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REVIEW: Hobby Master HA4704 USN RA-5C Vigilante, RVAH-14 "Eagle Eyes" 1974

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  • REVIEW: Hobby Master HA4704 USN RA-5C Vigilante, RVAH-14 "Eagle Eyes" 1974

    Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
    HA4704
    USN North American RA-5C Vigilante
    156642, RVAH-14 "Eagle Eyes" USS Independence, 1974

    December 2016 Release



    RVAH-14

    RVAH-14 was the second squadron specifically formed to operate the RA-5C Vigilante and was the most short-lived of any RVAH squadron. RVAH-14 was initially established on 1 February 1968 at NAS Sanford, Florida in order to accommodate the impending commissioning of the USS John F. Kennedy, the latter of which was scheduled for 7 September 1968. Throughout its existence, RVAH-14 concentrated on Cold War operations, primarily in support of the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, and was the only frontline RVAH squadron not to see action during the Vietnam War. The squadron's emblem was created by cartoonist Roy Crane, the creator of the Buz Sawyer comic strip.


    Photo of the actual aircraft.






    The Model

    This is the fifth RA-5C Vigilante release by Hobby Master. The RVAH-14 "Eagle Eyes" squadron tied for first place (along with RVAH-13 "Bats") as the most requested RA-5C in a recent poll on Model Hangar 3. The model represents aircraft #156642 from June 1973 - January 1974 when RVAH-14 was embarked aboard USS Independence for a Mediterranean deployment.

    All the parts of the model fit together very well and the paint quality was excellent. Once again Hobby Master's Vigilante tooling stands head and shoulders above anything available in the plastic kit world. Unlike the best kit available (Trumpeter) - Hobby Master's RA-5C has a correct forward fuselage hump shape, correct exhaust nozzles, and the proper shape to the vertical fin.

    The only minor disappointment is the use of squared font "Os" instead of "Ds" in the USS INDEPENDENCE titles on the Vertical tail. To be fair it's not really all that noticeable as the difference between the letters given the squared font is minor.



    All in all just another great Vigilante release by Hobby Master and one I can happily recommend for those collectors with a USN theme.

    Dan





















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