The LTV A-7 Corsair II was one of the most successful military aircraft of modern times and probably the greatest bargain in weapon system procurement history. The A-7's combat debut came in Vietnam, where it was effective in attacks on North Vietnamese MiG bases and on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. The first A-7 squadron to be deployed to Vietnam was VA-147, based aboard the USS Ranger; they flew over 1400 sorties, losing only one aircraft. One shining star on the career of the airplane came when six Navy A-7s with Mark 55 mines, supported only by several F-4s and two EA-6 Prowlers, mined Haiphong Harbor in 1972. Though seldom publicized, it racked up accomplishments of startling proportions. In over 5 million flight hours between 1968 and 1991, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy A-7's were the U.S. military's most cost-effective aerial weapon. It was noted for capability to carry very heavy weapon loads (up to 20,000 pounds), ultra low maintenance requirements (9 to 11 maintenance man hours per flight hour), superior weapon delivery accuracy (bombing within 50 meters of friendly troops), long range (up to 4,250 nautical miles), low loss rate in combat (0.04%), and very low accident rate. It was also an airplane that was easy to fly and that was well liked by the pilots. A total of 1,545 airframes were manufactured.
The A-7 was previously offered by the Hong Kong-based company Big Blue Boy but this is the first time a model in 1/700 scale has truly captured the enormous payloads carried by this superb aircraft. While photography of these little gems is a challenge for our equipment and limited skills, check out the well proportioned models including the fuselage with detailed canopy, the nose air intake, tiny Sidewinder missiles, the tail assembly and wings with the fuel tanks, ordnance and the delicate undercarriage.
The surfaces are not perfectly smooth (3D printing is done in layers) but the plastic used can be sanded and painted much the same way you would handle resin or styrene. The models may still have some powder and oil-like agent on them that needs to be removed by washing in warm water with a drop of detergent added to it.
NOTE: While we currently maintain limited inventories of most items, some items may be "printed on demand", which usually requires 10-15 business days from order to shipment.
