The Venezuelan
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Venezolana-FAV) has used OV-10 Bronco extensively
since the 70's. Their colors changed a couple of times and the model I
built represents one aircraft shown at an airshow some years ago. The
colors are the same of the recent FAV F-16, now the Broncos are being
repainted again with some other colors but I really loved this one, so I
started collecting some info about it and it took me a couple of years to
get enough pictures to have valid references for my model. Most of the
pictures came from the site FAV-Club (www.fav-club.com) and some of its
forum members, absolutely the best site for collecting info on FAV birds.
The model is an
Academy OV-10A as the FAV OV-10E is externally very similar to the "A"
version with minor differences like some small antennas. I used 2 CMK update
sets: one basically gives you the whole interior cockpit, including the seats
and photoetched details; the other is a flaps and moving surfaces set which
allows you to put extended flaps. However I didn't put the extended flaps as all
the pictures show the airplanes with retracted flaps; I slightly modified them
to show them retracted. Besides this, I added some antennas and a
"stick" on the bottom right side of the cockpit (actually it works as
a help to allow the pilot to get into the cockpit but strangely it's missing in
the model although it's very visible).
The parts fitted quite well although a couple of times I had to use a lot of
putty to fill some holes; anyway the model is great and has finely engraved
panel lines, it's much better than the Hasegawa one which has raised panel lines
(and I personally hate them).
Click on
images below to see larger images
Painting was
challenging as there is no perfect FS match for the upper surfaces greens
as far as I know..I had to prepare a sheet on which I tried different
mixes until I found the right ones; well, the ones that looked better to
me! Upper surfaces Sand and lower surfaces Light Grey were luckily
standard: Humbrol 121 (FS 33531) and Humbrol 147 (FS 36495).
Painting was a little hard as it was my first time with an airbrush and
the aircraft shape didn't help much so it took me a lot of patience to
finish it, although some minor defects still remain.
I didn't weather this plane much as in the pictures it still looked new
but the propellers blades were already losing their painting so I only
heavy weathered them. Propellers also gave me much troubles, that's why I
prefer jets...
I used generic Aztec decals of the FAV sheet and added some custom made
ALPS decals.
At the end this has
been a great model to build although it needs some attention and the Venezuelan
scheme gives it a special touch.
I'll be very glad of any comments.
Thanks for looking.
Davide
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