I ecieved AMT"s 1/72 Osprey kit from a friend. I don’t need opinions on the accuracy of the kit, it is close enough for me, what I do need is to know if it is close to the operational aircraft, or closer to the prototype, and which kit decals are the most accurate, or if the kit is of the proto, where can I get correct markings. Does the Navy use this bird? What about color schemes on operational and prototype? Thanks guys.
Lee
Ok, you got me there. You said you don’t want comments on the accuracy of the kit, but it seems as though that’s exactly what you’re asking for.[:D] Anyway…
There aren’t any operational Ospreys yet. The USMC is still undergoing evaluation flights with them (the last I had heard, anyway). So, I would guess that the kits are portraying the test & eval aircraft. I don’t know which decals are more accurate. Some of the markings on the test aircraft change occasionally, so it would be hard to get an accurate paint and/or decal scheme. I’m almost positive that the USN is gonna buy some of the Ospreys, but I’m not 100% sure on that. I’ve read somewhere that the USAF is testing the Osprey also.
The Osprey is in flight testing the with Corps, again. After the crashes of a few years ago that killed a bunch of Marines, the planes went through a bit of an overhaul. I don’t know all the specifics (read about it in Marine Times - not exactly tailored to the modeling crowd) so I don’t know what cosmetic changes have been made. Odds are the kit is most similar to the prototypes, but how accurate that is compared to current versions, I don’t know.
I also have not seen the kit, so I don’t know what decals are most accurate. You might try a google search of the Osprey and see what comes up. You might be able to find some recent photos.
The Navy is supposed to be buying the Osprey, eventually.
Lee, if the AMT is based on the Italeri kit, then there are a few changes to be made.
Italeri based their kit on an early Osprey, since then most changes have involved the engine nacelles, mostly air intakes on the rear sides. Easy enough to make with plastic card, I did one a year or so ago.
Also, try to figure a way to fit the props after the painting is done, it makes things a whole lot easier!
Pete
The AMT is different from the Italeri kit. Both are based on the early prototypes (V-22A). It isn’t until you get to Italeri’s updated 1/48 that you get close to the current MV-22B/CV-22
The kit is the same as Esci’s Osprey, and what I mean is I know the kit is not 100% accurate, but is it closer to the Rollout aircraft or what is being used now? Thanks for your help.
Lee
I’ve built AMT/Esci/Ertl’s SV-22 (that’s my model that’s pictured on the box), and have the Testors/Italeri and Hobbycraft kits. They are all a bit different but reasonably close to the rollout aircraft in configuration if you’re not picky. (The orange tinted Testors canopy is a bit offputting but it may look better when it’s on and everything is painted - the prototype had a bit of a gold tint to the canopy which this is trying to emulate.) These are all going to take a ton of weight in the nose unless you elect to use the rear ramp to hold the tail up.
The rollout aircraft, BTW, was painted with a washable water-based paint; it was really all white. It was also fitted with Martin Baker Mk 10 ejection seats, which the models do not have.
For the rollout, the openings on each side of the aircraft at the juncture of the forward overwing fairing and the fuselage were closed off because management thought they made the aircraft look incomplete.
My notes from the SV-22 build, which was a test shot, noted that the landing gear struts were too long so the aircraft sits too high and slightly nose down instead of level. The nacelle attachment was poorly designed and the pivot point for nacelle tilt was about 3/8 of an inch too far forward. No conversion actuator was provided.
There were detail differences among the FSD aircraft, both from aircraft to aircraft and on a particular aircraft as development progressed. The production aircraft have different scoops and exhausts on the nacelle, a different main landing gear arrangement (the prototype was a bit of a tail sitter too), main canopy structure and assorted strakes and antennas.
In other words, whichever kit you’ve got, just build it and never mind if it’s right, 'cause it ain’t. 
If the dang thing ever goes into production, maybe then someone will issue a difinitive kit.
Here’s Boeing’s photo gallery, it might help some:
http://www.boeing.com/rotorcraft/military/v22/v22photos.htm
Hiya Lee. i have the ESCI kit and will solve this problem by doing a “what if”. maybe royal navy or an RAF camo job, or maybe an all yellow air.sea rescue bird. or possably a civvie one (Bristows Helicopters red white and blue would look cool. don’t know which yet but i will let you all know when i have got it done.
Greg
Hey Greg, cool idea! I like it! That’s what I’m gonna do. Now, can anyone help me with 1/72 civilian or airline decals?
Lee
Surely someone has ideas?
Lee
I’ve got the 1/72 Italieri kit that one day will be in USCG markings. Heh, I only started on it three years ago. (I’ve GOT to finish some of these kits here…).
I like that gray/green RAF idea! I’ve got a “what if” (I do a lot of those btw) RAF Nighthawk GR.1, aka F-117 in the pipeline.
You could buy the decal paper and print them yourself.
Another idea is to paint it up like LAFD’s Fire Hawk
http://www.daveroofchallenge.com/always/firehawk3.html
(just delete the firehawk3.html to see a list of other photos)
This next link give a picture of the LAPD symbol
http://www.daveroofchallenge.com/always/firehawk2.html
I imagine since you would be making something that doesn’t exist, you would be free from accuracy.
But you might also try the Links section of Swanny’s website. www.swannysmodels.com
There are many links for decals. Perhaps you will find what you need there.