Grumman NRA-6A Trespasser - Finished Pics Pg 5.

[NARSES2]

Looking good Fred

[zenrat]

Thanks BB, Chris.

The core model is completed apart from the nose gear doors and a few licks of paint and clear.
I have completed the construction of the camera pod (attached with magnets) which now needs paint and windows.
Grumman NRA6-A Trespasser WIP 01-10-2021 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Grumman NRA6-A Trespasser WIP 01-10-2021 02 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[Flyer]

Cool, nice work as always

[zenrat]

Thanks mate.  I'm pondering whether it should be filled with either an inert gas or vacuum in order to prevent fogging on the insides of the glass.

[Old Wombat]

An inert gas can condense as easily as any other, vacuum can't.

[PR19_Kit]

That's one SERIOUS camera pod! 

[kerick]

Straight nitrogen should work for that purpose. If it gets cold enough for nitrogen to condense we have much bigger problems on our hands. Or just seal it up on a day with low humidity. No moisture, no condensation.

[zenrat]

Thanks for the input guys.
I've finished the back story and the recce pod contains a vacuum pump which evacuates it as the aircraft climbs.  It's a large pod as I envisaged it being flexible enough to hold different configurations of cameras and lenses.  I've built it with five camera ports exposed and more covered.

I should get this finished and posted early in the week.

[zenrat]

Finished.  Beauty pics tomorrow.  Probably.

Grumman NRA-6a Treapasser by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[Old Wombat]

Ooh! Nice!

[NARSES2]

Oh my, from Ugly Duckling to Swan 

[PR19_Kit]

Could do with a few more vortex generators.............. 

Actually it looks VERY smart and wholly believable. 

[buzzbomb]

so good and very, very believable

[zenrat]

Grumman NRA-6A Trespasser.  USS Forrestal - Operation Brother Sam 1964

Grumman NRA-6a Trespasser - 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Grumman A-6 Intruder is an American twinjet all-weather attack aircraft developed and manufactured by American aircraft company Grumman Aerospace and operated by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.
It was designed in response to a 1957 requirement issued by the Bureau of Aeronautics for an all-weather attack aircraft for Navy long-range interdiction missions and with STOL capability for Marine close air support. It was to replace the piston-engined Douglas A-1 Skyraider. The requirement allowed one or two engines, either turbojet or turboprop.  The winning proposal from Grumman used two Pratt & Whitney J52turbojet engines. The Intruder was the first Navy aircraft with an integrated airframe and weapons system. Operated by a crew of two in a side-by-side seating configuration, the workload was divided between the pilot and weapons officer (bombardier/navigator (BN)). In addition to conventional munitions, it could also carry nuclear weapons, which would be delivered using toss bombing techniques.

Grumman NRA-6a Trespasser - 9 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Following proposals from Grumman to meet US Navy requirements for a reconnaissance aircraft seven Intruder airframes were modified to NRA-6A* Trespasser specification.  Modification consisted of longer wings and larger tail surfaces.  Initially it was planned to mount cameras in pods mounted on wing hardpoints but it was found that vibration was causing blurring.  Instead cameras were fitted into a conformal recce pod mounted on the aircraft's belly.  Built by Wahl Optical the multi configurable pods could hold a large number of different camera and lens combinations and were equipped with a vacuum pump which evacuated all internal air as the aircraft climbed as a prevention measure against lens, mirror and viewport fogging.

Grumman NRA-6a Trespasser - 12 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The special test programme was cancelled with all further airframe development being curtailed in 1963 when the US Navy switched its nuclear weapon delivery systems from manned aircraft to submarine launched ballistic missiles.  North American A-5 Vigilantes were converted to the reconnaissance role (as the RA-5) being preferred over the Trespassers due to their greater speed (fast = sexy = better in the minds of naval aviation procurement).  The seven Trespassers however remained in service being distributed amongst the Navy's Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) squadrons.

Grumman NRA-6a Trespasser - 4 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The aircraft shown here is one of the two Trespassers allocated to RVAH-2 "Sky Reapers" aboard the USS Forrestal during Operation Brother Sam in 1964.  Both were active over Brazil providing information which proved invaluable in the regime change the US forces were there to support leading to 21 years of right wing military dictatorship in Brazil.

Grumman NRA-6a Trespasser - 22 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

* N=Special Test (Permanent).  Permanent special test aircraft are not intended to return to normal service after the tests are completed.
   R=Reconnaissance
   A=Attack

Grumman NRA-6a Trespasser - 17 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Model.
Hasegawa Grumman A-6 Intruder (very old, very basic).
Hasegawa Lockheed Viking wings and stabilisers.
Scratch built Recce Pod.
Greebles added to cockpit to disguise its nudity.

[PR19_Kit]

That's so darn believable that it's just BOUND to end up being quoted on the Net!

Wonderful job Fred.