Ricks' Ramblings

[NARSES2]

Saw the pic's & thought you'd like this, Chris. 

Seems I'll have to turn the predictability setting down a notch or two 

[Rick Lowe]

Saw the pic's & thought you'd like this, Chris. 

Seems I'll have to turn the predictability setting down a notch or two 

Naaah, we like stability...   

[Rick Lowe]

US ARMY AV-10B Close Support aircraft **What If**

During the Vietnam War, much thought was given to a dedicated Attack Helicopter. Bell was developing the AH-1 Huey Cobra, but there were a few teething difficulties and as an interim measure the US Army was looking for an alternative to support the troop carrying UH-1 Hueys.

Older Huey B and C models were being used, but they had reached the limits of load capacity and loiter time. Something more was required.

The US Air Force were very much against the Army gaining fixed-wing assets, but eventually they were told to 'Share their toys' and agreed – grudgingly and to a limited degree; the agreement being they would only be used tactically, to support troops on the ground and not operate above 1,500 feet.

The Army went looking for something to fill their needs, and settled on the OV-10 Bronco. This had a good loiter time, a useful ordnance load, and was a stable weapons platform.
The Navy was having good experience with it, so it was a proven concept.

As it was originally designed as an observation aircraft the crew sat quite high in the cockpit, but this was seen as a relatively minor issue and they were put into service.

They provided able assistance to the troops and initially there were mixed feelings amongst the aircrews when the Huey Cobra's issues were addressed and they replaced the Broncos.

An Academy kit, which is very nice and streets ahead of the Hasegawa and Airfix kits; though not without its own issues.

Mainly out of the box, though I did have to modify the cockpit; the problem with the kit's, aside from needing more detail, is that the seats sit way too low; this was an observation aircraft, and the crew's laps should be about level with the sill line.

Nose weight was added: a lead block which also helped to raise the cockpit floor to the correct level, a sheet of plastic over this and the seats etc went on top of that; and that was about it – I detailed the cockpit and the rest of the kit went together smoothly.
I used ordnance from various sources, including a couple of modified drop tanks for minigun pods.

Overall OD scheme. Dry Rub decals for 'ARMY' and the rest came from the Microscale sheet for Vietnam Hueys.

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[scooter]

Hal Moore would have loved to have had that supporting his troops at Ia Drang

[Old Wombat]

Nice job, rick! 

I wonder if a Cobra canopy/cockpit would fit? 

[NARSES2]

Looks good 

[zenrat]

  

[Rick Lowe]

Thanks, Fellas

Guy - I hadn't thought of it, but it could well be persuaded to do so.
Maybe something I will look at for the other Bronco whiffs I plan... thanks for the idea. 

[Old Wombat]

You're welcome!

[Rick Lowe]

1/35 IDF M51 Sherman *Real World*

I had been wanting one of these for quite a while, and had collected quite a few articles on converting one; but certain bits were always going to be a problem, so the project remained on the "I Want One, But It's Too Difficult at Present" list.
Then in the early 90s whilst on holiday, I spotted an AEF Designs conversion set. It was quite expensive, but most of the work was done, including the gun barrel and muzzle brake.
Sadly, it wasn't the greatest quality – slush moulded and some very thick parts, while others were very thin or incomplete - and the turret halves fitted where they touched.
However, it was easier than doing the job myself and I could work with it, so off I went.

Taking the idea from a Shep Paine conversion, the lower hull is an Italeri unit with the mountings, running gear and tracks from the ancient Tamiya M4A3E8 grafted in.
This is why the wheels are touching each other – 1/32 or larger parts on a 1/35 hull...

The upper hull is the AEF unit, with the Italeri hatches closed to hide just how thick the resin is... IIRC the mudguards were also from the ancient Tamiya kit – or they may have been from an early Dragon Sherman, I'm not sure now.

The turret was replaced with an Italeri item, and all the AEF bits and pieces were cut off and grafted on.
Tissue paper and white glue mantlet cover.
The searchlight glazing caused some head scratching, as the circle cutter I have was going to leave a hole in the centre: then I thought "Hm, it's almost 12mm in diameter and I have a .50 cal casing here..." after sharpening up the inner rim, a disc was punched, which after cleanup turned out to be a perfect fit. Result!

Most of the hull additions were from the AEF kit, with the little details from spares and scratch.

Paint is a Sinai Grey I mixed 50/50 from Tamiya Panzer Yellow and Light Grey. Detail painting with whatever came to hand that was the right colour. Black wash, Gunze flat clear over.

Spares box markings.

It took a lot longer to finish than it should have (think Decades...) but the purchase of the Academy kit spurred me to complete it, as I realized that if I built the Academy kit first this one wouldn't get done.
And have I built the Academy kit yet? No...

References were mainly an article by Vasco Barbic in Military Modelling UK, which has also cropped up in one or two other publications with varying degrees of reprint accuracy; also The Great Tanks by Chamberlain provided some large photos for details, as this was before the days of Internet searches.

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[Rick Lowe]

And the rest...

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[Old Wombat]

Nice one!   

[buzzbomb]

Well that came out nicely

[NARSES2]

Nice one!   

It is indeed