Spaceowl's VNAF O-2 **Finished**

Pre-1980 boxings of any kit, but preferably hard to obtain -- something that would make a collector cringe to see built.
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dollar19
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by dollar19 »

Good start! There's not a thing wrong with that yoke, look the biz to me.
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Spaceowl
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by Spaceowl »

coptermech wrote:Behind the seats the airframe would be the same color, although you wouldn't see much. On USAF aircraft, the whole area behind the second set of seats was taken up with racks and assorted radio equipment along with some other units I can't recall right now.
Right. Second row of seats then :)
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by coptermech »

This is an interesting read if you're interested. It's about how every O-2A that served in Vietnam got there.

https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/topi ... 4&p=113460;
Regards, Tony

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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by Spaceowl »

coptermech wrote:This is an interesting read if you're interested. It's about how every O-2A that served in Vietnam got there.

https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/topi ... 4&p=113460;
That is insane! I recommend that everyone reads this article, how not to get a bunch of light aircraft half way around the world. They're not civil aircraft because the military has bought them. They're not military aircraft until the handover papers are signed in Saigon. Therefore they can't have an aircrash, because those have to be civil or military. This is a situation that would only please lawyers.
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by iggie »

coptermech wrote:This is an interesting read if you're interested. It's about how every O-2A that served in Vietnam got there.

https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/topi ... 4&p=113460;
Brilliant tale and superbly written! I have no doubt whatsoever that this is the way it happened, you seriously couldn't make that story up! :-D
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by Spaceowl »

'So, we'll get a bunch of drunks who don't necessarily have pilot's licenses, point them over the biggest empty body of water on the planet in an overloaded plane that they can't get out of and can't fly on one engine, and see how many arrive'.
And yet someone said 'great idea boss'.
This is not how highly effective organisations work!
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by coptermech »

As far as my research into goes, that is the way they were shipped. I did have pics of them on layover in Hawaii at one point
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Spaceowl
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by Spaceowl »

Progress, after a fashion:

Image

Good grief, was this getting me angry last night! Every time I picked up the gondola to sand, one of the tiny side windows sprung from its hole. After an hour I was ready to scrap the %*£$@# thing and admit defeat, but I'm made of sterner stuff than that and didn't. It's a beast to put together though, and I start to have a sly idea of why this one has gone unissued for over forty years.

Note the decals, kindly donated by Kitaholic from his new Bird Dog. I've now got something to put on the thing if I ever get that far. Thanks, KH, I owe you.
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by coptermech »

If you're having problems with the pilot door windows, you might be able to omit them. Early O-2A'S, those that were built in 67 to early 68 didn't have them. They were a mod asked for after some issues with being able to see. Pilots tended to fly in a right hand pattern to have a better view, and the windows were added to help.
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Spaceowl
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by Spaceowl »

coptermech wrote:If you're having problems with the pilot door windows, you might be able to omit them. Early O-2A'S, those that were built in 67 to early 68 didn't have them. They were a mod asked for after some issues with being able to see. Pilots tended to fly in a right hand pattern to have a better view, and the windows were added to help.
Cheers for the info Tony, but I'm not going to let myself be defeated by Airfix! :-D
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by Old_Tonto »

Rob, could you use superglue to attach the windows?
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by Spaceowl »

Could and did! It's good to know I still have steady hands after the way I spent my youth. (I was a pneumatic drill operator). :)
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by ShaunW »

Nice one, I have one of these lurking in the stash that I paid a quid for about 20 years ago from a fellow IPMS member. I have a feeling that the kit fetches quite a bit more than that these days. Looking at the small size of the side windows, I would have been tempted to leave out the Airfix glazing and to re-glaze the apertures with Glue 'n' Glaze after painting. PVA can work but I find that G 'n' G usually dries more clearly.
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Spaceowl
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by Spaceowl »

ShaunW wrote:Nice one, I have one of these lurking in the stash that I paid a quid for about 20 years ago from a fellow IPMS member. I have a feeling that the kit fetches quite a bit more than that these days.
Upwards of twenty times what you paid for it to be exact.
ShaunW wrote:Looking at the small size of the side windows, I would have been tempted to leave out the Airfix glazing and to re-glaze the apertures with Glue 'n' Glaze after painting. PVA can work but I find that G 'n' G usually dries more clearly.
The only product I'd heard of was PVA, and the windows are a bit big for it to work on (the 'skin' keeps collapsing before it sets). Had I known there was a better product I would certainly have used it. Time to go and investigate.
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Spaceowl
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Re: Spaceowl's VNAF O-2

Post by Spaceowl »

The gondola has finally been stuck together, filled and sanded.

Image

As you can see from the width of the seam, fit is pretty approximate on this bird. However, a quick skim of wood filler along the seam seems to have dealt with it. Next part is getting the wings, booms and tailplane on and the dihedral right. Watch this space.
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