Jump to content

Cessna O-2A "Oscar Deuce", Vietnam war


Recommended Posts

Hi there, Alex here!

I love to share with you my WIP of Cessna O-2A "Oscar Deuce" by Testors in 1/48.

Started on October 15th 2016, I supposed to get a simple project after a well elaborated Hughes OH-6A earlier, but it wasn't! It's still taking a lot of time indeed!

 

IMG_3171.jpg

 

I collected a lot of pics and read some theads here and there before starting. During first check, the kit was quite attractive but basic. Some aftermarket items were a must. First of all about decals. The unusual "don't shoot" livery by Draw Decals was an exciting option at first, but after a long search on the web, I was quite sure it was a "fancy" livery, not on real life during Vietnam war. A second and good choice was given by Caracal decals by the sheet dedicated to O-2s.

Above a picture of starting point.....

 

Second step:

opening door & baggage door... 

 

IMG_2188.jpg

 

IMG_2291.jpg

 

IMG_2292.jpg

 

Some cockpit glasses were closed....

 

IMG_2193.jpg

 

IMG_2194.jpg

 

IMG_2195.jpg

 

IMG_2196.jpg

 

IMG_2197.jpg

 

IMG_2200.jpg

 

IMG_2201.jpg

 

End part 1

Alex :bye:

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Next step: internal covering.

 

I checked a lot of pics again. Some aircraft had covering plain, other ones instead stitched on diamond pattern motif. I did the second choice by styrene and then painted with vinyl glue thinned in water to give a 'folds sensation'

 

IMG_2293.jpg

 

IMG_2298.jpg

 

IMG_2300.jpg

 

IMG_2301.jpg

 

To be continued..

Alex :bye:

 

 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Starting cabin floor.

 

Kit floor was undersized, definitely. It was time to get a new one by a sheet styrene, thickness 0,4mm...

 

IMG_2190.jpg

 

IMG_2312.jpg

 

Kit seats were much more similar to the civil version (C337) than the military ones. I got mine from an old Esci C172, giving a simplified upholstery (green Humbrol 155) and their chassis as well (green Testors 1734E)

 

IMG_2321.jpg

 

Floor details:

- landing gear emergency hand pump,

- fire extinguisher,

- inspection manholes,

- avionics rack cable manholes (rear)

- first aid kit

 

IMG_2814.jpg

 

IMG_2813.jpg

 

IMG_2815.jpg

 

Final touch:

- a map,

- lower seat belts (tan Humbrol 121),

- binoculars (later removed)

 

IMG_2819.jpg

 

End part 3

Alex :bye:

 

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Instrument panel. Wrong size again, I've replaced it with a new one by styrene. Following original drawing, I got instruments in same position (or around so) to real aircraft, by Airscale etched/decals set...

 

IMG_3035.jpg

 

IMG_2314.jpg

 

IMG_2315.jpg

 

IMG_2318.jpg

 

IMG_2320.jpg

 

IMG_2319.jpg

 

Cloche (the only one parts taken in the kit for interior!) and panel in flat black...

 

IMG_2322.jpg

 

Pedals as well. Pictures said they are fixed on the back of the panel, not on the floor!

 

IMG_2344.jpg

 

IMG_2836.jpg

 

To be continued...

Alex :bye:

  • Like 13
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Avionics rack and rear juction box....

I've seen a lot of models here and there, on forums and magazine (e.g. FSM March 2016), unfortunately their configuration was not confirmed. By Google Images and some Vietnam veterans forums, I checked an almost right setting. So that shelves were secured to fuselage with just two vertical struts

 

IMG_2365.jpg

 

Dry checkes by Patafix

 

IMG_2366.jpg

 

IMG_2367.jpg

 

IMG_2379.jpg

 

Airscale PE48 etched set...

 

IMG_2782.jpg

 

IMG_2783.jpg

 

Before struts balance

 

IMG_2784.jpg

 

IMG_2793.jpg

 

IMG_2796.jpg

 

Painted but before wires & cable

 

IMG_2812.jpg

 

Alex

  • Like 16
Link to comment
Share on other sites

New details....

some gaps were closed

 

IMG_2338.jpg

 

Many checkes between fuselage and wing were required... Then I got a perfect match

 

IMG_2335.jpg

 

Inside details according to photos collected

 

IMG_2364.jpg

 

M-16 was coming from a Tarmac crew set

 

IMG_2824.jpg

 

Then ceiling details. Documentation was a must again! A common mistake on O-2 was to fix upper seat belts on the back of the seat. They are fixed on the ceiling instead! (see two etched plates near the window)

 

IMG_2816.jpg

 

IMG_2817.jpg

 

Do you like this unusual twin pistons engine aircraft?

Alex :bye:

 

 

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Building and painting in progress...

 

Inside covering by green Humbrol 88

 

IMG_2838.jpg

 

IMG_2844.jpg

 

Rear bulkhead by styrene was add as well

 

IMG_2839.jpgIMG_2843.jpg

 

The avionics rack did fit properly!

 

IMG_2850.jpg

 

IMG_2851.jpg

 

Then starting avionic wires and cables...

 

IMG_2865.jpg

 

:bye:

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi all,

 

wires & cables were ready on late November...

 

A part of them were going down on a manhole close to the rack (see earlier)

 

IMG_2867.jpg

 

IMG_2868.jpg

 

IMG_2869.jpg

 

IMG_2870.jpg

 

IMG_2872.jpg

 

Next episode will be about the engine! Yes, on December I decided to build Continental IO-360 starting with very few parts from my storage!

 

Stay tuned,

Alex :bye:

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Folks,

In the next pictures I'll show you the engine section.

Twin piston engines aircraft could be a quite unfashionable subject, USAF livery in basic grey color does not give more attraction as well. So that I decided to give more details building the front Continental IO-360 engine starting by two old Esci Cessna C172 parts (to set up a SIX pistons propeller).

 

First of all I got the firewall bulkhead and internal structure according photos collected earlier...

 

IMG_2903.jpg

 

IMG_2905.jpg

 

IMG_2909.jpg

 

IMG_2910.jpg

 

.... then I started the engine itself

 

IMG_2914.jpg

 

IMG_2915.jpg

 

IMG_2916.jpg

 

Documentation is a must!

 

IMG_2924.jpg

 

To be continued...

Cheers!

Alex :bye:

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi again,

 

I left you on Saturday with engine section. Main parts from rod and plain of styrene plus some others taken from my personal store. More photos to follow.....

 

IMG_2935.jpg

 

IMG_2936.jpg

 

IMG_2937.jpg

 

IMG_2952.jpg

 

IMG_2953.jpg

 

Engine requested some dry fitting for check. All was fine...

 

IMG_2954.jpg

 

IMG_2955.jpg

 

IMG_2960_1.jpg

 

More wires and cables were requested to cylinders later....

Keep in touch

:bye:

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...