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It is often lamented that there is no really accurate plastic kit of an OV-10. However, there are some good add-on kits available to bring the existing kits pretty close to accurate. (Thanks to Bruce Heise for much of the static model info)
News Flash: According to the April 2001 issue of FineScale Modeler magazine, Academy will release the long-awaited D version of their Bronco kit in June 2001. It's basically
going to be their A-model kit with a different nose (and hopefully exhaust stacks) - it will likely be far superior to the old Airfix and
the Hasegawa "Long Nose" kits. No word yet on what markings will be available. (Thanks to Joe Copalman for the heads-up!)
- Testors makes a 1/48 scale kit of the OV-10A. This kit is unfortunately not all that accurate or detailed, but it is widely available. Ed Fernane informs us that this is just a rehash of the orginial Hawk kit put out many years ago, which was done in chrome plate. (Ed should know, he has one. But he is NOT interested in selling it, dern it!)
- Paragon Designs makes conversion sets to convert the Testors Bronco into an OV-10D or into a better OV-10A.
- Revell has re-released their 1/72 scale OV-10A Bronco from the early 70s. Same model, but instead of Vietnam vintage illustrations on the box cover it looks more like Desert Storm.
- If you can find it, German Revell makes the OV-10B target tug.
- Hasegawa makes a 1/72 scale OV-10A (USMC VMO-2 or USAF 19th TASS 51st TFW) and an OV-10D (Kit number DT108.) The D-model is the same kit as the A, but with a white metal D nose, to be placed after cutting off the A nose. The old decals are still there, but this kit includes new markings for VMO-2 (Light grey/blue grey scheme - Desert Storm), VMO-1 (Dark green/med. grey scheme), and VMO-2 and H&MS-36 in overall FS 34097 Field Green. (Thanks to Brad Hoskin for this bit of info!)
- Airfix in England produced a 1/72 scale kit of an OV-10D NOGS. Unfortunately, the kit is now out of production. (Thanks to Chris Spinnler for this info.)
- Academy has released an OV-10A kit in 1/72nd scale and "is clearly better than any of the other offerings in this scale." It come with a wealth of underwing stores, and comes with Vietnam-era markings for a Marine and US Air Force Bronco. The Air Force markings even feature a shark mouth. The moldings hint to a D model to come later. There are molded cut-outs for the chaff boxes in the tail booms and the nose assembly is separate so that a D model nose can be attached. (Thanks to Kyle Williams for this info.) Other sources have said it has some inaccuracies, but is not a bad kit overall.
DONT MISS THIS!! David W. Aungst used two Testors kits with the Paragon conversion kit to make a great before-and-after OV-10A/OV-10D project. Then he documented it with great pictures and webpages, and allowed us to repost it here for you. Neat stuff to be sure. Read his review pages!
Decals for Plastic Models:
(Thanks to Brad Hoskin for most of this info!)
SuperScale Decals Available:
1/72 scale
Sheet Number 72-552:
Marines: VMO-4
USN: NATC
USAF: 1st SOW, 20th TASS, 4410 CCTW
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Sheet Number 72-160:
Marines: VMO-2, VMO-1, H&MS-12
USN: VX-5
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Sheet Number 72-553:
Marines: VMO-2
USN: VS-41, NWEF
NASA
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1/48 Scale
Sheet Number 48-364:
Marines: HML-267, VMO-2
USAF: 549 TASTS
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Sheet Number 48-365:
USN: VX-5
Marines: VMO-2
USAF: 601 TCW
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ESCI made a few sheets for the Bronco, but they have been out of production for a long time and are rather hard to find.
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