North American RA-5C Vigilante

NEW AND IN VIEW
New Aircraft Kits
FROG. North American RA-5C Vigilante. 1 /72 scale. Price 9/11.

This is of course a re-issue of the Hasegawa kit of the Vigilante. As this model was reviewed in these pages a few months ago, we need only say, as regards the plastic parts, that they are neatly made in good-quality white plastic, are finely detailed, and fit together well on the whole, though filling is required in some of the joints, notably that at the wing root. The kit makes up into an accurate representation of the original.

The decals are entirely new, and are very good indeed. The sheet provides the markings for two aircraft, one of RVAH-13 operating from U.S.S. Kittyhawk, and one RVAH-3, the training squadron for this type of aircraft. The sheet is beautifully-printed and semi-gloss finished; the markings themselves are as colourful as possible, but no Vigilante has yet flown in really highly-col oured markings.

The 4-view drawings on the box-lid show with extreme clarity both the basic colour scheme and the placing of all national and unit markings and lettering. Owing to the large size of the box, it has been possible to include more detail than usual in the drawings, and they are a great help to the modeller wishing to produce a really accurate representation in miniature of the Vigilante.

This is a first-class kit, and well worth buying.

The IPMS magazine, DECEMBER 1969 VOL.6 No. 12

Modelling world
by James Goulding
New Frog kits
North American RA-5C Vigilante

THREE new Frog releases, all originating from Hasegawa, are now available—the North American RA-5C Vigilante, the Hawker Harrier GR1, and the North American F-100D Super Sabre.

This version of the Vigilante has the redesigned fuselage, of much increased depth, which contains additional fuel and electronics. A special reconnaissance pack is attached to the underside of the fuselage. The kit builds up into an impressive and accurate model of this elegant US Navy reconnaissance/ attack aircraft, and the way in which the model has been broken down for moulding purposes is most ingenious, and typical of Hasegawa's approach. One of the advantages of the layout of the Vigilante is that the fuselage, complete with the three undercarriage legs and moving tailplane, may be assembled as a unit, and the wings added afterwards. This means that most of the major painting of the fuselage, tail unit, and undercarriage may be-done, and transfers applied, before the wings are added.

In addition to the underfuselage recce pack the kit includes four underwing tanks. The excellent transfers are for a RA-5C from Reconnaissance Attack Squadron, RVAH-13, USS Kittyhawk, US Navy, and for another from Reconnaissance Attack Training Squadron, RVAH-3, US Navy.

Price of this kit is 15s.

AIRCRAFT Illustrated, May 1970

NEW AND IN VIEW
New Aircraft Kits
HASEGAWA. North American-Rockwell RA-5C Vigilante. 1/72 scale. Price 350 yen (Japan)

This is a very welcome addition to Hasegawa's series of kits of modern aircraft, as no 1/72 scale kit of this formidable machine has so far been available.

The model is accurate, and neatly pressed in white plastic of good quality. Surface detail is very fine indeed, almost invisible, and though this is correct scale-wise the model loses some of its appeal thereby. The parts fit together reasonably well, but filling is called for around the wing root, intake, and rear fuselage joints. There is a surprising number of transparencies, all of which are very clean and fit well.

The decal sheet is very well printed, and gives the markings of two aircraft, one from RVAH—5 and one from RVAH—12. The positions of the latter are not shown in the instruction sheet, though it is possible to deduce them with reasonable certainty. The proportions of the U.S. national insignia are not quite right — a surprising error — and these are best replaced by markings from one of the many proprietary decal sheets available.

Despite minor shortcomings, this is a good kit and well worth buying.

The IPMS magazine, Vol.5 No.11, NOVEMBER 1968

NEW AND IN VIEW SUPPLEMENT:

AIRFIX PRODUCTS LTD. NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION 'VIGILANTE RA5-C. 1/72 scale

This carrier borne Attack-Reconnaissance 'VIGILANTES is one of the most striking looking of present day naval aircraft and it is not surprising that AIRFIX have added a kit of this aircraft to their range.

Moulded in white plastic this is an excellent kit. The surface detailing is very fine yet shows through the final paintwork in a most realistic manner. Assembly is straightforward with no glaring join lines and the only criticism we would offer is that as with many kits of aircraft which have a tricycle undercarriage - no reference is made to the advantages of adding weights in the nose of the model to ensure a correct stance when 'parked' on its undercarriage, the undercarriage can be cemented in the 'up' or 'down' position to choice, optional wheel covers/doors being provided for the purpose.

The cockpit interior consists of two crew figures plus a floor and cockpit bulkhead together with separate ejector type seats. The canopy is excellent and the way in which the cockpit hood fits into a separate moulded canopy frame is a very neat touch, this permits one to finish the model with the hood 'open' or 'closed' (We forestall any member who is thinking of writing in for interior cockpit detail by stating that this is classified information and is NOT allowed to be illustrated in print!).

The undercarriage legs are beautifully moulded with considerable attention to fine detailing, and the insides of the undercarriage doors also feature surface detailing. The long underbelly pack is supplied as a separate component into which minute transparancies are fitted prior to cementing the pack in place.

(The enthusiasts will probably wish to thin down the trailing edges of the wings and tailplanes but before anyone leaps into print to complain about the thickness of the parts as moulded please do remember that there ARE certain technical limitations for almost any type of injection moulding and after all one has to use sandpaper etc. to reduce the join line on, say, the fuselage halves, etc. and it is but a few minutes work to thin down overthick trailing edges etc.).

The external stores for the model include underwing pylons and separate drop tanks etc., and optional refuelling probes are also provided in the kit.

The kit instructions are easy to follow and as usual include a painting guide.

However when painting any model of a current U.S. Navy type remember that the UPPER SURFACE LIGHT GULL GREY is non-specular (matt finish) whereas the UNDERSIDES are GLOSS White. (Humbrol Italian Air Force Light Grey is an EXACT match for LIGHT GULL GREY colour).

The remainder of the interior/exterior colouring is as quoted on the kit instructions - the RED used for the inside of u/c doors etc. is also a gloss finish and not matt.

Decals are for an aircraft from RVAH-14 aboard U.S.S. JOHN KENNEDY, this unit having the striking Blue/Vhite rudder markings and a striking squadron insignia which appears on each side of the fuselage beneath the leading edge of the wing root area. Rescue and other stencil instructions are also included on the decal sheet which is gloss finish. National insignia are in the correct shades of Red and Blue and provided that care is taken in painting the model the completed subject makes a most striking addition to any collection.
R.C.J.

The IPMS magazine, SEPTEMBER 1971 VOL.8 No.9