1/32 Trumpeter A-7D Corsair and F-8E Crusader

Gallery Article by Eduard Boxem on Feb 18 2016

 

      

The Vought A-7 Corsair II was a carrier-capable subsonic light attack aircraft introduced in 1965 to replace the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. The A-7 airframe design was based on the successful supersonic Vought F-8 Crusader. The Corsair II initially entered service with the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. It was later adopted by the United States Air Force, including the Air National Guard, to replace the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, North American F-100 Super Sabre and Republic F-105 Thunderchief.

Click on images below to see larger images

The F-8 Crusader was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The first F-8 prototype was ready for flight in February 1955. The F-8 served in the Vietnam War. The Crusader was the last American fighter with guns as the primary weapon, earning it the title "The Last of the Gunfighters".

I like Trumpeter models very much. They‘re really good in every aspect. Aircraft from the Vietnam era are my favorite. I built the 1/32 Crusader and Corsair A-7D right out of the box and used the included decals. The Crusader kit provides decals for two aircraft: the CAG for USS Oriskany from VF-162 in 1968 and for the CAG from Ticonderoga. I choose the first version. Standing next to each other you can really see the difference between the two aircraft. And it is also obvious why the A-7 is called by their pilots SLUF (Short Little Ugly F*). Compared with the sleek Crusader is is really short, but certainly not ugly in my opinion.

Eduard Boxem

Click on images below to see larger images

 

Photos and text © by Eduard Boxem