Hey guys,
I’m currently building the 28th Aviation Brigade Heritage Room. Part of the project is building a 72nd scale representation of each aircraft the 28th Division Aviation unit has flown from 1924 to the present. Now I realize some of the more obscure aircraft like L-13s and O-38s may not exist, but I’m wondering if there is a kit available for the O-1/L-19 Birddog and the C-23 Sherpa?
I’ve gotten most of the major types, but a few remain elusive. Thanks in advance for your help!
The old Airfix O-1/L-19 is still available on some vendors’ websites. I’ve never found a Sherpa.
Good hunting
Dick
Both Aeroclub and supposedly Formaplane hae produced vacumform models of the Sherpa. I have the Aeroclub model and recommend it as being a quality product. I also consulted the “bible” on model aircraft kits produced by John Burns and have identified that a 1/72nd kit of the O-38 was produced by a company called Silesian Eagle and also by O’Neil. I am not familiar with the former but the latter individual is a very difficult person not necessarily interested in providing copies of his individual vacumform models.
Richard
Guys,
Thanks very much! I did find the vac C-23 online from Aeroclub. Should be ordering it on monday. I’ll have to keep an eye out for the Airfix O-1. Not thrilled that its Airfix, but if its the only one available, oh well…
Right now I’ve completed the OH-6 and UH-1M, still have the following to build
O-46
O-47
L-20A
C-23
L-19/O-1
AH-1F
CH-54A
CH-47D
UH-1H
UH-60A
AH-64A
OH-13
OH-23
OH-58A/C
JN-4
Thankfully they’re all in 72nd, otherwise this’d take me forever!
Jon,
The Airfix Birddog is one of their better kits from the days. It does have the raised detail but there isn’t very much. The interior is basically 2 seats, stick and panel so depends on how far you are going on these.
If you need parts for the Sherpa build with that old vac kit, Airfix recently rereleased the Short Skyvan which the Sherpa was based on. Should be able to get landing gear and a decent interior from this kit. Can’t remember if it has the right props or not.
Jon
The Airfix kit isn’t bad considering it’s age
Thanks guys! I’ll have to look into that Shorts Skyvan kit.
I just got the O-47A and AH-1F kits today, so I’ll be working on them tonight.
The O-47 looks REALLY rough. Its all resin and it needs a LOT of scratchbuilding. Thankfully I’m not going for detail here, just a basic representation of what our aircraft looked like operationally. Otherwise this one’d be an absolute nightmare.
Thankfully the Hasegawa AH-1F looks like a typically gorgeous Hasegawa kit… Just shake the box and Voila!, new Snake!