1:72 A-7E Corsair II, VA-72 Bluehawks AC400 1991 Desert Storm

A-7E Corsair II, VA-72 Bluehawks AC400, Desert Storm 1991 — 1:72 Century Wings

A finished model from the Wings of Heroes line, not a kit. The construction is mostly metal alloy with plastic parts and the markings are tampo-printed, so they will not fade and will not peel off the way decals do. The manufacturer limited the edition to 1800 pieces.

The real subject

The A-7E Corsair II was a subsonic carrier-based attack aircraft. It grew out of the airframe of the F-8 Crusader fighter, by shortening the fuselage, dropping the afterburner and fitting the TF41 turbofan engine, and it carried the M61 rotary cannon. Crews called it the SLUF because of its stubby shape. The VA-72 Bluehawks was one of the two last attack squadrons of the US Navy still serving with the A-7E: in January 1991 it flew from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy the last combat missions this type was given in American naval service, and then it re-equipped.

Markings and version

The model carries the number 400 and the AC code of carrier air wing CVW-3 in the form in which the machine returned from the Persian Gulf, with the Desert Storm inscription under the canopy frame and with symbols of the missions flown. The line comes with a display stand for showing the model in flight, removable crew figures, an opening canopy and removable external stores with descriptive labels.

Who the model is for

• For collectors of US Navy carrier aviation and of the Gulf War
• For a display case: the model is finished, nothing is glued and nothing is painted
• For modelers looking for a solid subject against which to compare details

This is a finished item, not a kit. Check the version, the state of assembly, the painting and the extent of the package on the box.