{"id":8365,"date":"2017-04-03T18:28:45","date_gmt":"2017-04-03T16:28:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/modeltalking.hobbyart.sk\/?p=8365"},"modified":"2023-03-05T23:05:28","modified_gmt":"2023-03-05T21:05:28","slug":"cessna-o-1-l-19-bird-dog-model-usa-148","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/modeltalking.hobbyart.sk\/?p=8365","title":{"rendered":"Cessna O-1 (L-19) Bird Dog, Model USA, 1\/48"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"icon-1\"
\nO-1 Bird Dog
\n<\/span><\/h1>\n

by Marcel Meres<\/p>\n

\"Cessna<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Cessna<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Introductory Notes<\/span><\/h2>\n

I always wanted to build the model of one of the famous observer airplanes flown during the Viet-Nam conflict, the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog. Only one Bird Dog kit exists in 1\/48 scale so far. Yes, it is that old one, released by Model USA in 1988 as their first and only kit. I got one and tried to build it as a warbird flown by USAF during the Viet-Nam war. I was sure my kit had to carry the underwing rocket launchers used by the Forward Air Controllers (FAC) to spot the enemy forces.<\/p>\n

\"Cessna<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Construction<\/span><\/h2>\n

The kit is nice and relatively simple to assemble so it was built mainly as it was in the box, although minor upgrades of my own were made along with some parts from the eduard PE set #48-040.<\/p>\n

\"Cessna<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Improvements made<\/span><\/h2>\n

A) Exterior details<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The windscreen framing made of thin metal foil was added. Individual stripes were   “riveted” from inside by a needle and then glued in place to achieve the “positive riveting” effect.<\/li>\n
  2. Original rocket launchers were replaced by aluminium tubes.<\/li>\n
  3. Original underwing racks were replaced with those from eduard.<\/li>\n
  4. Tail undercarriage got steering wires.<\/li>\n
  5. Main undercarriage struts got brake tubing.<\/li>\n
  6. Endings of exhaust tubes were made of thick injection needles and thin metal foil.<\/li>\n
  7. Radio wire aerials were added.<\/li>\n
  8. Outer surfaces were riveted by a toothed wheel.<\/li>\n
  9. The door handles were added.<\/li>\n
  10. Position lights were made using 5-minutes epoxy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"Cessna<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    B) Cockpit details<\/span><\/strong>
    \nThe cockpit was left as it was with adding photoetched instrument panels and home made pilot harness. Original thin styrene rods, representing the front and rear inforcement struts inside the cockpit, were replaced by injection needle tubes. Some wiring was added too.<\/p>\n

    \"Cessna<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Cessna<\/a><\/h2>\n

    4. Colors and Painting<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Model USA provides three nice markings:<\/p>\n