Done @p.3 +++ 1:72 Rockwell A-8B ‘Destrier’, USMC VMA-311 ‘Tomcats‘, 1981

[DogfighterZen]

That looks very good!   

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you. In this case, it's a "real" model picture taken in front of a printed background, slightly edited, and then sent through A.I. to create the night vision "look" - for the dramatic effect. More to come soon. 

[Dizzyfugu]

In the meantime, picture editing makes further progress - currently I am orking on more flight scenes. I also want to try out one or two more "picture enhancements" with A.I. support, to see what the bots can achieve on the basis of a given picture in terms of "realism" or other aspects like light and colour..

[Dizzyfugu]

Here we are, finally! 


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Some background:
Rockwell International's A-8 light attack aircraft's origins can be traced back to the U.S. Air Force the Attack Experimental (A-X) program that was launched in 1966. Criticism that the U.S. Air Force did not take close air support seriously prompted a few service members to seek a specialized attack aircraft. In the Vietnam War, large numbers of ground-attack aircraft were shot down by small arms, surface-to-air missiles, and low-level anti-aircraft gunfire, prompting the development of an aircraft better able to survive such weapons. Fast jets such as the North American F-100 Super Sabre, Republic F-105 Thunderchief, and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II proved for the most part to be ineffective for close air support. The Douglas A-1 Skyraider – designed in the final WWII stages as a torpedo bomber – was the USAF's primary close air support aircraft, and completely outdated.

This situation had been expectable, though. Earlier on, in 1959, Cold War strategists had been focusing on supersonic and ever-complex aircraft, ICMBs, missile-carrying submarines and long-range bombers. Some in the Pentagon still saw a need for low-speed, close-in ground attack aircraft that could serve in "bush war"-style conflicts such as those blossoming in Southeast Asia. Private ventures like Chance Vought's V-433 proposal for a low cost, versatile light attack aircraft to serve the needs of the US Navy and Marine Corps, potentially a successor for the highly robust and versatile Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider, were considered but eventually rejected, leading to a severe CAS capability gap during the Vietnam conflict.


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Things were to change on 6 March 1967, when the Air Force released a request for information to 21 defense contractors for the A-X. The objective was to create a design study for a low-cost attack aircraft. Discussions with A-1 Skyraider pilots operating in Vietnam and analysis of the effectiveness of current aircraft used in the role indicated the ideal aircraft should have long loiter time, low-speed maneuverability, massive cannon firepower, and extreme survivability: an aircraft that had the best elements of the Ilyushin Il-2, Henschel Hs 129 and Skyraider. While turboprop engines were requested in the initial request, by May 1969, requirements had changed to specify use of turbofan engines.

Among the initial responses was a rather radical proposal from North American Rockwell, the Model 456, a compact turboprop attack aircraft, slightly smaller than the Douglas A-1. The Model 456 was primarily designed by the company's Los Angeles-based North American Aviation branch, after its merger with Rockwell International in September 1967. The concept was for an aircraft optimized for close support and versatility to perform the Navy attack mission. A major selling point would be a unit cost with Government Furnished Equipment to be under $400,000 each if the order was for 500 aircraft. To keep costs low and save development time, the Model 456 incorporated many design features and even wholesale hardware elements from the company's former projects. For instance, the straight wings and swept tail elements were taken from the US Navy's North American T-2 Buckeye trainer, while the fuselage reminded of the AF-1/FJ-4B Fury fighter bomber but featured more tapered tail section with a set of air brakes. The aircraft was designed for carrier operations and had attachment points for a launch cable under the wing roots as well as a retractable arrester hook, even though the wings – thanks to the aircraft's compact dimensions – were not foldable.

The Model 456 was powered by a T64-GE-8 turboprop with an output of 2,850 hp (2,130 kW) at 1,160 propeller rpm. The engine was placed behind the cockpit and breathed through a lip intake and an air duct between the cockpit floor and the front landing wheel well. Its single exhaust port was on the starboard flank, and the directed jet efflux countered propeller torque. The four-blade propeller was driven through a shaft that ran above the air duct and below the cockpit floor, connected with the T64 through a reduction gearbox above the engine's centreline, together with an airscrew brake and bolt-on control unit.
The pilot sat under a wide bubble canopy in an armored cockpit tub that protected against heavy machine gun fire, directly behind the large propeller. Thanks to the high and forward position the pilot had a very good all-round field of view. The tricycle landing gear was basically taken wholesale from former North American products: the front landing gear was based on the AF-1/FJ-4B Fury's arrangement, which retracted backwards and rotated 90° to lie flat under the engine's air intake duct, while the wide main landing gear, which fully retracted inwards into the low-set wings, was based on T-2 Buckeye's production parts.
The aircraft was touted to be all-weather-capable with instrument flight equipment and a ground controlled all-weather bombing system. It was also mentioned that provisions would be provided for pylon-mounted electronic equipment to support full all-weather attack missions. Maximum speed at 25,000ft was projected to be .74 Mach. The aircraft was relatively compact, 35' 10" long with a wingspan of 37'.


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Due to its donor parts and to keep the airframe as light and simple as possible the Model 456 did not feature internal weapons like guns, but was to have six external pylons for the carriage of a wide range of weapons (including gun pods), ECM pods, or radar or guidance pods (e.g. for the AGM-12 Bullpup). In addition to conventional bombs, Sidewinder AAMs could be carried, too, primarily for self-defence but also to attack enemy helicopters or slow low-flying aircraft. Normal bomb load was specified with 3,500lbs, which could be augmented on short-range missions with a reduced internal fuel load to 5.000 lbs. Beyond CAS missions, other important tasks for the Model 456 would be helicopter escort to support the Marine Corps and supporting a vertical envelopment for approximately 3 hours with a normal external weapons load.

In May 1970, the USAF issued a modified, and much more detailed request for proposals (RFP) around the A-X. The threat of Soviet armored forces and all-weather attack operations had become more serious. Now included in the requirements was that the aircraft would be designed specifically for the new and massive GAU-8 30 mm gatling cannon. Due the changed requirements, the Model 456 fell out of the program.
However, in parallel, following the United States Navy's (USN) VAL ("Heavier-than-air, Attack, Light") requirement, which had yielded the LTV A-7, North American Rockwell's Model 456 found interest by the USMC. Initially adopted by USN, the A-7 proved attractive to other services and air forces, soon being adopted by the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Air National Guard (ANG) to replace their aging Douglas_A-1_Skyraider"Skyraider and North American F-100 Super Sabre fleets. The A-7 was, however, not a complete replacement for the A-1, and the USMC did not adopt the type and rather stuck with the lighter A-4 Skyhawk, which had, with the A-4M Skyhawk II, in the meantime evolved into an attack/fighter bomber aircraft that had been upgraded and tailored to the USMC's needs. There was, however, still the need for a simple, slower and foremost cheap attack/CAS aircraft, a requirement shared with the USAF which was also looking for a timely and cost-effective A-1 replacement. Both USMC and USAF requirements overlapped in many aspects, and North American Rockwell's Model 456 was ordered as the A-8 'Destrier' in late 1971.


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The first YA-8, now under the new company name Rockwell International, after a further merger of North American Rockwell with Rockwell Manufacturing, made its maiden flight in Los Angeles on 30th of May 1973. Three prototype machines were built, and the following test program revealed some deficiencies, including directional instability around the longitudinal axis, which was countered with a bigger fin surface, achieved through a fin fillet. Other modifications that were introduced for serial production were additional wing tip tanks and more external hardpoints under the fuselage and the wings, so that more light weapons like gun or missiles pods or single bombs could be carried. The overall ordnance load was not increased, though. Additionally, internal guns were re-introduced, even though their integration into the airframe was not easy. To retain the original wings the weapons could not be integrated into the wings – there was no internal space for them, and the full span slats as well as the wide stance landing gear prevented their internal installation. One considered option to mount fixed guns was a pair of gondolas with a Mk. 12 20mm cannon each under the wings, but these would have blocked valuable hardpoints outside of the propeller disc, e.g. for guided and unguided missiles or more cannon pods). Eventually, shallow gondolas for guns and their ammunition supply were integrated under the wing roots, inside of the landing gear wells and using internal wing space at the wing roots. This kept the guns' mass close to the aircraft's center of gravity but required a solution to fire through the propeller disc, as on early WWII aircraft. An anachronistic arrangement, but it was adopted for the A-8 and as an innovative measure the firing sequence was not controlled through a classic mechanical gearbox but through an electronic signal that only allowed gunfire through spaces between the propeller blades.

A-8 production started in June 1974 and encompassed two versions: the A-8A for the USAF and the A-8B for the USMC, which only differed in service-typical equipment packages. 250 A-8As were ordered for the USAF and ANG units, primarily as replacement for F-84 and F-86H fighter bombers, plus 150 A-8Bs for the USMC which replaced early A-4 and OV-10 variants. The most distinctive feature of the A-8B was a massive, forked arrestor hook under the rear fuselage, which would allow carrier operations or the use of land-bound arrestor cable installations at improvised frontline airfields. The A-8A also featured an arrestor hook, but it was of simpler and lighter design, only intended for emergency uses.
Both service versions had a total of seven hardpoints (three under the fuselage, two under each wing outside of the landing gear) and also received wingtip tanks to extend fuel capacity and loiter time, while the maximum weapon ordnance was reduced to 2.800 lb (3.500 lb in overload configuration).


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr
'

1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The Destrier was offered for export, too, Due to its small size, it could be operated from older, smaller World War II-era aircraft carriers still used by smaller navies during the 1970s. These older ships were often unable to accommodate newer Navy fighters such as the F-4 Phantom II and F-8 Crusader, which were faster and more capable, but significantly larger and heavier. However, a propeller-driven aircraft appeared outdated at that time, and despite the A-8s merits as an attack aircraft it found no takers - instead, many foreign air forces adopted the A-4 Skyhawk, which was similar in size but appeared "more modern".
The Marine Corps would not take the U.S. Navy's replacement, the LTV A-7 Corsair II, instead keeping Destriers and Skyhawks in service with both Regular Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve attack squadrons (VMA), and ordering the new A-4M model - what over time relegated the A-8 to secondary line duties.  The last USMC Destrier was delivered in 1979, and they were used until the mid-1980s before they were replaced in frontline units, together with the Skyhawks, by the equally small, but more versatile STOVL AV-8B Harrier II.


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The A-8B saw limited action in the Gulf War of 1990–91. Twenty-four aircraft of VMA-311 "Tomcats" based at on-shore bases, initially flew training and support sorties, as well as practicing with coalition forces. The A-8Bs were to be held in reserve during the initial phase of the preparatory air assault of Operation Desert Storm. The A-8B was first used in the war on the morning of 17 January 1991, when a call for air support from an OV-10 Bronco forward air controller against Iraqi artillery that was shelling Khafji and an adjacent oil refinery, brought the A-8B into combat. The following day, USMC A-8Bs attacked Iraqi positions in southern Kuwait. Throughout the war, A-8Bs performed armed reconnaissance, CAS and FAC missions, and worked in concert with coalition forces to identify or destroy targets. VMA-311 was also the last USMC unit to operate the A-8B and retired its last four aircraft on 22 June 1994.

USAF service of the A-8A was less dramatic. The Air Force Destriers were quickly handed over to National Guard units during the early Eighties, where the machines replaced, toghether with USAF A-7D Corsair IIs, F-86H, A-37 and F-84F fighter bombers. When 1st generation General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcons began to be phased out from frontline USAF units and handed down to the Air National Guards in the late Eighties the A-8As were gradually retired. The last were taken out of service in 1993 by the units at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio.


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


General characteristics:
    Crew: 1
    Length: 40 ft 11 in (12,42 m)
    Wingspan: 39 ft 9 1/2 in (12,12 m) incl. tip tanks
    Height: 18 ft (5,50 m)
    Wing area: Wing area: 255 sq ft (23.7 m²)
    Airfoil: root: NACA 64A212
    Empty weight: 13,210 lb (6,000 kg)
    Gross weight: 20,130 lb (9,200 kg)
    Max takeoff weight: 23,700 lb (10,750 kg)   
    Fuel capacity: 691 US gal (575 imp gal; 2,620 L) total

Powerplant:
    1× General Elctric T64-P4D turboprop with 3,400 hp (2,500 kW) and 550 lbf (2.45 kN) residual thrust,
          driving a  4-bladed Hamilton Standard 54H60-77, 12 ft 3 in (3.74 m)diameter constant-speed
          fully-feathering reversible propeller

Performance:
    Maximum speed:  504 mph (812 km/h, 448 kn)
    Maximum speed at sea level: 477.5 mph (768 km/h, 415 kn)
    Cruise speed: 160–190 mph (250–300 km/h, 130–160 kn)
    Stall speed: 100.5 mph (161.7 km/h, 87.3 kn) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg)
    Range: 1,460 mi (2,350 km, 1,270 nmi) with internal fuel and tip tanks
    Ferry range: 2,200 mi (3,500 km, 1,900 nmi)
    Combat range: 512 mi (824 km, 445 nmi) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg) at 338 mph (294 kn; 544 km/h)
    Service ceiling: 36,000 ft (11,000 m )
    Rate of climb: 42 m/s (8,255 ft/min)
    Wing loading: 255 kg/m² (60.7 lb/sq ft) at MTOW
    Thrust/weight: 0.54
    Take-off field distance sea level hot: 465 ft (142 m) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg)
    Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m): 940 ft (290 m) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg)
    Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m) hot: 1,350 ft (410 m) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg)

Armament:
    2× Mk. 12 20mm cannon under the wing roots with 144 RPG each,
        synchronized to fire through the propeller arc
    7× ventral and underwing hardpoints for a total maximum external ordnance load of
          5.000 lb (2.270 kg) with reduced internal fuel (normal load: 3.500 lb/1.589 kg)


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Rockwell International A-8B 'Destrier'; aircraft 'WL 18' of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) VMA-311 'Tomcats'; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (USA/Arizona), 1981 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Old Wombat]

To be honest, she's ended up looking a lot better than I was expecting! Excellent job, Dizzy!   

[DogfighterZen]

Excellent work as always! Great model and backstory, especially the details like the gun synchronizing system.    

[Dizzyfugu]

Thanks a lot, gentlebeings, glad you like it. However, I agree: the finished aircraft looks better than expected, esp. the Frankenstein fuselage looks pretty. And it has overall a purposeful aura. 

[PR19_Kit]

The fuselage looks so logical, and you really need to know your NA Furies to realise it has FJ-4 roots. 

[RAFF-35]

What a good looking mud mover! Very cool, well done! 

[chrisonord]

That is really cool Thomas, I think I will have to make something similar for either the Honduras air force, or the Uranium mining corporation. 

[Dizzyfugu]

Thanks a lot! And the wings are also Fury heritage - the T-2 recycled the wings from the early FJ-1 Fury (and probably the landing gear, too, but I am not certain), so, as a "bonus", the whole aircraft consists of NA parts. 

[Rick Lowe]

Nicely done. 

[Captain Canada]

Love it. The perfect turbo prop attacker !

[comrade harps]

It's not going to wun any beauty contests, but it purposefully looks the part. 

[Dizzyfugu]

  Thank you all!