Cessna O-1E Bird Dog – Hasegawa 1:48

April 9, 2018 · in Aviation · · 15 · 5.4K

Exactly one year after my last model, O-2A Oscar Deuce in 1:48 scale, I'm here again with its older cousin Cessna O-1E in the same scale.
Coming from (ModelUsa), it requested a lot of improvements summarized as follow:

• Eduard PE set for (just partly usable);
• True Details resin set for O-1 (just partly usable);
• Old Airwaves white metal and Plus Model resin figures;
• AOA + AeroMaster decals;
• Reheat & Eduard PE, copper, brass & styrene for various details;
• Rivets & panels remade from ‘positive' to ‘negative'.

Approximately 320 hours of work, from June 2017 to April 2018.

Pictures of real aircraft taken in Lai Khe (Vietnam) 1966 and found on-line.

Cheers, Alex
Rome (Italy)

Reader reactions:
11  Awesome

53 additional images. Click to enlarge.


15 responses

  1. Wow...lots of work, lots of work...and lots of attention to detail. Aftermarket stuff must have [at least] equaled the kit price(s), huh...? Your time and effort really paid off, though...it looks absolutely fabulous. Excellent build, my friend...excellent.

  2. Very detailed build, I like it a lot. Ground troops relied on these OV-1s and some were restored after the war. I spotted one in Southern Austria last year, it really looks like your model Alex!

  3. Beautiful detail work! Looks fantastic.

  4. Just amazing, Alessandro.

    320 hours of time made extant. Bravo.

  5. This model is just awesome. You captured the look perfectly! The detail work is 1st class! I love the way u displayed the model. It is also a unique model not really displayed often so thank you for this display of your great modeling skills! I really want one like this but not sure I can make mine look as great.

  6. An awesome build!

  7. Alessandro, masterpiece! I know what you started with, incredible! Best of them I've seen!

  8. Fantastic build mate. very well done

  9. Just gorgeous, Alessandro your Bird Dog is an outstanding model. Besides all the extra work and AM stuff, it’s clearly a product of meticulous patient work and devotion to detail. Great paint work too. To be commended

  10. Great work, Allesandro!

  11. Nice work - that looks awesome! I love the details and scratch work. this looks like a labor of love...

  12. I built this kit from the original mfr (Hasegawa picked it up). A real dog, the kind you turn into the pound. So the fact you have turned this mangy cur into the National Dog Show winner shows what a little work with a little feral pup can turn into. Excellent!

  13. Thanks all for your kind words!
    Alex

  14. Hello Alessandro,
    I just enjoyed this beautiful diorama.
    Regards, Dirk / The Netherlands.

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