Preface/前言
本文是Alex Suvorov发表在ARC上，经过原作者许可后由我翻译并转载到本站。2017年又找到了作者发在博客上的大图，补充到本文中。转载本文请征得原文作者同意。由于本人水平有限，翻译难免有错误，还望同好不吝指出。感谢刘友博的翻译协助。文中一切观点只代表原作者本人。
5. MD-3 Flight Deck Tractor/MD-3型拖车
The MD-3 tractor appeared on the flight decks of the U.S. Navy carriers in early 1960's. Being probably the first U.S. purpose-built shipboard tractor, it was substantially larger and heavier than all its predecessors (to cope with towing heavier aircraft), but at the same time it sported a very low profile so as to fit under the longer noses of modern aircraft. An interesting feature was the modular rear deck: different containers can be flush-mounted there, thus defining the vehicle's role. The jet aircraft start unit, housing a gas turbine air compressor, was the most common: nearly all MD-3s on carriers were equipped with one. A frame containing a compact fire fighting unit could also be employed. The vehicle proved to be a success and came to serve on all U.S. carriers (including Oriskany, Midway, Forrestal, Kitty Hawk, Enterprise and Nimitz classes) as well as on most helicopter carriers and assault ships (in particular, LPH Iwo Jima, LSD Anchorage / Whidbey Island / Harpers Ferry, LPD Austin, LHA Tarawa, LHD Wasp and LPD San Antonio). A small number was also employed on the Royal Canadian Navy's HMCS Bonaventure and on the Argentine Navy's carrier Veinticinco de Mayo.
MD-3型拖车在1960年代初服役。可能是美国海军的第一种专用航母拖车，它相对前任而言，体积和重量都大幅增加（为了牵引更重的战机）。但是高度却很低，适合在现代战机的下长鼻子工作。MD-3比较有趣的是它的模块化车尾，可以根据不同的任务安装不同的后置设备。喷气战机的启动设备——燃气涡轮空压机，可能是多数在航母上服役的MD-3所共有的设备。也可能安装的是一台消防设备。这种车辆被证明是非常实用的，因而在所有的美国航母上服役（包括奥里斯卡尼级、中途岛级、福莱斯特级、小鹰级、企业级和尼米兹级航母），还在多数直升机航母和各种两栖攻击舰（包括LPH硫磺岛级、LSD安克雷奇级、惠德贝岛级、哈珀斯·费里级、LPD 奥斯丁级、LHA 塔拉瓦级、LHD黄蜂级、LPD圣安东尼奥级）上服役。还有少量在加拿大海军的文德号航母和阿根廷航母“五月二十五日”上服役。
MD-3 models in 1/72 scale can be obtained from either Fujimi, Verlinden or a Chinese brandDreamModel. I have built mine from the Fujimi's "Flight Deck Crew & Carrier Tractor" set (cat. # 35001) which also includes ten flight deck personnel figures. The set contains the early (pre-1990's) version of the tractor and provides three options: one can build a tractor with either a compressor or a fire fighting unit attached, or have it in a plain "tractor only" configuration. The MD-3 itself is rather accurate and well detailed; the only major issue is the rear wheels: they should have twin, not single, tires.
1/72的MD-3模型可选购的有富士美、威林顿以及中国品牌梦模型的相关产品。我做的是富士美的航母地勤和拖车套材（产品编号35001），这盒套材还包含了10个航母地勤人员模型。套材里的MD-3是早期（1990年以前的）版本的拖车，并提供了三种制作选项：一俩简单的拖车、带启动设备的拖车或消防车。MD-3本身开的相当准确，细节也比较丰富。唯一的缺点是后轮：真车的轮胎是双轮，模型做成了单轮。
I had the kit's rear single wheels replaced with twin ones; this process included making wider wheel wells in the tractor's body and getting additional tires by replicating the original ones through casting. To detail the tractor further, I have added a number of small scratch-built items, including some braces, levers and pedals on the driver's position and clear headlights with metal foil reflectors. The compressor's air hose is also scratch-built, as the one supplied with the kit looks genuinely plastic. The tie-down chains came from the White Ensign Models photoetched set.
我用双后轮替换了套材中的单后轮。在车体上开了更宽的轮胎槽，再把原轮胎复制一份后安装上。PK注：目前市面上能买到的MD-3模型都是单后轮的。为了进一步添加拖车的细节，我还自制了这些小东西：挡泥板、在驾驶员座位上的操纵杆和踏板、金属箔改造后的清晰前车灯。压缩机的空气软管也是自制的，因为套材自带的看起来塑料感十足。系紧链条是White Ensign出品的蚀刻片。
6. A/S32A-31A Flight Deck Tractor/ A/S32A-31A型拖车
A/S32A-31A is a current flight deck tractor for all active U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and amphibious ships. On carriers the vehicle is typically equipped with a gas turbine unit to start jet aircraft engines. When compared to the older MD-3 tractor in service since the 1960's through the 1990's, the A/S32A-31A has a different rear end and a new starter unit. The vehicles have served or are in service on Kitty Hawk, Enterprise and Nimitz class carriers as well as Whidbey Island, Harpers Ferry, Austin, Tarawa, Wasp and San Antonio class amphibious ships. Several tractors were obtained by the Indian Navy along with INS Jalashwa (ex USS Trenton).
A/S32A-31A是美国海军现役所有航母和两栖攻击舰上使用的拖车。通常都配备了启动喷气战机引擎的空气涡轮机启动设备。相对在1960~1990年 代服役的MD-3而言，A/S32A-31A车后有所不同，还有新的启动设备。这种拖车在小鹰级、企业级和尼米兹级航母以及惠德贝岛级、哈珀斯·费里级、奥斯丁级、 塔拉瓦级、黄蜂级、圣安东尼奥级两栖攻击舰上服役。部分还出口到印度，在印度两栖攻击舰加拉希瓦号 （原美国海军的特林顿号）上服役。
This is another kit from F4Models (cat. # FM7002). The resin parts are fairly good; however, assembling the starter unit, and especially the related photoetched parts, is not an easy task. Some sanding and filing and improvising are needed to achieve the correct fit. As usual, I scratch-built some braces and levers from thin wire. For headlights, I made reflectors from self-adhesive bare metal foil and then applied drops of clear blue paint. The tie-down chains in this case are made from real chain, supplied by a Russian company named Verf' na stole; they look much more realistic than the photoetched ones, I must say.
这辆拖车模型也是F4Models的产品（编号FM7002）。树脂零件非常好。但是安装启动设备，特别是连接蚀刻片不好做。需要进行打磨、填补后才能正 确的安装上。像之前的车一样，我自制了挡泥板，用细铁丝做操纵杆。前灯用带胶膜的金属箔改造，并点上了一点透明蓝漆。这次的系紧链是用真链条做的，是一个 叫Verf' na stole的俄国公司的产品。我必须承认这比用蚀刻片做的链条效果好。
All kits have been painted and finished in the same way: first Vallejo acrylic paint; then gloss varnish and some light / neutral wash, decals with Micro Set / Sol liquids and finally Vallejo matt varnish.
所有的拖车都是这么上色和旧化的：首先上AV的丙烯酸漆，然后是光油、做高光和渍洗，然后用Micro出的软化剂和水贴胶水贴好水贴，最后用AV的消光漆消光。
So this concludes my history of the U.S. Navy's flight deck tractors.
以上就是我的美国海军航母地勤车模型简介。（全文完结）
原文地址：http://www.arcair.com/Gal12/11901-12000/gal11948-Tractors-Suvorov/00.shtm。博客地址：https://alexsmodelling.blogspot.jp/2014/12/us-navy-flight-deck-tractor-models.html。