The North American A-5 began life as a high speed attack bomber capable of delivering an atomic bomb from United States aircraft carriers. After a change in policy they were converted to unarmed reconnaissance aircraft.

Development of the A-5 commenced in 1956 to give the US Navy a carrier born nuclear attack capability.

The prototype A-5 flew for the first time in August 1958 and they began entering service in June 1961.

Sixty-three A-5s had been manufactured when a change in policy led to conversion of the A-5 to the RA-5 reconnaissance aircraft.

The first RA-5C flew on 30 June 1962 and they began entering service in 1964.

Fifty-five new RA-5Cs were built and most A-5s were also converted to this version.

Most RA-5Cs saw service during the Vietnam war when their speed and agility proved very useful. They remained in service until 1980

This model represents RA-5C, no 156632 of RVAH-11 in the early 1970s.

Trumpeter 1/72 kit with Microscale decals completed by Leigh Edmonds in June 2009.