DONE @ p.6 +++ 1:72 N. A. EA-5D „(Electric) Vigilante”

[Dizzyfugu]

Yeah, editing makes good progress! 

[Dizzyfugu]

Here we are, finally! Behold the magnificient EA-5D that never was... 


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Some background:
The North American A-5 Vigilante (Prior to 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations, it was designated the A3J) was an American carrier-based supersonic bomber designed and built by North American Aviation for the United States Navy. In 1953, North American Aviation began a private study for a carrier-based, long-range, all-weather strike bomber, capable of delivering nuclear weapons at supersonic speeds. This proposal, the North American General Purpose Attack Weapon (NAGPAW) concept, was accepted by the United States Navy, with some revisions, in 1955. A contract was awarded on 29 August 1956. Its first flight occurred two years later, on 31 August 1958 in Columbus, Ohio.

At the time of its introduction, the Vigilante was one of the largest and by far the most complex aircraft to operate from a Navy aircraft carrier. It had a high-mounted swept wing with a boundary-layer control system (blown flaps) to improve low-speed lift. It had no ailerons; roll control was provided by spoilers in conjunction with differential deflection of the all-moving tail surfaces. The use of aluminum-lithium alloy for wing skins and titanium for critical structures was also unusual. The A-5 had two widely spaced General Electric J79 turbojet engines, fed by inlets with variable intake ramps, and a single large all-moving vertical stabilizer. Preliminary design studies employed twin vertical fin/rudders, but this was eventually changed to a single tall but foldable fin.  The wings and the nose radome folded for carrier stowage, too. The Vigilante had a crew of two seated in tandem, a pilot and a bombardier-navigator (BN) (reconnaissance/attack navigator (RAN) on later reconnaissance versions).


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The Vigilante had advanced and complex electronics when it first entered service. It had one of the first "fly-by-wire" systems on an operational aircraft (with mechanical/hydraulic backup) and a computerized AN/ASB-12 nav/attack system incorporating a head-up display ("Pilot's Projected Display Indicator" (PPDI), one of the first), multi-mode radar, radar-equipped inertial navigation system (REINS, based on technologies developed for North American's Navaho missile), closed-circuit television camera under the nose, and an early digital computer known as "Versatile Digital Analyzer" (VERDAN) to run it all.

The aircraft replaced the subsonic Douglas A-3 Skywarrior as the Navy's primary nuclear-strike aircraft, but only briefly. Given its original design as a carrier-based, supersonic, nuclear heavy attack aircraft, the Vigilante's main armament was carried in an unusual internal "linear bomb bay" between the engines in the rear fuselage, which allowed the bomb to be dropped at supersonic speeds. The single nuclear weapon, commonly the Mk 28 bomb, was attached to two disposable fuel tanks in the cylindrical bay in an assembly known as the "stores train". A set of extendable fins was attached to the aft end of the most rearward fuel tank. These fuel tanks were to be emptied during the flight to the target and then jettisoned with the bomb by an explosive drogue gun. The stores train was propelled rearward at about 50 feet (15 m) per second (30 knots) relative to the aircraft. It then followed a ballistic path.


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The Vigilante originally had two wing pylons, intended primarily for drop tanks. The second Vigilante variant, the A3J-2 (A-5B), incorporated internal tanks for an additional 460 gallons of fuel, which added a pronounced dorsal "hump", along with two additional wing hardpoints, for a total of four. Other improvements included blown flaps on the leading edge of the wing, changes to the air intakes and stronger landing gear.

The reconnaissance version of the Vigilante, the RA-5C, was based on the A-5B airframe and had slightly greater wing area and added a long canoe-shaped fairing under the fuselage for a multi-sensor reconnaissance pack. This added an APD-7 side-looking airborne radar (SLAR), AAS-21 infrared line scanner, and camera packs, as well as improved electronic countermeasures. An AN/ALQ-61 electronic intelligence system could also be carried. The RA-5C retained the AN/ASB-12 bombing system, and could, in theory, carry weapons, although it never did in service. Later-built RA-5Cs had more powerful J79-10 engines with afterburning thrust of 17,900 lbf (80 kN), the same engines as the Navy's F-4J Phantom IIs. The reconnaissance Vigilante weighed almost five tons more than the strike version with almost the same thrust and an only modestly enlarged wing. These changes reduced its acceleration and climb rate, though it remained fast in level flight and was still fully carrier-capable.

1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The last Vigilante version to be developed from 1964 on and to enter service in 1966 was the EA-5D, a dedicated electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare version, again replacing respective A-3 Skywarrior variants. With the initial experience from the Vietnam conflict, the EA-5D was primarily conceived as a fast escort for supersonic strike aircraft – namely the USN's F-4 Phantom IIs which progressively took over more strike missions and direly needed protection from SAMs that could keep up with them during their dangerous missions over enemy territory.

The EA-5D, which was unofficially nicknamed "Electric Vigilante", "Eva" or simply "E-V" by its crews, was based on the late RA-5C's airframe and was easily distinguishable through its fairing at the top of the fin which contained the electronics for a Bunker-Ramo AN/ALQ-86 ECM suite. It carried ECM gear in the linear bomb bay and a 16 feet (4.9 m) long canoe-shaped ventral fairing (looking like a shortened but deeper version of the RA-5C's camera and SLAR installation), plus a heat exchanger, a non-jettisonable auxiliary tank and AN/ALE-41 chaff dispensers in an extended tail cone. The complete installation weighed some 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg). Receivers were installed in a fin-tip pod, or "football", like that of the contemporary EA-6A. This fin array caused some lateral instability, though, which could be compensated with a pair of fins under the rear fuselage.


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Like the RA-5C, the EA-5D retained the AN/ASB-12 bombing system and was – in theory – like its recce sibling capable to carry out strike missions, but this never happened either. The EA-5Ds were furthermore equipped with an AN/APQ-129 fire control radar, making the aircraft capable of SEAD missions and of firing the AGM-45 "Shrike" anti-radiation missile, although they were apparently never used in that offensive role. Up to four ram-air turbine powered ALQ-76 countermeasures pods could be carried on the underwing hardpoints, augmenting the internal AN/ALQ-86 system's bandwidth and jamming power. To improve survivability the EA-5D was furthermore outfitted with a pair of launch rails, mounted as sub-pylons on the outsides of the outer underwing hardpoints. Each could carry a single IR-guided AIM-9 Sidewinder AAM.

Despite the Vigilante's useful service as reconnaissance and ECM platform, it was expensive and complex to operate and occupied significant amounts of precious flight and hangar deck space aboard both conventional and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers at a time when carrier air wings, with the introduction of the F-14 Tomcat and S-3 Viking, were averaging 90 aircraft, many of which were larger than their predecessors. Moreover, the Vigilante did not end the career of the A-3 Skywarrior, which would carry on as photo reconnaissance aircraft, electronic warfare platforms, aerial refueling tankers, and executive transport aircraft designated as RA-3A/B, EA-3A/B, ERA-3B, EKA-3B, KA-3B, and VA-3B, into the early 1990s.

1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Only 28 EA-5Ds were built (two prototypes, 15 new-build, and 11 conversions from existing A-5A and RA-5C airframes) and the United States remained the only operator of the type. The EA-5D saw extensive use in Vietnam and seven machines were lost (four to SAMs, one to a VPAF MiG-21 and two through accidents), but after the end of hostilities and massive reductions of military expenses the EA-5D was quickly phased out from frontline service in the late 1970s, after an active career of just twelve years. In service it was replaced by the subsonic but much more potent EA-6B "Prowler", which was based on the carrier-capable A-6 "Intruder" bomber, primarily to reduce the number of types in the USN's arsenal and therewith operating costs and complexity. Since the EA-6B offered much higher ECM capabilities, the small EA-5D fleet was never upgraded, e. g. with the 2nd generation AGM-78 "Standard" ARM or the AN/ALQ-99 ECM pods.

However, a handful of "Electric Vigilantes" remained active with VAQ-137 ("Rooks") until the late Eighties – long enough to receive the USN's new tactical low-visibility paint scheme. These EA-5Ds were operated from land-bases only, not assigned to a Carrier Air Group, with a dedicated tail code ("KW") to reflect this special status. They acted primarily as electronic aggressor aircraft but were also used to simulate supersonic cruise missiles like the contemporary Soviet Kh-20 (AS-3 "Kangaroo") or Kh-22 (AS-4 "Kennel") against land and sea targets during training and naval NATO maneuvers. Thanks to their size, speed and flight characteristics the aircraft were also employed as supersonic bomber aggressors, mimicking Soviet Tu-22s or Su-24s. Most of the Evas therefore received more or less authentic temporary Red Star decorations on their fins, which were, however, rarely overpainted after training missions and became part of the "standard markings".
In 1987 the machines were finally retired, their airframes had reached their structural limit and maintenance costs of the complex aircraft had become prohibitive. They were in the electronic aggressor role eventually replaced with subsonic and much more economical EA-7L Corsair IIs.


General characteristics:
    Crew: 2
    Length: 76 ft 6 in (23.32 m)
    Wingspan: 53 ft 0 in (16.16 m)
    Height: 19 ft 5 in (5.91 m)
    Wing area: 701 sq ft (65.1 m)
    Empty weight: 32,783 lb (14,870 kg)
    Gross weight: 47,631 lb (21,605 kg)
    Max takeoff weight: 63,085 lb (28,615 kg)   
    Fuel capacity: 2,805 US gal (10,618 L; 2,336 imp gal) internal
                              or 19,074 lb (8,652 kg) of JP-5,
                              or 24,514 lb (11,119 kg) with 2 × 400 US gal external tanks

Powerplant:
    2× General Electric J79-GE-10 after-burning turbojet engines,
         10,900 lbf (48 kN) thrust each dry, 17,900 lbf (80 kN) with afterburner

Performance:
    Maximum speed: 1,322 mph (Mach 2, 1,149 kn, 2,128 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
    Combat range: 974 nmi (1,121 mi, 1,804 km)
    Ferry range: 1,571 nmi (1,808 mi, 2,909 km)
    Service ceiling: 52,100 ft (15,900 m)
    g limits: +5
    Rate of climb: 33,900 ft/min (172 m/s)
    Wing loading: 80.4 lb/sq ft (393 kg/m2)
    Thrust/weight: 0.72

Armament:
    4x underwings pylons, each with a load capability of up to 2.000 lb (950 kg),
         typically occupied with 400 US gal drop tanks or ALQ-76 Tactical Jamming System (TJS)
         ECM pods. Other potential loads: AN/ALE-43(V)1&4 Bulk Chaff Dispensing System pod,
         a single AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening targeting pod or AGM-45 Shrike anti-radar missiles
    2x launch rails for defensive AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs on the outer pylons


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 North American EA-5D '(Electric) Vigilante'; 'KW 500 (s/n 71-55395)' of the U.S. Navy VAQ-137 'Rooks'; NAS Whidbey Island  (Oak Harbor, Washington), 1985 (Whif/modified Trumpeter kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[The Chaos]

Great Work my friend. 

[Dizzyfugu]

Great Work my friend. 

Thank you! 

[Pellson]

Great job! And while the model is as amazing as usual, this backstory is something above and beyond. Sneaking in an explanation for that red start is a stroke of genius! 

[PR19_Kit]

Splendid work Thomas, not only the build itself, but, as Mr. Pellson says, a GENIUS of a backstory.

It reads just as if Mr. Bill Gunston had written it.     

[Old Wombat]

Excellent build, story & photography, Dizzy!     

That hangar shot looks real!   

[Dizzyfugu]

Thanks a lot, gentlemen, glad you like the package. Took  along time to digest. Yes, I put some effort into the backstory, with as many "real" info bits as possible - and the Red Star on the tail is something that several USN aggressors carried, e.g. the EA-7Ls:



I also considered a fat red bort number, but the nose did not offer enough space so the star had to suffice - and it looks good!

BTW, the hangar is the huge Tempelhof building, the ladders belong to the Matchbox Voodoo (and are a bit chunky, but their height was fine). 

[kitbasher]

Phwoar!!! 👍👍👍

[kerick]

Excellent job! Very believable!

[DeeBob]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you all, too! 

[zenrat]

Great work Dizz.    

[chrisonord]

I am really liking this Thomas, very cool, and the comprehensive backstory too. Yet another build to leave the jmn's and Google degree historians scratching their heads. 

[NARSES2]

Absolutely stunning