O-2 FAC Skymaster, Viet Nam, 1/48th best kit??? Which?

[N4521U]

I have found another Davidson pilot Viet Nam who flew an FAC O-2 Skymaster. and would like to get the best kit I can. I have noticed the later O-2's had an extended pilot side window up overhead. I haven't been able to find one with this feature. I'm not afraid to hack one in but if it's in a nice kit would be a plus.

Any input would be appreciated.

Bill

 

[meatloaf109]

Looks like the Testors (Ex-Hawk) kit #514 is the only thing out there at the moment. Sprue Brothers has a couple. From build reviews it is the right size and shape, but requires lots of scratch to make it right in the interior. Sounds like it's right up your alley.

 

[fubar57]

Right you are Paul. Not a bad kit Bill, but I have no idea why this one isn't finished. Note on the instruction sheet that the extra windows are only decals so it would require some complex plastic cutting and and clear manufacturing. I'm still looking for some photos of an aircraft that was painted in 3 tone blue. I saw this in a FSM magazine build years ago. If anyone has any info on this scheme, I would appreciate it.

....and yes I know the blue is a tad dark but this was before I had a computer and it was all I had.

Geo

EDIT:Should have mentioned that the window decals are black(#36-#39) on the instructions.

 

[meatloaf109]

Yelloy stripes like that suggest SAR to me.

 

[fubar57]

According to the structions, it's a U.S.Navy aircraft, VFA-125 "Rough Raiders", NAS Fallon, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1989.

Geo

And now to the webs to see what the actual aircraft looked like.

 

[N4521U]

Thanks for your input on this one.

Testors, Italeri and Hawk are the only ones I have found. Will take a look at Sprue Bros. and be right back. Sprue has the Testors, and Draw Decals for the "DONT SHOOT" over the wings. Testors looks like the likely suspect for this one.

I would have to come up with rocket brackets, and looks like they had a "willy pete" cluster pod as well. Apparently the back seats were replaced with a radio stack against the back wall. I have a photo of a typical radio install. Scratch building, woohoo! But looks like it could be a quick build.

I haven't found the unit Steve Davidson flew with doing his Forward Air Control stuff, but it was USAF, May '71, call sign "Herbie 12". Qui Nhon, near the Phu Cat Mountains. He was flying high cover for an O-1 and UH-1H helo operation capturing a "bad guy" on the ground.

Interesting stuff.

Bill

 

[fubar57]

The Testors kit comes with 4 rockets and two gun pods. I think I may have some spare rocket cluster pods.

Geo

 

[Matt308]

Looks like it might be a flight test aircraft that allows flight test pilots experience in diverse aircraft types and handling. Not uncommon if that is what it actually is.

 

[N4521U]

To answer Matt above. From Wiki.....
The O-2 Skymaster (also known as the "Oscar Deuce" or "The Duck") is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster utilized as an observation and forward air control (FAC) aircraft. The United States Air Force commissioned Cessna to build a military variant to replace the O-1 Bird Dog in 1966. A total of 178 USAF O-2 Skymasters were lost in the Vietnam War, to all causes.

Geo...... This could explain the colors on the above Navy Skymaster.
Six former USAF O-2A airframes were also transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1983 for use as "range controllers" with Attack Squadron 122 (VA-122), the Pacific Fleet Replacement Squadron for the A-7 Corsair II at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. These same aircraft were later transferred to Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125), the F/A-18 Hornet FRS at NAS Lemoore, in 1986 for use in the same range control role.[4] The six Navy O-2A's remained in this role until September 1990, when they were replaced by T-34C Turbo Mentor aircraft transferred from the Naval Air Training Command.

Bill

 

[fubar57]

Checked my spares, I have some pods, but not like your photo. I think this is your pod. And thanks for the info Bill. Still looking for the 3 tone blue camo'd plane.

Geo

EDIT: This is the website that the above photo came from and it has some other info as well.http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~tpilsch/AirOps/O2.html

 

[meatloaf109]

Well, anyways, get one and do your usual excelent job!

 

[N4521U]

Checked my spares, I have some pods, but not like your photo. I think this is your pod. And thanks for the info Bill. Still looking for the 3 tone blue camo'd plane. Geo

You mean like these?

 

[fubar57]

Great photo Bill and it shows my blue to be a bit too dark. The aircraft I'm searching for has a three blue wrap around scheme with colors similar to these....

Geo

 

[N4521U]

How did you come up with this three blue color scheme?

 

[fubar57]

Seen a photo of the aircraft and a model build in Fine Scale Modeller years ago. I believe it was also on the cover of said magazine.

Geo

 

[N4521U]

Cool. Haven't come across anything yet.

 

[fubar57]

Got to thinking, there may have been black involved as well. Might just break down and fire off an email to FSM.

Geo

 

[N4521U]

Was on a seach mission for the best price on one-o-these birds all over the net. LHS, slugBay, phone. Gues where the least expensive Testors kit was.................. Amazon! Who woulda guessed!

 

[meatloaf109]

D'ja get it?

 

[N4521U]

Put it in the cart for the next order Annie places.