A
summary of the 1/32nd scale Trumpeter A-7E build.
When
you open the box it all looks good, lots of parts, metal undercarriage,
rubber tyres, photo-etch and enough weapons to wage a one-man war.
The parts are moulded in a god quality, light-grey plastic with
finely engraved panel lines.
Closer inspection reveals that the leading edge slats and trailing
edge flaps and ailerons can be positioned up or down – the rudder is
also a separate item.
The under belly air-brake can also be shown open or closed.
The
kit is not perfect though
and the unknowing modeller could end up making a few mistakes just by
following the instructions. Firstly,
the kit includes two kinds of ejector seat, the Stencil and Escapac.
Unfortunately, the instructions make no mention of the Escapac and
provide assembly instructions for the Stencil seat that only appeared
during the 1980’s on some aircraft.
If you wish to model a Vietnam A-7E or colourful 1970’s aircraft
then you need the Escapac seat.
Aires makes two types of replacement cockpits, early and late.
These are very good and recommended.
Click on
images below to see larger images
Things
under wings included in the kit:
AGM-65
Mavericks missiles and triple launchers (LAU-88).
AGM-45
Shrike missiles and launchers (LAU-118).
M117
750lb bombs.
Mk
82 500lb slick bombs.
Mk
82 500lb Snakeye bombs.
(normal
fuses and extended fuses included).
HOBOS
TV GBU-8/B guided bombs.
Laser
guided bombs GBU-10 Paveway II (2,000lb).
AGM-84E
Harpoon (SLAM) missiles.
AGM-88
HARM missiles.
AGM-62
(I) Walleye guided bombs (No data-link pod)
AGM-12(B)
Bullpup missiles.
Multiple
Ejector Racks.
Triple
Ejector Racks.
AIM-9D
Sidewinders.
LAU-7
rails.
Drop
tanks.
FLIR
pod
This
is where is gets a bit confusing and you could end up building a Vietnam
era aircraft with the wrong weapons mounted on it. The following
weapons in the kit were used in Vietnam by the US Navy on
A-7E's(up until 1975):
AGM-12B
Bullpup
AGM-45
Shrike
AGM-62
Walleye
AIM-9D
Sidewinder
Mk
82 bombs (slick and snakeye)
The
following are not used on the US
Navy A-7E:
1).
AGM-65 Maverick missiles and triple launchers (LAU-88).
USAF
and Marines used these before the US Navy ordered the ‘F’ version for the
F/A-18Horne in the early 1990’s. Even
then the LAU-88 (triple launcher) is not used and the AGM-65F is carried
singularly on a LAU-117.
2).
AGM-84E (Harpoon) SLAM missiles.
AGM-84
Harpoon missiles were first deployed for use in 1979 for P-3 Orions, S-3
Vikings, the AGM-84E SLAM version by F/A-18 Hornets and A-6 Intruders in the
late 1980’s..
3).
GBU-8/B HOBOS 2000lb bombs.
Used
by the USAF.
4).
M117 750lb bombs.
USAF
– the US Navy has the Mk 83 750lb bomb.
Lastly…
The FLIR pod was only made available to 273 A-7E’s – certainly not
early 1970’s aircraft.
Other
inaccuracies/problems:
The
AGM-45 Shrike missiles look wrong; this is because the front fins are
located too close to the rear. They
will need removing and replaced with card further forward along the missile
body.
LAU-7
launchers
for the sidewinders are pretty crude by today’s standards – they are the
wrong shape as well.
Drop
tanks
are the wrong shape, far too pointed, long and thin.
They also have far too thick strengthening bands around them.
The AIM-9D Sidewinders also suffer from this over-scale banding.
The
wheels are incorrect in design and suffer from a poor fit, these are best
replaced with the third-party bulged variety.
Kit
decals list the VA-82 aircraft’s pilot, as a Col. Which is not a US Navy rank.
It is however a US Marine Corps rank and the rules of the US Navy allowed
for a certain number CAG commanders to be Marine Corps pilots above or equal to
the equivalent rank of Captain.
The
list goes on and the instructions make no mention that early aircraft (Vietnam
era) did not have the lower avionics bulge behind the main wheels.
Also, that the side running cable trunking located along the mid-lower
fuselage came in a bit later. The open avionics bays are not accurate and best
replaced/updated using Eduard’s etched set.
The RAT is also inaccurate and needs attention to make it appear
realistic.
Keith
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