1/72 scale model of Academy for the OV-10 Bronco made by Meindert de Vreeze
The Bronco was developed as there was a need for a light aircraft in the sixties. North American developed the type, using propeller for thrust as it would enable a longer flying time for COIN (counter insurgency) combat. It can fly as fast as 560 km/h and had a two man crew. A small cargo capability was also there with two swivelling doors at the rear end of the fuselage. It was a versatile aircraft, staring with the OV-10A. The OV-10A Bronco version was used by the USAF in Southeast Asia as a Forward Air Control (FAC) aircraft. Also the USMC used the type.
The OV-10D version
got a different nose with sensors and a FLIR turret. It also got more powerful
engines, composite propellers, flare and chaff dispensers in the rear booms,
and other improvements. The type was used for observation purposes and
to "guide" laser guided bombs dropped from other aircraft to their enemy
targets in Operation Desert Storm (Iraq). Night surveillance tasks were
regularly done by these Bronco's.
See also the
references.....
The 1/72 kit used here in the Academy kit no. 1680 (FA205) for the OV-10D as used in "desert storm".
The kit was first issued in year 2002.
The about 50 airframe plastic parts are in light grey/green and are fine but average. Panel lines are few but inscribed. The windows are very clear.
The very old Airfix 1/72 kit had very
inaccurately shaped greenhouse windows besides being very a rudimentary
kit. More than 20 years ago I even made a new canopy for this kit using
the "plug" method. Those days are over with the new Academy kits.
OK, back to Academy....
In this OV-10D kit stores comprise
about 30 parts for LAU-10 rocket pods, LAU-3 rocket pods, fuel tanks and
even some Mk.82 bombs of 500 lb bombs and AIM-9 Sidewinders !! Below the
fuselage are the typical two fairings.
Decals are for VMO-1 and VMO-2 USMC
Bronco's in a desert sand colour scheme in the kit.
Various model aftermarket sets particularly for the interiors are available (CMK , Eduard), but this kit will be build straight out of the box.
Assembly is very straight
forward
as per instructions. The seats are on the real aircraft handed so the
rear sections are not completely correct, but I left it was per kit.
For the instruments basic decals are provided but they need some
trimming. 
The cockpit is OK but will benefit
from adding some more detail like seat straps and so on, will be done later.
The fairings also need some filler
The main sub-assemblies... Note the
extra nose parts for an earlier Bronco are also in the kit. NOSE WEIGHT is needed inside as well.
Filler was needed in some spots like
the forward wing-fuselage joint, nose and the engine nacelles. The fillets at the tail are a bit too flat.
The kit got a first base coat of grey with the airbrush to check for any flaws...
.... some extra fill work was needed...
Ready to get the needed paint coats.
Scheme #2 straight from the kit was picked, of VOM-1 USMC based in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm in 1991. It has tail code "EA"
Colours used were:
FS34064, for which Xtracolour X241
enamel was used.
FS36099 grey was very dark; I used
Gunze Sangyo H317 acrylic (approx. FS36231).
Painting the propeller blades was a lot of work.
The infrared suppressor got a coat
of aluminium with also Tamiya transparant orange.
The paints were rather glossy, so
the decals could be applied straight away.
Decal 1 / 2 required DACO softening
fluid to get it droop over the panels.
The canopy frames were hand painted
and fitted. The upper roof part F4 needed removal of about 1 mm at the
rear to fit better. White glue was used to close any gaps in the canopy,
with one panel set open. When dry, paint in the appropriate colour.
Antenna wires were added on and below each tail boom and a longer wire from fishing line between the fuselage end and the tailplane.
The model got a semi-matt coat was sprayed onto the model, through a mix of Johnson Future/Pledge varnish with say 10% Tamiya X-21 flat base acrylic matting agent. It will also protect the decals.
That completed this nice little Bronco
model.
My own BRONCO technical information page here....
Magazines:
- Air international, volume 42, pages
230
- Air international, volume 19, page
20
Books: OV-10 Bronco, in Action series
, No. 154, Squadron Signal Publications
Also check out Internet
http://plane.spottingworld.com/OV-10_Bronco
http://www.ov-10bronco.net/
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Created this page
May 8, 2013;
updated June 2018