A-7 Corsair and F-8 Crusader

[Scooterman]

Surely you guys remember this 617 Squadron GR.2 photo from last year??  I photographed this airplane the day before the Grand Rapids (Michigan) airshow in 1989.  It had just arrived from Nellis on its way home to Waddington.  There were three other squadron mates parked on the other side of the field away from the airshow area, but I couldn't photograph them.

That pics is what got me going on that project!  Thanks Mr. J!!  

[Martin H]

The Swiss evaluated it at some point,

1971, The Swiss were offered the A-7G, and in 1977 Pakistan wanted to place an order for 110 A-7's (with a simler sized order for Jaguars in the back ground if uncle sam said no)
They also looked at the F-5E, A-4 and the A-10 for the same order.

[Jschmus]

One of the Hasegawa weapon sets had a towed target, didn't it?

Yep, set A.  The one with all of the dumb bombs

Actually, in 1/72, the target tow gear is in Set IV, with all the air-to-ground missiles.  I always thought that was a little odd, but I suppose it had to go somewhere.  If you're interested in doing one like that, I'd be happy to volunteer the parts.

[Keith Diamond]

oops my bad.  Being a 1/48 guy I forgot this was a 1/72nd project

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Looking at the image provided by Jennings gave me an idea which if it works would give your Corsair an obvious external difference in targeting equipment.  

Would the Laser device from the Tornado fit in the same space that was allocated to the Pave Penny Pod on the underside of the A-7 intake?  Not having either subject close at hand, it is just a bit of guessing at whether that would work enhance the differences between the domestic Corsair and the export version.  

[SinUnNombre]

I've been thinking about this again. What Kind of modernizing could you do to an A-7? Would it be a good candidate for an engine swap? If so, what kind? What kind of other mods could be made in the way of sensors, etc? Things like the Tornado's laser rangefinder as Jeffry suggested, FLIR, radar, maybe even a MAD boom. Aslo, what kind of other weapons could it carry with these mods? There's really no point to any of this yet, but the gears are definitely turning. Slowly and noisily, but they're turning and things are starting to fall into place.

Jon

[B777LR]

Side by side seating, or wingtip sidewinders, amraams/sparrow better radar, LGB, bigger engine (bigger exhaust)

[elmayerle]

Well, for something really different, you could model Vought's twin-engined (2 x F404) version.  That one looks really different.

[P1127]

Would the Laser device from the Tornado fit in the same space that was allocated to the Pave Penny Pod on the underside of the A-7 intake?

Mine did (albeit mine was envisaged as a Jaguar alternative in 6 Sqn markings)

[Mossie]

Of course, you could to the CCG Hangover-headache-inducing-yellow just to be cool (as we know, all planes are made cooler with Canadian roundels on them... or so I've been indoctrinated to say...)

If you want a hangover inducing scheme how about a QA-7 in day-glo orange?

Argentinian A-7's instead of A-4's?  Would fit in with the Falklands GB too.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

A-7 or the F-8 with the horizontal control surfaces moved to the front of the aircraft where the current sidewinder launch rails are located.  Physically move the wings back somwhere between the original position and the rear horizontal control sufarces so that the trailing edge is adjacent to the vertical stabilizer at a point that is about where leading edge of the original horizontal control surfaces began in their original location.  This would create an aircraft with some very remarkable features and perhaps a more maneuverable and agile aircraft for air to air engagements.  This is not my idea, but one that was presented to me almost twenty years ago by Dave Reese who was making WHIF models on a limited budget.  

Here are couple of WHIF ideas that I have had for the A-7 and F-8:

• A-7 and F-8 with standard wings modified to accept wing tip mounted missile rails.
• F-8 modified with A-7 nose wheel for the catapult launch tow bar assembly to allow launch from the later catapult launch systems that require the tow bar assembly.
• F-8 or A-7 fuselage with F-16 wing for an alternative ground attack and fighter version (the wing tip mounted AAM launchers are the clincher).
• F-8 or A-7 fuselage with larger scale F-16 wing for a big wing modification as an alternative ground attack and fighter version (the wing tip mounted AAM launchers are the clincher).

[Archangel]

An F-8 with the A-7s bomb load so the Marines could have a fast attack fighter-bomber to support their A-4/F-4 units.

[Iranian F-14A]

A light weight ECM escort model based on the 2 seat TA-7C or Air Force A-7K model.The airframe itself wouldn't be too different,maybe add some RWRs to the intake sides and on the fin.The loadout for the role would be as follows:
2x AIM-9L Sidewinders on fuselage pylons
2x external tanks on inboard pylons
2x ALQ-99 ECM pods on intermediate pylons
2x AGM-45 Shrike or AGM-88 HARM ARMs on outboard pylons.

Perfect compliment to the EA-6B!

[Archibald]

French navy A-7 with M53 turbofan and two Exocets underwings
Brazilian Navy A-7 (it was slightly too heavy for the Clem, hence the Skyhawks...)
Delta wing Crusader    $
T-tail Crusader

[Joe C-P]

An SCB-125 Essex class with a deckload of only F-8s and A-7s, plus a smattering of S-2s, E-1s, and SH-2s. Simplify the supply train by limiting the types; the USN had quite a hodgepodge of aircraft, each with its own unique parts, on many carriers in the 1960s through the 80s.

JoeP