![]() ![]() Academy model in 1/72 scale kit review and modelling report |
page
1
page 2 page 3 |
![]() The A-37 was one of the few military aircraft developed by the Cessna aircraft company, that mainly is known for its many private flying aircraft. Cessna developed in the fifties for the USAF a basic jet trainer, the T-37 "Tweety". It flew first in 1954 and many were manufactured and used for training in the USA. As the Vietnam
war escalated mid sixties, their was a need for a low cost attack aircraft
for "Counter-In surgery". The T-37 seemed a good basis but would need to
carry more payload, get longer endurance and good airfield performance.
The A-37 was developed with a stronger wing with more pylons, large wingtip
tanks, a minigun fitted and new J85-J2/5 engines with much more thrust.
So as compared to the original T-37, gear doors and shape were bulged,
intake a bit enlarged and jet pipes are bit bigger; the tip tanks were
standard on the A-37.
The A-37B was a version with a complete new strong airframe and a wing that could carry also 4 lower wing fuel tanks on pylons for longer endurance flying at low altitude over the jungle. The stronger J85-GE17 engine exhausts were a bit canted outwards and the control surfaces a bit modified. It also got armored ejection seats and improved systems. A refuelling probe on the nose could also be fitted. The landing gear was also beefed up. Over 500 A-37B
were manufactured, many going also to the South Vietnam AF. After the American
run out of Vietnam even captured aircraft were used by the Vietcong.
Even nowadays, some air forces use the A-37. |
|
![]() A 1/72 kit of the A-37 was first issued by Hasegawa in the seventies. At that time is was a good kit. I made a few of these in the old days. But in 1999 Academy of Korea came with a much better 1/72 kit for a A-37B. During the years it appeared in various boxes and with different decals.
The kit parts are nice with approx 70 parts in white or grey plastic and a two piece canopy. The cockpit is basic but adequate for the scale and a 3 piece seat. (If desired one could buy a PAVLA set for the seats). The panel lines are finely engraved. It has an optional tank boom and for the Korean demonstration aircraft a smoke tank inside the cockpit, replacing one seat. Decals are adequate with also stencils.
They "silver" quickly so really use a gloss undercoat.
What is a bit missing are the jet exhaust pipes. I simply painted the insides "black". Same applies for the intakes as there is no actual "tunnel". Small parts are also nice with antennas and beacon lights. Stores in the kit are the many fuel tanks and SUU-14 dispenser, LAU-3 gun pods and mk.82 bombs with a bit thicks fins. The tip tanks are also there. The fit is OK, I only need a bit filler at the lower sides at the wing-fuselage junction. Do not forget to add SUFFICIENT nose weight before closing up the fuselage. If you want various stores and pylons, do not forget to drill open the corresponding holes in the lower wing. The cockpit tub was painted grey (using
Revell Aqua acrylic 77). The seat head rests red and grey seat structure.
Seat harnesses were made of tape strips.
Make sure the undercarriage and "sit"
of the model is correct. There is little ground clearance.
It was decided to make a bunch of
these Academy kits of not only as per kit of the USAF Korea but also various
World Air Forces using after market decals sets.
|
|
![]() [1] KOREA Black Eagles The Academy kit #FA176-1672 was made
as per instructions. So do not use the tank boom and top fairing A19 The
stores were not used as well. But do install the fluid tank # A5.
My friend Peter
saw a couple of preserved Black Eagles aircraft on poles in South Korea,
at Sacheon near KAI headquarters:
|
|
![]() USAF Bien Hoa AB Vietnam The normal standard Vietnam scheme has the paints Fed.Std 34079 green, 34102 green, 30219 tan and lower 36622 light grey. But this model was made with a special experimental blue-grey USAF Vietnam scheme. From my modelling Bas I got a number of decals of Wolfpack #72-205. The A-37 is for a 604th ACS of the 3rd TFW at Bien Hoa 1967. It was part of the "Combat Dragon" program. It was to developed the close support type of missions. Based on this, the A-37B was also developed. So this particular model should be a A-37A, so may be I should have used an old Hasegawa kit. But, I think the external differences are not that big between a A-37A and A-37B. The A-37B canted exhaust pipes are missing anyway in this kit as well.... and the Academy kit is much finer. I did not use the lower later A-37B wing fuel tanks and kept it "clean". The tank boom was not yet there so not assembled. It has a pale blue scheme of FS 25630.
It was an experiment to see how enemy ground fire would be directed. But
they were also difficult to see for the USAF crews and the Forward Air
Controller (FAC). Later, the standard USAF camo scheme was used.
The canopy was tilted upwards and
a couple of tiny mirrors installed made from aluminum foil on the edge.
|
|
On to next [ Page 2... ] |
|
Back
to Model pictures.......
.. |
![]() |
References Squadron Signal publications:
|
|
![]() ![]() (c) Copyright "designer"/ All rights reserved. Your comments are welcomed by webmaster |
Created June 19, 2015 |