The Venezuelan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Venezolana-FAV) has used OV-10 Bronco extensively since the 70's. Their colors changed a couple of times and the model I built represents one aircraft shown at an airshow some years ago. The colors are the same of the recent FAV F-16, now the Broncos are being repainted again with some other colors but I really loved this one, so I started collecting some info about it and it took me a couple of years to get enough pictures to have valid references for my model. Most of the pictures came from the site FAV-Club (www.fav-club.com) and some of its forum members, absolutely the best site for collecting info on FAV birds.

The model is an Academy OV-10A as the FAV OV-10E is externally very similar to the "A" version with minor differences like some small antennas. I used 2 CMK update sets: one basically gives you the whole interior cockpit, including the seats and photoetched details; the other is a flaps and moving surfaces set which allows you to put extended flaps. However I didn't put the extended flaps as all the pictures show the airplanes with retracted flaps; I slightly modified them to show them retracted. Besides this, I added some antennas and a "stick" on the bottom right side of the cockpit (actually it works as a help to allow the pilot to get into the cockpit but strangely it's missing in the model although it's very visible).
The parts fitted quite well although a couple of times I had to use a lot of putty to fill some holes; anyway the model is great and has finely engraved panel lines, it's much better than the Hasegawa one which has raised panel lines (and I personally hate them).

Click on images below to see larger images

Painting was challenging as there is no perfect FS match for the upper surfaces greens as far as I know..I had to prepare a sheet on which I tried different mixes until I found the right ones; well, the ones that looked better to me! Upper surfaces Sand and lower surfaces Light Grey were luckily standard: Humbrol 121 (FS 33531)  and Humbrol 147 (FS 36495).
Painting was a little hard as it was my first time with an airbrush and the aircraft shape didn't help much so it took me a lot of patience to finish it, although some minor defects still remain.
I didn't weather this plane much as in the pictures it still looked new but the propellers blades were already losing their painting so I only heavy weathered them. Propellers also gave me much troubles, that's why I prefer jets...
I used generic Aztec decals of the FAV sheet and added some custom made ALPS decals.

At the end this has been a great model to build although it needs some attention and the Venezuelan scheme gives it a special touch.
I'll be very glad of any comments.
Thanks for looking.
Davide