Revell/ICM 1:48 O-2A Skymaster "Kudy Jay"
OK, I am exe Army Air Corps so why Vietnam?
Well part of our pilots job was AOP and on occasions FAC and I don't think most of us could imagine the workload and sheer terror (at times) and huge amount of skill these pilots went through. I have always had a soft spot for the odd...bespoke if you like, aircraft so SEA and NKP in particular (OK its Thailand but bear with me) provides a huge scope as the base was almost entirely pistons and props.
Initially I wanted to avoid black but after looking at a few videos decided that if I was going to crack this modelling thing then I need to be able to modulate single colours so black on black...Well.it seems to work. I have only got back into it during lockdown so it's a learning curve.
The kit has suffered from some poor moulding. Whether Revell are pulling them too quickly or what? But the bottom and top areas of the fuselage are lousy, very rough, and needed sanding flat and re scribing.
The other issues are the UC will never support the weight with nose weight added so you need a brass replacement (which after cleaning up fitted beautifully) and although the magnetic compass is a welcome feature, fitting it to a windscreen without positive location is fraught...hence the slight smear on the windscreen that I am saying is grease pencil smear...😁
Other than that apart from some inaccuracies (as far as I can tell because I had advice from some NKP veterans on some aspects) it's a nice little kit.
What I added was...
Wiring to the radio fit
Harnesses (non provided so I used eduard steel US WW2). The shoulder harnesses were left hanging as they can be, from the roof inertia reels.
Yahu instrument panel and my throttle and pitch levers.
I added fuel drain points from sections of hypodermic needles, lifting and tie down etes, Jack points, new whip antenna from guitar strings, anti glare fences on the landing lights, brake lines, drain tubes under the rear engine and wire mesh behind the ground out rear engine facing...that I remember😳
Revell seem to have just added a scheme to a standard kit which isn't a crime, but to allow the specific ops with a nav and a starlight scope, most of the side window was removed and a wind deflector added, and the lower side windows were painted over (images of Kudy Jay support this). They also fitted a baffle to mask the tail mounted anti col beacon from the sides and below so only trade or C3/Candle aircraft could pick them up.
The weapons fit is another area that needs sorting.
On night ops these cabs usually had a single pod of WP FFAR with Mk24 or box flares on the other stations. They might carry all rockets on day missions but certainly not all HE.
I had some Mk24s from the counter invader kit but they didn't look round enough so I made some from brass tube and alloy tape.
The rocket pod has one missing because the last centre one is separate and either sat too deep or at an angle so I binned it and claim that one was still to be loaded...you can see right through!
The paint? Black Base with marbling of NATO black and a Rubber black mist, then washed with burnt sienna and paynes grey oil mix with the odd oil stain.
They were well looked after and shiny bits were rare for obvious reasons.
Hope I "Nailed" it 🤔😁 (if you know, you know). Huge thanks to Jim Swanson and other vets for answering some "daft" questions ❤️
Enjoy your modelling
Superb result, Chris, on a not so often seen subject!
Great additions, as well!
Thanks chap. I like to read about the subjects as it goes and NKP started cropping up with the Skyraider etc. It was part of a 60s build.
Your "Kudy" is cool. Indeed, you "nailed" it, Chris. Well-done.
❤️ you got the reference then👍
Fantastic work to improve upon the kit. Your details help to bring it out of scale, and in my opinion the black work looks great, well done!
Thanks, appreciated 👍
Very well done. It looks great.
I'd like to see the Skyraider as well. Please post some more photos.
Here you go. Could have made her look more lived in but didn't have the heart and its early days with weathering. The only thing I might replace is the prop as it's overdone. I am not a figure painter (yet). Fred is there for scale.
13 attached images. Click to enlarge.
I like this a lot. A great result. I have this kit, so this is excellent inspiration.
Thanks Tom, me...inspire...Well that's great but know what you mean.
I stopped modelling in the late 80s as a young soldier because I wasn't getting the results I wanted and never finished anything much. I have 2 from back then but that's it. Then covid happened and at the time I was working with historic army aircraft so gave it a bash...here we are less bewildered and way off track but loving them again. My current philosophy is to do my best, always finish them and learn something every time...oh and improve where possible. It can take a long time but better to walk away and think...oh, and you tube... enjoy it mate👍
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Well done!
👍
Great looking result.
👍
Nice result on a great subject!
Great looking model which has benefitted from your amendments and additions, but, sorry, I don’t know what all the acronyms mean, and “vet” is an abbreviation for veterinary surgeon……….
Vet...veteran...
NKP Nakhon Phanom (Royal Thai Airforce Base) also known as Naked Fanny
FFAR Folding Fin Aerial Rocket ono
C3 Command and control
WP White Phosphorus
AOP air observation point
FAC forward air controller
SEA South East Asia
Candle C123 or other platform providing illumination by various flares
Hope that helps
Very nice result, Chris @chrisballard
Well done all over with excellent weathering.
Thanks John
Looks great! I think you got just enough "character" into the black scheme. Hard to get a monochromatic scheme look interesting, but you did it justice.
Cheers Greg.
It actually looks better in natural light to be honest but it did look...weathered. I remember our cabs could look very odd after a while, particularly if they had been wiped down with AVTUR, then got washed with the cleaning compound we used (ardrox). That could leave some areas very matt, almost streaked...got the soot off the tail though🤣
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Looks great ! You did a nice job on this. Sounds like it was difficult. I would have given up.
Ah don't do that Jay. Walk away and think about it.
Something I learnt fairly rapidly is that generally, you can work something out and fix it when the dust settles.
Annoyingly, I am one of those people who, once I know something is wrong and it shows, I need to try and fix it.
My current (ongoing) project is the Italeri Sioux/Bell 47 which is a dog but its all we have. IF you know the Sioux (I worked on one, on and off, between 2018-22) you notice how much is missing...like pretty well all of the control system below the rotating part of the swash plate. Mine won't be 100% accurate but it will be the best I can do. Don't give up chap👍❤️
2 attached images. Click to enlarge.