1/4 Model-USA L-19/O-1E BIRD-DOG  

by Peter Huy Nguyen

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Indochina War -- 10,000Day War -- Vietnam War anniversary Feb 1 2007

 

The original pan was to build this one straight OOB “Out Of the Box”, and one thing lead to another., I end up with a major plastic surgery, additions to the kit were modify, add-on detail and scrap building.

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People say a “picture is worth thousand worlds”, so let me be brief on the construction progress, and let the pictures tell the story, here we go.

Add-on detail in the Cockpit area, using Styrene, Brass wire, and Milliput epoxy, scrap build safety seat belt, using Aluminum foil and PE buckets, reconstruct seat frame, using Piano wire and Brass wire.

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Add-on Engine detail using Styrene, and Brass wire, and lead wire, scrap build oil cooler, carburetor intake duct using styrene and brass screen (see pics directly below).

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Separated cowling and reconstruct Fire wall area, using Styrene, Aluminum foil, scrap build engine support frame using Piano wire, brass wire, and lead wire (see pics directly below).

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Separate flap from the wing and reposition to flap down position, separate control surfaces and reposition, using brass tubing for rocket tube (see pics directly below).

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Finish the model with Gunze and Tamiya Acrylic color, clear flat with Model Master Acrylic and pastel weathering, decorate the model with decal came with the kit, depict the VNAF O-1E Bird-Dog (51-14981), 124th OS, landing on the USS Midway, April 30, 1975 (see pics directly below).

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With all the hard work and crazy ideal, the reward is not too bad at Modelmania 2005 model show and contest (see pics directly below).

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Today the Bird-Dog (51-14981) resign at Naval Air Museum in Pensacola , Florida , if you have a chance to stop by, and say Hello to the old friend.

Enjoy!!

MODELMANIA 2005, Houston, Texas .

The IPMS-Houston, (International Plastic Model Society) called MODELMANIA, we host a Model show and contest around Winter/Sprint on every year, last year we have over 600 models entering contest, and over 3,000 guests, beside model contest we have vendor/demo area, and you can find a lot of goodies in this area.

This year MODELMANIA 2007 will be on March 24, 2007 at Stafford Center , 10505 Cash Road , Stafford , TX 77477 , for more information go to www.ipms-houston.org 

See ya there.

Peter

Photos and text © by Peter Huy Nguyen