Now, after having ranted and raged for two days about Trumpeter and specfically their Vigilante, I have to admit I’m enjoying a good old jet build. No recip engine to detail, no props to paint, just a pretty airplane (thanks to North American, not Trumpeter).
Anyway, my references for this build are pretty thin, a few web sites with no detail photos, and a couple of books: Osprey’s “RA-5C Vigilante Units in Combat” and Squadron’s “RA-5C Mini In Action”. Neither is has many detail shots, or the kind of drawings that can tell you if Trumpeter has made a proper late model Vigi or an early model. As best I can tell, it’s a mix, leaning toward the late model in the larger differences, like the wing leading edge extension (it’s there) and the straight intake lips (also there) indicating late model birds.
My question is, does anyone know of some web sites that show cockpit photos, especially the consoles and instrument panels, so I can tell what’s black and what’s gray and where the lights and switches are located? The Trumpeter instrument films look as though they were drafted by a cartoonist.
And, if not cockpit photos, does anyone know of any web sites with decent walk nd photos with wheel well details and such? As always, many thanks guys.
TOM
Tom,
Try this site: gra.midco.net/ mlgould/M-R.html
Scroll down to the R and look for the RA-5C.
Kurt
Kurt:
I got a “bad page” return on this one. Is the URL correct?
Tom
Buy Steve Ginter’s new book
Tom, Try the Smithsonian Institute in Washington,DC as they have alot of info on manuals for the RA-5C & other aircraft. You can also contact Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington since they swallowed up North American Aircraft (& Douglas too) along with their records. Here’s the address: Boeing Historical Archives
P.O.Box 3707, 4H-02
Seattle,Wa 98124
I had good luck with them in the past on several aircraft. Also, try Pima Air& Space Museum in Pima,Az they have a Vigi in their collection. I think they have links to Vigi sites. I hope this helps.
Well Unfortunately I have two Vigilante books in my collection Wings of Fame Volume 19 , an excellent reference but no cockpit photos and an an mid -80s Osprey combat aircraft series #12, also no cockpit photos. Both have cutaways and the Wings of Fame has a fold out drawing. I bought the Trumpeter 1/72 kit last week so have been looking at them extensively lately. The WOF 19 says that the 1969 model RA-5C had several visible differences. New engine J79-GE-10 engine, including wider intakes, more heavily built afterburner pedals, and longer tail pipe section. The intakes have a straight leding edge as opposed to the curved edge of the early versions. The leading edge extensions being very obvious as you mentioned. The WOF Vol 19 was published in 2000 by Airtime publishing. I haven’t had time to review the trumpeter kit yet but it does appear to be a later model in most features.
I did find a photograph of an ejection seat on this really great site for ejection seats. Unfortunately it isnt in english (I think it is Italian). But I could find my way around it. And it gives FS numbers for the seat. Tip on the left click on sedili per fronze aeree, then click on the American Flag on the left of the screen, Find the picture of the RA-5C (Its in Camo so harder to find then you think)
http://www.seatejectcolor.com/seat/index.html
Here is a link listing Museums that have a Vigilante. There apparently is one on the Intrepid if you are looking for a Field trip (And a short one if your from Brooklyn). Also have photos at some of the museums web sites linked to it.
http://www.aero-web.org/locator/manufact/northam/a-5.htm
Found some walk around photos also.
http://www.cybermodeler.com/aircraft/a-5/vigilante.shtml
Tom,
I sent you some stuff. Check your email.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Tom,
it’s http://gra.midco.net/mlgould/M-R.html
just select “R” from the list and it’s the first 3 or 4 entries.
Other photos that may help you
http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/ra5creferencefr_1.htm
The more I find out, the more I realize how hard it’s going to be to sort out the Heinz 57 Vigilante Trumpeter’s given us. Of course, the best thing to do if you are building for pure pleasure is not worry about whether this or that component is right for the early model, the middle models, or the “new builds.”
But if you’re compelled to build an exact replica, it’s going to be a bear to keep up with which goes with which. And the more I look, the more confused I get. I’m trying to avoid reading reviews right now, because web reviews are too often about as reliable as the National Enquirer when it comes to the historical/techy stuff. And one reviewer uses the last guy’s review as a source, and the next guy does the same with the guy before’s review, and so bad information just takes on a life of its own.
But thanks for the references to the photos, guys. I’ve got a bunch of stuff bookmarked now. I’ve taken a break in my Vigi build to research some more, and to wait for some more AM stuff to come out. I’ll let those really picky guys who make AM resin corrections do the bulk of my research for me while I watch The Venture Brothers reruns on Cartoon Network.
TOM
I have to agree with you Tom!! Let the experts do the research and, we’ll sit back watch cartoons and then dive into the AM stuff. Oh pass da popcorn!![:D][}:)]
Eddie
Sharkskin, I just got a copy of the new A3J/RA-5C DVD it has alot of good shots of the cockpit!! Only thing is, it’s the A-5A…
www.rocket.aero I ordered the dvd thru www.meteorprod.com and I’m glad to have it in my collection [^][8-]
Keep the razors sharp!!
Eddie