RA-5C Vigilante RVAH-1 Smokin' Tigers 101
RA-5C Vigilante RVAH-1 Smokin' Tigers 101 1968

RVAH-1 Smokin' Tigers RA-5C Vigilante 101 (NG) BU#: 147857 1968
Detailed Cockpit: Scratch-built sheet styrene side control panels; ejection handles from stretched sprue; heads-up display from spare clear; and main control panel from sheet styrene w/decals from Microscale set.
Fuselage improvements: Filled in incorrect surface detail. Scribed/re-scribed all panel lines and detail. Added rivet detail to fuselage, ”canoe,” and tail cone. Blacked out camera ports in the “canoe.” Modeled tail hook stowed internally; modified & scratch-built new tail hook doors. Microscale black stripe decal for tail hook warning stripes. Drilled open end of fuel dump tube. Narrowed nose to conform to references and aftermarket pitot tube. Added AOA probe as per references. Scratch built correct rudder taillight from incorrect kit clear part, styrene rod & sheet stock.
Corrected Engine Nacelles front to back: Opened engine intakes. Corrected intake “ceilings” with sheet styrene. Created styrene tube intake ducts going back to engine fan blades from spares. Opened engine exhausts. Modified and added spare thrusters inside and spare engine exhaust blades outside.
Markings: Self-made correct squadron emblem decals from references – On the aircraft, the smoke cloud is above the circle and the Tiger faces to the right on both sides. Tail Code/streaks scaled up to 1/72 by Starfighter Decals from #700-53 set. Painted and placed all decals per GRS references.