1/72 RA-5C Vigilante. The Definitive 1/72 Scale Model Census.

The Hasegawa kit captures the look of the Vigilante well and even though the tool is old, it features crisp trailing edges and acceptable parts fit. It depicts an early J79-GE-8 engined RA-5C with the curved intake outer lip, and no leading edge wing fillet. It includes drop tanks, but no flasher pods or weapons. Panel lines are raised.

The Trumpeter kit depicts a late J79-GE-10 engined RA-5C with the triangular wing leading edge fillet, and straight intake outer lip, and is a big advance on the Hasegawa kit. Notable features are separate wing flaps, outer wing panels, and upper fin panel, allowing a fully folded aircraft to be depicted easily. Separate leading edge flaps are not provided, however. We particularly like the way that the wheel wells are completely separate parts from the fuselage, allowing easy substitution of resin or scratch built parts for these areas if desired. The reconaissance canoe is well depicted with all of its subtle shape variations. Detail in the cockpit is up to today's standards for an injection moulded kit, and includes instrument dials printed on film. Instrument panels are moulded in clear plastic, but have holes where the main instrument facias are. The front canopy is moulded in two separate pieces, and there is a separate rear canopy. The creasing seen at the front canopy sill is not pronounced enough and will be difficult to rectify. This is the most serious innaccuracy in the kit.

The kit includes Mk 28 and Mk 43 nuclear bombs, the first time that such weapons have been modelled in injection moulded plastic in 1/72 scale. Flasher pods are also included, but there are no drop tanks. The rear empenage is very well defined in complete contrast to the Hasegawa kit. Separate parts are included for the tyres and wheel hubs, allowing for easier painting. The wheels can be made to freely rotate if desired. We really liked the way that the front oleo fork is moulded separately from the wheel. Much more realistic. Surface riveting is too pronounced for this scale, although the panel lines themselves are acceptable. The air intake is not as accurate as it should be; the walls are too thick resulting in an incorrect bevelled look at the leading edge, the corner of the outer wall incorrectly has a radius, while the inner wall's corner is not radiussed enough. There is also a slight kink to the inner wall which is not depicted. The fin cap is far too straight and horizontal, it should be slightly clipped and curved. In general, the overall shape of the kit is accurate, particularly when viewed from the side, and is recommended as the definitive kit of the Vigilante.

Kits
RA-5C early	Hasegawa E1, 805, C1, DT5
RA-5C late	Trumpeter 01616

Cast Detail Parts
RA-5C afterburner set	Highflight 7204
RA-5C engine nozzles	Cutting Edge CEC72023
RA-5C undercarriage	Aeroclub V172

Etched Detail Parts
RA-5C	Airwaves C72218

Vacform Canopy
RA-5C	Falcon 04

Paint Masks
RA-5C	Eduard XS247


Decals
USN
RA-5C	RVAH-11: 156609/NG/601 USS Constellation, 156625/NE/603 USS Ranger; 151626/AG/603 RVAH-1 USS Independence	Hasegawa E1, JS-027
RA-5C	148925/AB/604 RVAH-14 USS JFK, 149313/NE/600 RVAH-9 USS Ranger	Hasegawa 805
RA-5C	AG/603 RVAH-1, GS/401 RVAH-6, NG/608 RVAH-11	Superscale 72093
RA-5C	NG/601 RVAH-12, AE/902 RVAH-7, AE/602 RVAH-13	Superscale 72094
RA-5C	NE/612 RVAH-7	Superscale 72302
RA-5C	156625 GJ/301 RVAH-3, 156639 GM/603 RVAH-9 Key West	Superscale 72524
RA-5C	156620 RVAH-5 Key West	Superscale 72525
RA-5C	156609/GJ/300 RVAH-3 Sea Dragons Key West	Superscale 72525, Trumpeter 01616
RA-5C	156627/NH/605 RVAH-6, 150834/NH/601 RVAH-7	Superscale 72528
RA-5C	149291/NK/600 RVAH-7 CAG CVW-14, 148925/AG/604 RVAH-14	Superscale 72858
RA-5C	156621/GM/602 RVAH-9 Hoot Owls	Trumpeter 01616
RA-5C	156639/GM/603 RVAH-9 Hoot Owls, 156632/NE/501 RVAH-5, 156615/NK/612 RVAH-1, 156610/AJ/601 RVAH-6, 156608 NK/601 RVAH-13, 156608/NE/610 RVAH-7 , 156620/GK/613 RVAH-5	Zotz 72018

72nd scale detail entry
	North American RA-5C Vigilante.
menu aircraft recon manufacturers North American Rockwell links


Kit Review
The Hasegawa kit captures the look of the Vigilante well and even though the tool is old, it features crisp trailing edges and acceptable parts fit. It depicts an early J79-GE-8 engined RA-5C with the curved intake outer lip, and no leading edge wing fillet. It includes drop tanks, but no flasher pods or weapons. Panel lines are raised. The Trumpeter kit depicts a late J79-GE-10 engined RA-5C with the triangular wing leading edge fillet, and straight intake outer lip, and is a big advance on the Hasegawa kit. Notable features are separate wing flaps, outer wing panels, and upper fin panel, allowing a fully folded aircraft to be depicted easily. Separate leading edge flaps are not provided, however. We particularly like the way that the wheel wells are completely separate parts from the fuselage, allowing easy substitution of resin or scratch built parts for these areas if desired. The reconaissance canoe is well depicted with all of its subtle shape variations. Detail in the cockpit is up to today's standards for an injection moulded kit, and includes instrument dials printed on film. Instrument panels are moulded in clear plastic, but have holes where the main instrument facias are. The front canopy is moulded in two separate pieces, and there is a separate rear canopy. The creasing seen at the front canopy sill is not pronounced enough and will be difficult to rectify. This is the most serious innaccuracy in the kit. The kit includes Mk 28 and Mk 43 nuclear bombs, the first time that such weapons have been modelled in injection moulded plastic in 1/72 scale. Flasher pods are also included, but there are no drop tanks. The rear empenage is very well defined in complete contrast to the Hasegawa kit. Separate parts are included for the tyres and wheel hubs, allowing for easier painting. The wheels can be made to freely rotate if desired. We really liked the way that the front oleo fork is moulded separately from the wheel. Much more realistic. Surface riveting is too pronounced for this scale, although the panel lines themselves are acceptable. The air intake is not as accurate as it should be; the walls are too thick resulting in an incorrect bevelled look at the leading edge, the corner of the outer wall incorrectly has a radius, while the inner wall's corner is not radiussed enough. There is also a slight kink to the inner wall which is not depicted. The fin cap is far too straight and horizontal, it should be slightly clipped and curved. In general, the overall shape of the kit is accurate, particularly when viewed from the side, and is recommended as the definitive kit of the Vigilante.