Warbird Information Exchange

Hi guys

I thought I would save some time by asking the knowledgable people on here about a few issues I have with the Skyraider

I'm building a 1/32 scale A-1H / AD-6 and I am going to finish it as 'Miss Eileen' of the 1st SOS, Nakhon Phanom 1969

The kit as built out of the box is a US Navy machine & I need to to be USAF

so my first question is - what are the differences in antennae between USN & USAF machines? I have already scratch built the FM622 whip antenna (used to communicate with ground troops) which isn't included in the kit, but there are some antennae underneath the fuselage near the arrestor hook that are puzzling me - the kit would have you fit two small antennae one in front of the other, but the Squadron Signal Walk Around book shows a photo of a VHF-FM antenna (aka the towel rail). On the same page, there's a photo of an AN/APX-6 IFF antenna forward of the tail wheel well which was 'fitted to late A-1s' according to the book....

So which of these setups is applicable to the USAF machines?

Also on page 38 - a nice photo of chaff/flare dispenser forward of the tail wheel - again, would this be applicable to a USAF machine (and specifically 'Miss Eileen' of course)

My second question is about RBF (Remove Before Flight) tags. I'm not at all sure where these would be hung on a stripped down, 'undergoing maintenance' Skyraider, which is what my model is going to be. Can anyone enlighten me as to the official 'hanging places' for RBF tags?

Thirdly, ahead of the beacon light mounted on top of the tail on USAF machines, there is in some photos evidence of a small blade antenna just ahead of it. Can anyone shed any light on that? It's not present on all USAF A-1Hs.

Fourtly, the mysterious black 'patch' mounted on the inside of the canopy glass. Could it be to stop the top of the rocket motor for the Yankee seat from hitting the canopy? Anyone got any clues about its exact location and purpose? I know there was a thread about that on here but I can't find it - was the issue ever resolved?

Fifthly - a query about the dive / speed brakes. I know that it's unusual to see the lower speed brake extended when the machine is on the ground - in fact I believe that I read on here that USAF machines had a gadget to prevent it extending as they usually carried belly tanks. The Walk Around book does however show the lower brake extended (for maintenance?) - and resting on a soda crate. For a more aesthetically pleasing model, I want to show all three brakes open, as though for a maintenance inspection. I will show the model 'clean' with no belly tank or ordnance (also with all the engine panels off but that's another story) - so can I realistically show the brakes open?

Finally - is there any way at all that a machine would ever undergo any kind of maintenance with live ordnance on the wings? I guess once an aircraft was 'cocked' it would have to be made safe before any kind of work was done, right? I only ask because I was either going to show an aircraft fully loaded with all kinds of cool miniguns and whatnot on the pylons....or completely 'clean' with nothing loaded, but compensated for by showing all the panels open and details on show..

Many thanks in advance! I know I keep asking questions, but this is such a friendly place! I will definitely upload some photos of my Skyraider build and ask for some feedback.

Rich

I was trying to research this for you this afternoon. Wasn't able to find much, but my guess at this point is that it wouldn't have been on an airplane this early. Others might know more though.


I can't recall ever seeing a USAF A-1 on the ground with the speed brakes open. I saw a model built that way once and it looked kinda stupid.

Hi - thanks for the response..

so the airbrakes wouldn't have been opened even for maintenance?

I didn't say that. I said I'd never seen one. Should have said I'd never seen a picture of one, as I wasn't there, of course.

Regarding antennas, the Skyraider thread has a ton of useful info, particularly pages 5, 9, & 18. Be sure to somewhat ignore the VNAF machines as they will have an antenna configuration difference.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=47875

The canopy thread is here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=51642

An antenna discussion, particularly on the E, E-5, and G models was here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=52685&hilit=Skyraider

Regarding chaff/flare, seems like I've seen that photo, but the word "chaff" doesnot appear in the 1971 A-1 Dash One, nor does the word "flare" or "dispenser" (in that context).

I have also not seen the speedbrake petals extended for maintenance, although one would assume it is plausible, although more likely to be done on jacks, I would imagine, due to the travel of the ventral petal.

As far as maintenance with ordnance, I guess it depends on the scene you hope to portray. I'll leave this to Hook and the other vets, but I can only imagine a last minute abort where there was no spare and the ground crew was called out to troubleshoot a specific problem in an effort to get the plane launched on a mission. The problem with this is that there is nearly no plausible scenario where the entire cowl, speedbrakes, etc would be open to the extent I gather you hope to display. One side of the cowl, sure, but much more lends itself to heavier maintenance that would be done on an unarmed airplane. An unarmed plane, BTW, might have covers and streamers on the cannon barrels. Keep us posted!

Ken

_________________
"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Great answers, Ken.

was hoping you'd jump in Ken, thank you

another query

the particular kit I am building would have you attach two little air scoops on either side of the fuselage parallel with the rear of the Yankee rocket motor. I can't find any photographic evidence of these, so can anyone shed any light? The left hand one in particular would seem to be in the same place as the ARN-21 TACAN antenna

I've never noticed or read/any talk of such scoops. I'll keep an eye open next time I'm running through Spad pics.

I see you have the Mutza book. Take another look at the chapter on the Yankee seat and see if there's anything there.

thanks Snake

well, here is a photo from another modeller's online build thread - he is building the A-1J version of this kit, but I can assure you the scoops are present also in the 'H' kit. It is the 1/32 model by Trumpeter:



you can see the little scoops on either side - weird huh?

I have left them off my build for now, not least as I say because the left one fouls up the placing of an ARN-21 antenna

I had a read though the Mutza book chapter you mentioned. Can't find any reference either in writing or in images.

Just checked about 20 photos of USAF H-models, some with good detail, and I see no evidence of the scoops on either side of the fuselage as your photo depicts, just smooth skin.

Ken

_________________
"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

I just took a quick tour through the Osprey USN A-1 book and couldn't find any of them, either.

You might want to ask at HyperScale. If Tommy T doesn't know what they are, it's not worth knowing.

for those that are interested, I have categoric proof that the speed brakes can be and sometimes are opened up during maintenance

from my contact at the Tennessee Aviation Museum:

I have the Dive brakes open at times during maintenance. They take quite a beating in service, and need to be inspected often. hydraulic leaks,popped rivets ,worn hinge points-need greasing

Rich,

Can you e-mail me at scott.roe@kc10ts.com.

I have an interesting story and a question for you.

Thanks.

Scott Roe

I was a plane captain (crew chief) on the Douglas A-4E . On the pre-flight checks before launch, the plane captain has the pilot lower the flaps, open the dive brakes , lower the tailhook. The plane catain inspects that they can operate normally, looks for damage, and checks for hydraulic leaks of any kind. We would give the hand signal, then go back there and check visually, then return to the pilot's view and give a thumbs up (or down) and the hand signal to close the dive brakes.