Bat 21 - 1/72 EB-66 & O-2a

[Drakendk]

This is for the ‘older’ crowd here 🙂

 

When i was a young lad the movie ‘Bat 21’ came out.

I was fascinated by the two aircraft in the film, the EB-66 Destroyer and the Cessna O-2a.

About the same time i found both aircraft in my local hobby store. The Airfix O-2 and Italeri Eb-66.

The kits was too hard to handle for me at the time and i remember the disapointment with the finished models.

 

Fast forward 30-some years later and the two planes was still on my mind - kind of unfinished business.

 

I got the long OOP Airfix  O-2 on auction way too expensive, but luckily Italeri re-issued the EB-66.

 

In the early fall of 2023 i built the O-2. What a hassle! I used so much putty, had to scratch build the interior, pollish wondows and rescribe panel lines before i could finish this charming little bird.

Not at all perfect, but it came out ok i think.

 

A month ago i started the EB-66.

Not as tough as the O-2, but still a lot of putty, rescribing and some modification to the engine intakes and refueling probe.

 

Still a good feeling to finally be able to add those two birds to my collection.

 

Hope you will enjoy the photos 🙂

 

 

[Alpha Delta 210]

I remember the film as well and I think you've done a fantastic job with the oldish models!

[Pete in Lincs]

Both look very nice indeed. It's good to know that you're happy that you've achieved this after all those years .

Your mention of the film tripped a memory in my mind. I remembered Gene Hackman but not Danny Glover.

[Lloydylloyd]

Navigation by golf course.

And then Gene Hackman played the guide years later in Behind Enemy Lines.

[CH-53D]

A splendid duo! 

Having built the Airfix O-2 several times, I must say yours came out very nicely!  It is a tough little kit.

 

 

[billn53]

Your B-66 looks great but I mostly focused on the Skymaster. Having built the Airfix kit, I know firsthand what a dog it is! My hat’s off to you for the fine job you did with.

[cardiff guy]

all i remember about the film was the aircraft, you've done a really nice job on both.

[Sky Keg]

Outstanding skills to make both subjects look fantastic given the crude nature of both kits. Congratulations on the superb results!! 
 

Mike

[HL-10]

Great film, and a couple of great models too!

I can't believe that the O2 is the old Airfix kit!!

Impressive work😊

[Patton gunner]

I've seen the movie and after that I got my hands on the report of the real incident during the Viet Nam war. You did a great job on the O-2 - having built two of these kits myself I know what you put into it. The B-66 looks spot on too!

Great builds ,love it 

 

Walter

[MikeC]

Nice pairing, good work, and it is a good film too.

[John_W]

The movie took a few liberties - using a civil Skymaster and a Sea King as a CH53.

Still a good movie though, and brilliant work on the 02.

BAT*21 at the Internet Movie Planes Database

[ForestFan]

Great builds, and thanks for reminding me of a great film, must watch it again 

[SAT69]

Impressive work!

[MikeC]

22 hours ago, John_W said:

The movie took a few liberties - using a civil Skymaster and a Sea King as a CH53.

I look at it this way: the aircraft are, just as much as the people, actors. The Battle of Britain for example did not have AVM Keith Park climbing out of a Hurricane,  it was Trevor Howard playing the part of AVM Park. Thus, a civil Skymaster is playing an O-2 and a Sea King is playing a CH-53.

Since I adopted that pov, I enjoy such films a lot more.

[Drakendk]

Thank you very much for all your kind replies to this build! It really means a lot to me 🙂

 

I found s few pics from the building process showing some of the issues with the O-2 kit.

Putty, seams and radio rack

Edited May 19 by Drakendk

[dolphin38]

Great film and a couple of great models 

[Drakendk]

On 5/17/2024 at 9:02 AM, John_W said:

The movie took a few liberties - using a civil Skymaster and a Sea King as a CH53.

Still a good movie though, and brilliant work on the 02.

BAT*21 at the Internet Movie Planes Database

It’s true that the movie is not at all accurate.

But your mentioning of the rescue chopper might be a good cue to start building the Airfix HH-53 that is waiting in the stash 🙂

[John_W]

2 hours ago, Drakendk said:

But your mentioning of the rescue chopper might be a good cue to start building the Airfix HH-53 that is waiting in the stash 🙂

Jolly Green 67:

Capt. Peter Hayden Chapman II (pilot), Capt. John Henry Call III (co-pilot), TSgt. William Roy Pearson, TSgt. Allen J. Avery (para-rescuemen), TSgt. Roy D. Prater (crew chief), and Sgt. James Harold Alley (combat photographer)

Lost in action 6th April 1972.

[Keeff]

Despite it's inaccuracies, the film was very good.

 

As for your two builds ..... superb work!  👌 

 

Keith 😁 

[Stephen]

Great work.  There is a superb book on  Bat-21  "Saving Bravo" by Stephan Talty. 

[eng]

Great film, remember seeing when it first came out and loved it. Started a love of the O-2.

 

Brillant builds, well worth the effort.

 

Eng

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Great looking models. Bat-21 was and still is a favorite movie and the story of Iceal Hambleton impressive. Sadly he is buried only 10 miles from where I write this from. 
 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceal_Hambleton

 

 

Edited May 21 by Corsairfoxfouruncle

[fatalbert]

Lovely models,am suprised Airfix haven't re issued the 0-2,its an interesting machine.

[David H]

Nice job on both models; you hardly ever see either one of them built up. B-66s builds are pretty rare, much less one done up at BAT 21.