What if

Picture Post => Current and Finished Projects => Aircraft => Topic started by: KiwiZac on December 04, 2015, 09:52:02 PM

Title: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: KiwiZac on December 04, 2015, 09:52:02 PM
Hi guys,
A while back a friend gave me a bunch of kits, projects and finished builds. Among them was an Academy 1/72 Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, finished in SEA and just needing decals and weapons.

Except I had an idea. For a while the RAAF used the CAC Winjeel, an indigenous trainer quite similar to the Percival Provost, as a Forward Air Control aircraft and I think there was talk of using them in Vietnam...so what if the Winjeel FAC unit did get deployed, but got the Dragonfly?

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi15.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa388%2FZacYates%2Fjust%2520models%2F1C58B056-439A-4654-9244-1F9584A6471A_zpsiorwl8jp.jpg&hash=f328a735c3ff54907d630344bdea17dd089f869a) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/1C58B056-439A-4654-9244-1F9584A6471A_zpsiorwl8jp.jpg.html)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi15.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa388%2FZacYates%2Fjust%2520models%2FCA55BCAD-99C6-417D-AAF5-A74A2C94CA5C_zpssz7lon0g.jpg&hash=0c99135739cf2bb893f22f20cf44b4220b2c005a) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/CA55BCAD-99C6-417D-AAF5-A74A2C94CA5C_zpssz7lon0g.jpg.html)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi15.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa388%2FZacYates%2Fjust%2520models%2F0C97C1F8-067F-4957-8A19-5919E1B21115_zpso9x8ltlx.jpg&hash=e2862cb6e8e0c7506a4484c80449db39f4a3ee18) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/0C97C1F8-067F-4957-8A19-5919E1B21115_zpso9x8ltlx.jpg.html)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi15.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa388%2FZacYates%2Fjust%2520models%2F14BA1B4A-1216-41C6-A91F-2E63266AAC68_zps0pz9yrcc.jpg&hash=0a2ef3833e7b9472f876900faecc6fe9ad4cb4fc) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/14BA1B4A-1216-41C6-A91F-2E63266AAC68_zps0pz9yrcc.jpg.html)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi15.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa388%2FZacYates%2Fjust%2520models%2F054F2907-E7F3-4FB1-A130-1BA53F1EBE37_zpslxgs4aah.jpg&hash=079e360521c74ea22627742f820105df397af1bc) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/054F2907-E7F3-4FB1-A130-1BA53F1EBE37_zpslxgs4aah.jpg.html)

And with a recently completed companion RAAF machine:
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi15.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa388%2FZacYates%2Fjust%2520models%2F530F91D5-F933-4B6D-BCB3-54CF7AA7AC62_zpsuavqrek0.jpg&hash=e16521fd3f194dac41e2eeab4690224b0a9fd3e9) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/530F91D5-F933-4B6D-BCB3-54CF7AA7AC62_zpsuavqrek0.jpg.html)

The decals are the kit stencils and the High Planes Winjeel decals. Paints are Tamiya acrylics - the very nice-looking RAF Ocean Grey and Dark Green on top with Light Grey undersides.

I hope you like it. I do!
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: zenrat on December 05, 2015, 02:12:12 AM
I DO like it.  Your friend did a good job and you provided a perfect finishing touch.
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: Dizzyfugu on December 05, 2015, 03:53:21 AM
Pretty. The grey/green scheme looks good on the Dragonfly.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: PR19_Kit on December 05, 2015, 03:56:34 AM
Super job there, and wholly believable too.  :thumbsup: :bow:
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: NARSES2 on December 05, 2015, 05:51:55 AM
Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 05, 2015, 03:56:34 AM
Super job there, and wholly believable too.  :thumbsup: :bow:

Very much so on both accounts. You could really see the RNZAF using this  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: Glenn Gilbertson on December 06, 2015, 03:55:20 AM
That looks really good & believable :thumbsup:
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: DarrenP2 on December 06, 2015, 04:37:01 AM
looks superb I wonder how the Strikemaster would have looked as a Fast FAC for the RAF, RAAF and RNZAF
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: Captain Canada on December 06, 2015, 06:12:47 AM
Love the look of that one Zac ! love the two in the same shot as well.....quite the pair

:wub: :cheers:
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: sandiego89 on December 06, 2015, 06:45:30 AM
Like the colors!
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: KiwiZac on December 06, 2015, 11:26:25 AM
Thanks guys! It was essentially a repaint and repair/finish, but I'm very pleased with how it turned out. As with the F-104G, this looks right at home in RAAF colours and I think the red fin band looks really sharp on this camo. You're all very kind.

Speaking of the squadron marking, I also shared this build on an Australian modelling site where a former 76Sqn RAAF maintenance manager - who worked on the exact FAC Winjeel I used as inspiration - had this to share about it:
QuoteAs an aside, this flash was only on A85-426 for about 5 weeks before the pilots complained that down close it made for a good target for the enemy and was repainted in the lo-vis no colour version. One target we couldn't get rid of was the hi-vis roos which made it as just a big a target as the Hi-vis tail flash.

He also pointed out the panther in said marking should be facing forward   :blink:  I didn't even realise it was handed!!
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: Aussie747 on December 07, 2015, 08:20:49 PM
Nice work Zac!

:cheers:
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: comrade harps on December 20, 2015, 12:30:27 AM
Neat job  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC
Post by: KiwiZac on December 20, 2015, 11:16:35 AM
Thanks folks, you're very kind!