The Bumble Lightning Motif
Yes, I reference this quite a bit; maybe this is a good time to explain the emphasis.
Please understand the last thing on my mind is to intend any disrespect whatever to Attackron 176 or their outstanding war record in Vietnam. Moreover, I certainly intend no censure of any sort against my fellow modelers.
Likely, it is no more than just OCD of a sort on my part. I have this thing about whatever to me takes on any aspect of artistic cliché, a milepost the lightning bolt/bumblebee cartoon on the tails of model and reproduction Skyraiders passed many, many moons ago.
As an experiment I Googled model Navy Skyraiders and purused the resultant images results. I counted up to 125 and discovered when I got there no less than 109 of them were a representation of the VA-176 scheme.
Since this site is directed toward historical and technical accuracy in regard to representing the Spad in miniature, here’s a breakdown of the reality of US Navy Attackron deployment of the airplane during the Vietnam Era: (from Burgess & Rausa, US Navy Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War p7):
“By January 1960 the US Navy’s air arm included just 14 front line carrier-based attach squadrons equipped with AD-6/7 (A-1H/J) Skyraiders:
Atlantic Fleet:
- VA-15 “Valions”
- VA-35 “Black Panthers”
- VA-65 “Tigers”
- VA-75 “Sunday Punchers”
- VA-85 “Black Falcons”
- VA-176 “Thunderbolts” [The Bumblebee guys]
- VA-196 “Main Battery"
Pacific Fleet:
- VA-25 “Fist of the Fleet”
- VA-52 “Knightriders”
- VA-95 “Skyknights” later “Green Lizards”
- VA-115 “Arabs”
- VA-145 “Swordsmen”
- VA-152 “Friendlies” later “Wild Aces”
- Va-215 “Barn Owls”
The number briefly grew to 16 units with the formation of two new squadrons during the course of 1960-61. VA-135 “Thunderbirds” was established at NAS Jacksonville FL on 21 Aug. 1961…but was disestablished on Oct. 1, 1962. VA-165 “Boomers” has been established on 1 Sept. 1960 …and…lasted considerably longer seeing combat following its shift to NAS Alameda CA in March 1964.”
The point is, there were a lot of squadrons, a lot of Skyraiders and a lot of Skyraider history. Moreover, in reality, of all the airplanes involved likely no more than a dozen to perhaps eighteen of them ever sported the bumblebee motif. Yet to view the modeling results, the plethora of decal sheets and book covers to hand it would be possible to believe the big flashy cartoon was something of a sine qua non to putting any Vietnam era Navy A-1 into harm’s way.
So, what’s wrong building a VA-176 Spad to the exclusion of all others? Nothing at all; absolutely nothing. It's just there are so many other options, many just as colorful, just as interesting and attesting squadron histories worthy of equal attention by those who wish to commemorate this fascinating period of Naval aviation history. I'm wondering if, as model builders, we may be shortchanging the rest of the Skyraider community, and ourselves, by being somewhat myopic in our selection of possible subjects.
This, of course, is just my hang-up and should be taken for nothing more substantial. The bumblebee is a cliché, this is beyond doubt, but this does not mean it is in the least inappropriate or somehow less than legitimate as a subject if its presence is what the artist envisions.
I personally would choose to build something else, to seek a level of originality which satisfies that particular turn of my own mind. But, this is just my take on the art and nothing more. For the same reason, though I have built many of each, no P-40 from my bench has ever sported shark’s teeth, no Fokker Dr.1 been all over red, or any B-17 been named “Memphis Belle”. I simply cannot bring myself to build Bf-109’s in any guise and though I have constructed many dioramas I would rather spend a month unarmed and naked on Isla Nublar than plunk a model of any German airplane on some quasi-imaginary wood plank hardstand.
Likewise were I a painter I would not be a devotee of Bob Ross, ever produce a portrait of Elvis on black velvet or waste oils on any picture of Bonaparte scratching his navel.
This, however, is just my hang-up and I beg you will take none of it at all seriously. In my comments I mean to have fun by poking fun is all; it is satire only and disrespect or diminution of another artist’s efforts is the furthest thing from my mind.
If your likes run to teeth, "happy little scribbles", boards, vermillion, 109’s, bumblebees, and the King on fuzzy black then I say, and sincerely, it is a hobby after all; God richly bless you my friend; build long and prosper!
