Cessna O-2A Skymaster - 26/10

[trickyrich]

After many failed builds and a severe loss of Mojo, I have only managed to completed one build this year and that one was started last year!! 

 

After some AFV therapy and another large chopper, things are starting to return to normal.......hopefully!

 

So to continue with the Mojo re-build something reasonably simple for this build (yes well….   ) I dug this one out of the stash.

 

 

I haven’t built a Roden model before, it looks good, though some of the moulding is a little soft and there is some flash.

 

 

It’s pretty much an OOB build though I will be using a RedFox Inst. Panel set, the kits IP decals are a bit basic. Oh there maybe some wee additional AM bits for her……

 

 

I had planned to use the SAC Landing Gear and Ballast set, but I’ll probably only use the main gear strut as I don’t plan to fit the engines.

 

 

Scheme will be the basic FAC used in Vietnam, particularly one flown by RAAF aircrew, decals are from AOA, much better and accurate than the kit ones!

 

 

 

I have made a basic start with this build (while waiting for the RedFox IP), building up the main wing assembly and fitting panels. Impressions…..not quite  simple build, things sort of fit in a fashion, though only after some finessing! The control surfaces on the main wing needed work to fit correctly as can be seen.

 

 

With the arrival of the new IP set I’ll jump back on this build, and fingers crossed no dramas and can complete her on time.

 

[modelling minion]

Welcome to the GB Rich and with a superb choice of subject too. The Skymaster is such an iconic aircraft and one I have in the stash myself, though not in 1/32 scale, so I am very keen to see your build. Good to see that you have a few goodies to throw at your build as usual, though I think this might be the least aftermarket I've seen you use on a kit in a long time! I have to say that I think this is the first time I've seen a Roden kit used to build mojo so I hope this one is an easier build than most of them.

[John_W]

Nice.

I have struggled with Roden kits in the past, they are not for the novice.

I like the look of that metal undercarriage. Many years ago I built the Testors version and the amount of nose weight required was too much for the landing gear struts to bear and it collapsed.

[81-er]

Nice to see you joining us, Rich

 

James

[trickyrich]

Ok I really do need to remember to do updates!!!!  Plus take photos....been so caught up in the build I forgot all the early stuff... 

 

First up don’t get too excited over the interior colour in these photos, it’s actually more green and darker....between the camera and sunlight it looks bright yellow(for those of you who don’t know what sunlight is....it’s that glowing yellow object that on rare occasions appears in the sky from behind clouds!     ).

 

I basically built pretty much all of the model in modules, this worked greatly in figuring out how it’ll all fit together, it really does need finessing in places. Plus not helped by a stuff up I made which I only discovered quite late!!!! 

 

The IP and radio gear were cleaned up and painted ready for the Red Fox detail set, looks really nice, 

 

 

 

Not much of the lower radio gear can be seen when closed up, so missing detail there is not an issue.

 

These particular aircraft only had 2 seats fitted, unfortunately no seat belts are supplied with the kit or with the Red Fox set, so I pinched some from the Quinta Bronco seats (using resin replacement seats there), they not 100% correct but look ok.

 

 

These aircraft also usually carried a couple of rifles for the crew, roughly in this position.....had a hard time find photos of this area of the cockpit.

 

 

All together the interior looks quite nice.

 

 

...and with the fuselage together

 

 

 

I’m not using fitting either engine as they are a bit crude and the fit/moulding/mounts are quite poor, so I had to make up something to hold the props. So this is the weird contraption for the rear prop. It works and you can’t see inside when it is closed up.

 

 

 

The front well.......you can just see the front of the engine through the cowling. So I had to make up just the from of the engine, plus leave enough room for additional weights......and boy plenty are needed!

 

 

The booms and tail unit were fitted to the wings, I am quite surprised just how big she is

 

 

I was cleaning up the fuselage and looking at photos when I discovered my mistake......I had glued the rear air vents shut! They had been glued in quite sometime earlier, so were quite difficult to remove without damaging. Now needs to be cleaned up properly!

 

 

Anyway, all sorted, just a wee bit more work and the wing assembly can be fitted.

 

 

I’m actually really enjoying this build, not so simple but nothing really taxing at all. I’m enjoying it so much that I’ve dragged out her smaller sister from the stash..... the L19 / O-1 Bird Dog. I’ll build her along side this and the Bronco build.

[modelling minion]

That really is quite an update Rich! Very nice work mate and with just the right amount of detailing, the interior looks superb and the Red Fox IP makes a huge difference. I am really pleased to see that the build is trouble free and she certainly seems to have given your mojo a boost if you have retrieved an O-1 from the stash to join this and your Bronco on the bench.

[81-er]

Have you been taking a leaf out of Enzo's playbook with updates?  Nice work so far, Rich, I'm sure your next update will see her painted & weathered at this rate

 

James

[trickyrich]

Ok am back to this build after being away with work for a couple of weeks (working at an old Uranium mine site....hence the nice glowing appearance, no bits falling off yet!     )....times running out so better pull finger out!

 

So the wings are on, fit wasn’t that bad, though I did need at insert some plastic strip at the front to help fill the gap.

 

 

Plus that’s all the weight needed to stop her tail sitting 35gms!!!

 

Now begins the real fun part, the wing fuselage profile where they join at the back is completely off! A huge step between them, and even worse when the air scoop is added!!!

 

As can be seen here I’ve sort of corrected the LH side and you can see what it was like beforehand on the RHS.

 

 

The the scoop fitted it’s even worse, I probably needed to fit a shim in between the 2 fuselage sections to correct it....but that would have given me other issues!

 

 

I have since sanded the scoop back so it fits better, but think I may have rounded it too much, should be more squared off!

 

Oh well more sanding....hopefully there enough plastic there to do it.

 

Some new resiny bits for her......

 

 

....and she needs it, these gun pods are all meant to be the same!! Top is kit, middle from Zoukei-Mura set, bottom correct resin part!

 

 

Though there is a lot of work required here I am actually really enjoying this build, proper modelling work to be done. Will really try to complete her on time.

 

Plus I’m trying to complete this one as well, not for the gallery but as a little sister to her!

 

 

[modelling minion]

Excellent progress mate, a shame to see some of the fit issues surfacing, especially the scoop, but you are doing a great job on getting her together. Always good to see you adding more aftermarket goodies to a model and the O-1 is looking great too. 

[81-er]

That's not even close with the air scoop, did anyone test build this before they released it? I'm sure you'll get the better of it soon though

 

James

[trickyrich]

I was a wee bit worried I’d not finish this build in time as I’m about to head off with work shortly. But I see the end date is actually the 30th, so there is a chance I might make it in time.

 

OK the final bits are fitted and lots of tiding up done, filling and re-scribing....then repeat because I messed up the re-scribing.....I really hate doing this

 

Finally.......that done time to undercoat, for this I use AK’s Primer and Mircofiller, this stuff is awesome, it binds well with the plastic and provides a great surface for the next layers of paint.

 

 

 

I probably did this the wrong way around thinking about it.....but I masked up the wings for the white upper surface. It would have been easier to do it the other way.....

 

 

..anyway, some masking before the AK Real Color ADC Grey.

 

 

 

Looks pretty good, just one spot I need to touch up as I didn’t get the coverage I wanted in that spot.

 

Next up, to mask and paint the tail tip flash and the black Anti-glare panels, will do that later this arvo. With luck I can give her a gloss clear coat tomorrow.

 

...and off subject the wee Bird Dog is putting up a bit of a fight, having trouble getting the front and rear canopies to fit. Think it’s all to do with how the wing doesn’t actually fit properly at all, have had to add packing around both windows due to big gaps....that doesn’t sound right. Anyway will continue to battle with her when time permits.

 

[81-er]

They're both coming along nicely, Rich, hopefully you can sort the Bird Dog's canopy fit issues. There's plenty of time left, I've not even asked Enzo for the obligatory extension yet

 

James

[modelling minion]

She looks superb mate, really nice work. The O-1 is coming along very nicely too.