1/48 US Navy RA-5C Vigilante

The Vigilante has consistently ranked high on modelers' "wish lists" for 1/48 aircraft for years. Finally, someone has listened, and it has been worth the wait. Trumpeter's new kit features highly-detailed front and rear cockpits with raised console detail and photo-film instruments for the main panels. The landing gear and wells are also extremely well done. Complete engine assemblies are included, however very little will be visible once completed! Clear windows are included for the reconaissance "canoe" and flash pod lenses. The leading and trailing edge flaps are separate and can be posed dropped or retracted. The outer wing panels can be posed folded or extended, and the vertical tail is also broken down in such a way that it can easily be posed folded as well, which was done when the Viggie was moved below to the hangar deck. The tailhook and in-flight refueling probe can be built extended or retracted, there is a radar dish assembly inside the nose that can be displayed by posing the radome open, and nuclear "shapes" are included as well as the flash pods. Quite a lot of options to think about while building!

Decals are provided for two aircraft, one from RVAH-5 aboard the USS America (pictured below) and one from RVAH-6 aboard the USS Nimitz.