[PappyB]

Hey all,

Just received the Sidewinders A-7 this weekend -- might be my favorite CW bird so far. I don't know diddly about these airplanes but I've just always thought they were very cool.. and it shares the name of my favorite bird of all time, the Corsair, naturally.

Question for the experts out there in regard to the loadout. The instructions say to install the bomb racks with the bombs on the inward side of the rack... closer to the fuselage, rather than on the outboard side, as shown in the Flying Mule pics of this model. It looks wonky to have them as the instructions say, but this could be right for all I know (keeping the weight as close to center as possible?).

Which is right?

Thanks.

[rdenham]

The empty side of the bomb racks should be facing inward as to give cleance for the fuel tanks to able able to drop away in flight.

[David Hingtgen]

I think it depends on the fuel tanks---if there's drop tanks, have the bombs outboard like Rdenham said. But if there's nothing on the inboard pylons, I think the bombs are more likely to be inboard. (I have pics of both configurations, and outboard bombs are far more common----the inboard position only appears when there's no drop tanks)

PS--when I first saw this thread, I thought it was going to be a question about the fuselage rails.

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Just received the Sidewinders A-7 this weekend -- might be my favorite CW bird so far.

Really??? More than any of the Tomcats?

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

I think it depends on the fuel tanks---if there's drop tanks, have the bombs outboard like Rdenham said. But if there's nothing on the inboard pylons, I think the bombs are more likely to be inboard. (I have pics of both configurations, and outboard bombs are far more common----the inboard position only appears when there's no drop tanks)

PS--when I first saw this thread, I thought it was going to be a question about the fuselage rails.

You can ask it, but then you'd probably have to answer it too

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Andrew

You can ask it, but then you'd probably have to answer it too

Okay, clue me (us?) in what's the deal with the fuselage rails?

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Elmer

Really??? More than any of the Tomcats?

I dunno... it's a close call for me as I've always wanted an A-7 as I've just always thought it was extremely cool -- the tomcats are great, but we have other tomcats so they're not as exciting to me. Plus, given some of the issues I've had with mine, I think they are slightly over-rated. But, that said, accuracy is not the #1 factor for me in a model, if it was, I'd probably put the CW Tomcat at the head of the class based on what all the experts say about it.

(Regardless, I do think CW is really pushing the limits with price... $55 for the A-6 feels like too much to me. Don't think I'll be getting many of 'em. One, in fact, may be enough )

[kb466]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Okay, clue me (us?) in what's the deal with the fuselage rails?

It is just that the fuselage rails are where they mount the Sidewinder missiles on the A-7E. I am sure that David Hingtgen saw the title of the thread and thought it referred to the Sidewinder missiles and the fuselage rails. I have to admit that I had the same reaction when I read it.

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by PappyB

I dunno... it's a close call for me as I've always wanted an A-7 as I've just always thought it was extremely cool -- the tomcats are great, but we have other tomcats so they're not as exciting to me. Plus, given some of the issues I've had with mine, I think they are slightly over-rated. But, that said, accuracy is not the #1 factor for me in a model, if it was, I'd probably put the CW Tomcat at the head of the class based on what all the experts say about it.

(Regardless, I do think CW is really pushing the limits with price... $55 for the A-6 feels like too much to me. Don't think I'll be getting many of 'em. One, in fact, may be enough )

I really like my CW aircraft and have said as much on this forum. However, I have to concur with you insofar that I'm also leaning towards the opinion that these diecast are perhaps a little overrated/'overhyped' - I've been lucky so far with the few I've got, but it's clear that other forum members have experienced QC issues that, for the price these models cost, are unacceptable ...