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Mike Still
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A-1H Details: ‘Lieutenant America’

August 20, 2017 · in Photo Collections · · 8 · 3K

I shot these pics of a restored A-1H, "Lieutenant America", at Lonesome Pine Regional Airport in Wise County, Va., back in 2011.For a restoration, this compares well to photos from Wayne Mutza's book on 's in Vietnam, Bert Kinzey's A-1 monograph and the Squadron Walkaround. These pics came in handy when I did my Tamiya A-1H MiG killer a couple of years back, and they should be of use doing the ZM Spad as well.

Some things to note:

  • The only framing on the windscreen is the bow framing. The 'frames' on the front are seams where the armor 'glass' sets against the inside of the windscreen.

  • The 'helmet hook' just below the port windscreen is actually a visual approach reference for carrier landing, but it did get a workout as a hat rack.

  • The landing gear mains have a variety of placards on them for oleo loading and servicing, They are VERY noticeable.

  • Tamiya left them off their kit main gear struts, but there are very noticeable anti-shimmy struts that run from the axle tow links diagonally across and front of the struts up into the gear wells.

Reader reactions:
9  Awesome

25 additional images. Click to enlarge.


8 responses

  1. These are simply beautiful reference pics, Mike...and very nice photography I might add.

  2. I guess that's Loo-tenant the American way.nice shots Mike.
    N.

  3. Nah, I´m not buying it. Way too clean. Low points at any competition!

    Thanks for great photos of a true work horse.

  4. Great walk around!

  5. Great pictures! Thanks for sharing.

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