Vigilante must have been a real sight when launching or recovering to a carrier! Some time ago I found this pic of a Viggie and Crusader making the jump (sorry I have no idea whose property this is, so link only) And yeah, I'd say that's a sight and a half! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 So, Gentlemen, I hope that this aircraft will be interesting for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 Apparently this Revell in 1980`s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 11 hours ago, AngstROM said: (sorry I have no idea whose property this is, so link only) Many thanks. Any information would be helpful for me to build a replica of the Viggie as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 An interesting idea to do t.e. flaps down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbudde Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Hello some links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7xywId-cfQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dwtO38HmlM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Z1SCCHPMc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XK8SPu1p04 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFMlr_Z-P1A Primeportal: http://www.primeportal.net/hangar/luc_colin/ra-5c/index.php http://www.primeportal.net/hangar/howard_mason2/ra-5c/ http://www.primeportal.net/hangar/bill_spidle4/ra-5c_149289/ and https://www.cybermodeler.com/aircraft/a-5/ra-5c.shtml http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234967247-north-american-a-5-vigilante/ Should be enough for the first time. Found it always difficult to find useful details photos of the Vigilante on the I-net A bit underestimated by modellers, although the Trumpy one was a state of art kit. I mean you can find a million of F-4, F-14 etc. walkarounds or books. I guess Aerofax did a minigraph book on the A-5. Cheers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 1 minute ago, bbudde said: Should be enough for the first time. Absolutely 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 8 minutes ago, bbudde said: I mean you can find a million of F-4, F-14 etc. I have a monograph for the first start, now I shall read it 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbudde Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 (edited) Nice shot. What a great looking one. Sorry that I can't read cyrillic typeface. For the cockpit and scale drawings I can strongly recommend to The Aerofax minigraph No.9. I don't know, how serious you will go on that model. For the engines you can use the F-4 ones, as it also was powered by the J79 GE-10. Cheers Edited February 22, 2017 by bbudde 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 18 minutes ago, bbudde said: Sorry that I can't read cyrillic typeface. I have to make some explanations in this book to adapt translation to English. The text inside is double text (UKR-ENG) that will be enough for WIP 19 minutes ago, bbudde said: For the engines you can use the F-4 ones, Good idea! Bravo! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaPlane Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Good Evening May I join the watchers on this one? I have the Hasegawa version in the 'to be completed' pile plus the Airwaves PE set, which apparently means the ejection seat won't fit in the new cockpit! I haven't resolved that problem yet - any ideas would be welcomed. Looking forward to tips and hints on getting this right Regards 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbudde Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 (edited) 22 minutes ago, SeaPlane said: Good Evening May I join the watchers on this one? I have the Hasegawa version in the 'to be completed' pile plus the Airwaves PE set, which apparently means the ejection seat won't fit in the new cockpit! I haven't resolved that problem yet - any ideas would be welcomed. Looking forward to tips and hints on getting this right Regards Hello and come in to join this. I think Ozzyman69 will welcome you also here as well and he has shown his beautiful skills very well already on his previous Wip (Pzl. 37 Los). Cheers Edited February 22, 2017 by bbudde 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 20 hours ago, malpaso said: Great. I was given the Airfix Vigilante for Christmas one year. It was one of the first ones I fully painted to match the instructions. I remember it as turning out pretty well, the real Vigilante must have been a real sight when launching or recovering to a carrier! And me. That is still ne of my favourite kits, but I've never had the Revell or Trumpeter kits. I've always preferred the look of the A-3J 3P over the earlier versions too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 23, 2017 Author Share Posted February 23, 2017 15 hours ago, SeaPlane said: any ideas would be welcomed 14 hours ago, stever219 said: And me. Welcome All. Nice to see everyone of course. 15 hours ago, bbudde said: Hello and come in to join this. Thanks so much for all the help with the briefing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzyman69 Posted February 23, 2017 Author Share Posted February 23, 2017 (edited) So, our flight is already coming to the base maintenance. First of all I wish I could to start a bould of the Viggie from AFT to FWD. Exhaust nozzles: Edited February 23, 2017 by Ozzyman69 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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