Vigilante
by Jack Hollander
The Vigilante is the plane that scared the Russians so much that it caused them to develop the Mig 25.
Tumpeter’s kit went together quite easily and the panel lines nicely done. You’re given all the external weapons, but they not necessary for this version (A5 C version). The strobes were for nighttime photography and the rudder is one piece and it swivels.
The tail cone for internal weapons bay on the real aircraft pulled down for nuclear weapons dispersal.
The gap you see in the model is just like the gap in the real plane – so don’t fill it.
There are a couple of things you should keep in mind. Be sure to follow the building sequence; if you don’t, you could be in for a few surprises. Put the nose wheel landing gear in before you finish the fuselage.
Also, some of the molding seams needed to be sanded away. A word of caution: the forward canopy is very delicate.
All in all, the Vigilante was a good fit all around.
Photos by Jeff Junker