Wisconsin Dragonfly -- Cessna OA-37B of the Wisconsin Air National Guard

[billn53]

I have been building a series of models representing aircraft of the Wisconsin Air National Guard, and my seventh entry is the Cessna OA-37B "Dragonfly", which the Wisconsin ANG flew for a mere two years (1979-81).

 

For this build, I used Academy's excellent kit:

 

 

 

supplemented with aftermarket and scratch-built details.

 

My enhancements to the stock kit include:

 

• SBS resin cockpit
• Eduard photoetch
• ResKit wheels
• Scratch-built intake trunking w/compressor face
• Scratch-built exhaust
• Extended exhaust fairing at wing trailing edge
• Lowered flaps (slightly) and "drooped" the elevators
• Replaced kit underwing tanks with tanks from Hasegawa's A-37 kit
• Added nose light and wingtip navigation lights (CMK)
• Added small light to refueling probe assembly
• Replaced whip-antenna "bullets" on leading edge of horizontal stab with smaller, more-scale items

 

I used Mr. Color paints for the camouflage, except for the tan (which was Hataka)

Decals are a mix of kit stock, Print Scale, and a few handmade items 

 

The WIP can be found here:

 

 

 

On to the pics!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some detail shots:

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

   

 

The A-37s seem to have been passed from state to state, like a hot potato. Before joining the Wisconsin ANG, A/C 31062 flew with the New York ANG as evidenced by the painted-over text on the wingtip tanks:

 

 

 

which I replicated on my model:

 

 

 

(as an aside, Wisconsin's Dragonflies were handed down to the Pennsylvania ANG in 1981. Here's a photo of 31062 in its post-Wisconsin service:

 

 

 

Academy's A-37 is a gem of a kit and made for a thoroughly enjoyable build and a fine addition to my Wisconsin ANG collection:

 

 

 

Next up: the A-10A Thunderbold II (aka "Warthog"), which followed the Dragonfly in Wisconsin ANG service:

 

 

 

Thanks for viewing, and special thanks to everyone who followed my build and offered suggestions/recommendations to help me along the way.

 

[neil5208]

Lovely work as always Bill

[roginoz]

Yet another modelling tour de force, Bill ! 

 

A beautiful model of a businesslike looking aircraft.

 

Rog 

[billn53]

26 minutes ago, neil5208 said:

Lovely work as always Bill

 

7 minutes ago, roginoz said:

Yet another modelling tour de force, Bill ! 

 

A beautiful model of a businesslike looking aircraft.

 

Rog 

Thanks, Neil & Rog,

Some builds end with a feel of relief, but this one was deeply satisfying.

[Jackson Duvalier]

What a little gem!  She turned out so well, Bill.  🤩

 

It's a shame the A-37 was relegated to a stepchild role by politicking in an Air Force oriented toward supersonic speeds and guided missiles. Some pilots have wondered in print about whether too many hours in a Dragonfly led to being overlooked at promotion time; I presume that's how they became "hot potatoes" in the post-Vietnam era.  A double shame, given the A-37's admirable record in support of ground troops.  

 

One imagines how different the story might have been had sensible heads allowed the U.S. Army to retain control of fixed-wing ground support.

 

 

[RidgeRunner]

She is gorgeous, Bill :). A very nice finish

 

Martin

[Cookenbacher]

Amazing detail on your A-37 Bill, and what fidelity to your reference pic.

Looking forward to the A-10!

[billn53]

3 minutes ago, Cookenbacher said:

Amazing detail on your A-37 Bill, and what fidelity to your reference pic.

Looking forward to the A-10!

 

Many thanks! I'm gathering up some aftermarket for the A-10, which might take a while to be delivered. I might go ahead and start on the O-2 Cessna Skymaster, which the Wisconsin ANG flew before before moving up to the OA-37.

[TheyJammedKenny!]

I followed this build with interest.  Great work on this, Bill.  You've got a clear winner here!

[Wulfman]

An excellent build, great work !

 

Wulfman