1967 Monogram 1/72 US Navy A-5A Vigilante.

[Medicman71]

The nose looks good to me!

[speedgraflex]

Thanks, gents. What a bear that was, but not as bad as leveling the sides of the fuselage. In the end I saw no way around doing this.



Here is a photo I took last night, which was done more so to check the part I am making at the tip to support the pitot tube. However it is possible to see not only the seam work but the reshaped fuselage sides. I used a cross sectional diagram as reference.

[Stuart]

Just catching up with this Bruce whilst I have a spare few minutes in the hotel - Great progress thus far it's really good to see you gluing things together.

That nose looks great!

[speedgraflex]

Just catching up with this Bruce whilst I have a spare few minutes in the hotel - Great progress thus far it's really good to see you gluing things together.

That nose looks great!

Thanks, Stuart. If you will overlook the filthy keyboard which I must clean tonight then here is another view:



I intend to use the styrene pitot from the Trumpeter and invest in a brass replacement for the newer kit which also has a more substantial support.

[speedgraflex]

Inflight Refueling Probe Covers—



This is not an engraved feature of the Monogram kit, so I am thinking about making an outline from plastic or card stock, then scribing it. I found a good view on the Vigilante trainer in storage at the Udzy Center of NASM—looks like they rolled it out for a photo shoot.

[Stikpusher]

Sounds like you have a great plan for the refueling probe door.

[speedgraflex]

Thank you—that means a lot. The refueling probe is such a prominent feature I feel it must be included. Also if anyone has any intention to build the Vigilante series, NASM published good photos on its site. The trainer is not on display unfortunately.

[Stikpusher]

After watching your pair of these, I am really wanting to get one in 1/48. But I’d much prefer to have the A-5A over the RA-5C. One day...
Thanks for the heads up on reference photos.

[Medicman71]

Sounds like a good plan.

[speedgraflex]

Thanks, gents—

Better details of the cover (squared edges, locking tabs) as well as corrected shape. The rectangle beneath is not part of the cover but I bet it is an important access point to the entire refueling system.





If anyone can make an A-5A from the current 1/48 Trumpeter kit, it is you, Carlos. That would be a very interesting multi media project. A very good idea!