A-5 (A3J) Vigilante

[Dork the kit slayer]

To answer Martins question ( my six pennarth). The Revell Viggie is the early non humped version and not too bad for its day. The box art could be the thing that raises the worth . I think £16 quid is a bit steep,but thats a collectors price not a builders.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

How about:

An A-5 Vigilante armed with the AGM-69 SRAM?  For strike missions against strategic targets in support of the SIOP that were launched from the carriers in the North Atlantic and North Pacific against SAM sites and air defense command and control centers.  It would be armed with two fuel tanks and two SRAM weapons. 

An EA-5 Vigilante configured for the SEAD (Wild Weasel or Iron Hand) mission?  It would be armed with anti-radar missiles such as the AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-78 Standard ARM, and the WHIF AGM-69 SRAM ARM for strategic and tactical targets.  The AGM-69 SRAM ARM would be based on a AGM-69 missile but fitted with the seeker and conventional high explosive warhead from the AGM-78 to create a conventional weapon that could be used for tactical as well as strategic missions.  Primary targets would be forward based SAM and ABM systems such as the SA-5 and ABM-1.  Add the signature pod from the tail of the F-4G Wild Weasel to the EA-5 to provide the obvious modifications along with the rest of the bumps and antennas associated with that mission. 

[Deino]

My most favourite Vigi is this one !!! 

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,8323.0/highlight,vigilante.html





Deino

[elmayerle]

Just throwing out an idea that, using the back end of the Monogram kit is actually fairly doable, a permanently installed version of the buddy0refueling system tested on the A3J-1 to the basic A-5C airframe to produce a KA-5 "fast Texaco" for when you needed a tanker out there really quick.

[Mossie]

I'm suprised we've never seen an USAF A-5 in SEA camo.  Apart from Air Force - Navy rivalry, the A-5 seems a natrual choice to fill the gap had the TFX program failed & the F-111 not gone into production.

[elmayerle]

I'm suprised we've never seen an USAF A-5 in SEA camo.  Apart from Air Force - Navy rivalry, the A-5 seems a natrual choice to fill the gap had the TFX program failed & the F-111 not gone into production.

On my "to build" list, since I've got the pieces, is a USAF EA-5 with the antenna bulge on the tip ofthe vertical and the ALQ-99 installed in the ventral canoe along the lines of the EF-111 installation.  Also, I've managed to acquire one of the old AMT boxings of the HSae RA-5C that depicts one of eht RA-5C camo schemes.

[GTX]

Imagine if the Vigilante remained in service longer.  Moreover, what if the A-6 didn't enter service and thus the Vigi took on it's roles:

A-5 - Give it a more conventional weapons bay (perhaps a rotary one), later on update the engines to turbofans, give it modern avionics, perhaps with the TRAM turret from the A-6E or the AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack.  This could also fulfil the USAF/RAAF F-111 role and potentially the FB-111 role;

EA-5 - As described by Evan above, give it a similar fit out to the EF-111 as a dedicated EW bird;

KA-5 - As discussed here give it a tanker role;

FA-5 - as discussed many a time, let it take on the interceptor role instaed of the F-14.  Maybe also have it selected for the land based interceptor role as well;

SL-5 - SL as in Space Launch.  Use the A-5 as a launch vehicle for small satellites; and

CA-5 - A rapid transport.

As for users:

USAF - instead of F-111/EF-111 etc
RAAF - instead of F-111
RCAF - instead of CF-104
RAF - instaed of Buccanear and Tornado
Luftwaffe/Marineflieger instead of F-104G/Tornado (EA-5 could also do Tornado ECR role)
Aeronautica Militare - same as above
Royal Saudi Air Force - instead of Tornados;
Israel - dedicated strike aircraft;
India - same as above;
Canada - CF-105 replacement + dedicated striker;
Japan...oh the list goes on.  How much was a 1/48 Vigilante again???  Do they do bulk order discounts???

Regards,

Greg

[famvburg]

         Would a Navy one do? They had at east one done in essentially USAF SEA camo. There was an A-6 as well.

I'm suprised we've never seen an USAF A-5 in SEA camo.  Apart from Air Force - Navy rivalry, the A-5 seems a natrual choice to fill the gap had the TFX program failed & the F-111 not gone into production.

[GTX]

Quickly thrown together EA-5:



Regards,

Greg

[Weaver]

SL-5 - SL as in Space Launch.  Use the A-5 as a launch vehicle for small satellites; and

How about putting a rocket motor between the jet nozzles with a tank of oxidant in the bomb bay? It could use kerosene from the main tanks as fuel, and you could sling the orbiter vehicle underneath it.

[MAD]

CA-5 - A rapid transport.

Hey Greg
That's one serious Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) aircraft!!!!

Regards
M.A.D

[PR19_Kit]

CA-5 - A rapid transport.

That's one series Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) aircraft!!!!

You could even imagine a later civvie version, a REALLY quick exec jet, from that root. A bit like a 1990s On Mark Invader maybe? 

[Working on mental colour schemes for an exec Vigi........]

[GTX]

CA-5 - A rapid transport.

Hey Greg
That's one series Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) aircraft!!!!

Regards
M.A.D

I figureyou would still need the standard COD, though this could be used for those high priority requirements and for executive transport or maybe medicl emergencies.

Regards

Greg

[GTX]

CA-5 - A rapid transport.

That's one series Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) aircraft!!!!

You could even imagine a later civvie version, a REALLY quick exec jet, from that root. A bit like a 1990s On Mark Invader maybe? 

[Working on mental colour schemes for an exec Vigi........]

I was thinking the same thing.

Regards,

Greg

[Weaver]

CA-5 - A rapid transport.

Hey Greg
That's one series Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) aircraft!!!!

Regards
M.A.D

I figureyou would still need the standard COD, though this could be used for those high priority requirements and for executive transport or maybe medicl emergencies.

Regards

Greg

Maybe you put the casualty in a pod in the bomb bay and toss-bomb them to a parachute landing right on the hospital lawn.........