Testors O2 1/48

There is at least one mulitary version, O-2, doing the airshow circuit. I saw one at "Thunder over MI" airshow a few years ago. The Hawk kit started out as a Cessna Push/pull (337) and the O-2 version followed a few years later. Testers did a re-box of the kit. There is a 1/72 scale kit made by Airfix. A 1/32 scale kit would be neat and it would be nice if they would do a 1/32 scale kit of the L-19 (Bird dog).

Roden's 1/32 Bird Dog is out and available at several vendors and on the bay.  The O2 was supposed to be out around Oct. '16, but haven't seen it yet.  I haven't seen the 337 kit in eons.

I found the Testors kit on Ebay a few months ago. It's waiting in my stash. I can't wait to get to it, but I wanna do it justice.

Back in 1996 or so I was much younger and MUCH MUCH stupider. I burglarized an apartment of an acquaintance who had robbed my place a few months prior. When I got caught and went to court, I was assigned 100hrs of community service out at the local airport. The joke was on them because I'd already had a thing for planes.

Anyway, the work was groundskeeping--mowing the grass between taxiways, trash detail, etc. During my rounds, I discovered four 0-2's parked outside one of the more remote hangars. I spent as much time as I could driving by those every day I was there, just ogling them. I doubt they had flown in years. By the markings it looked like they were CO Nat'l Guard planes. The ANG base was right next door. 

I learned recently one of those O-2's was sent down to the air museum in Denver to be restored and put on display. Pretty cool little piece of history with a personal touch to it.

I never got in trouble with the law again.  :)

edit: I think I have some pics. I'll have to post them up.

IMG_0733 by theirishavenger, on Flickr

IMG_0741 by theirishavenger, on Flickr

IMG_0737 by theirishavenger, on Flickr

--Chris

Hey naughty boy, did you get any photos of the area behind the front seats? The cockpit shot is a major help for reference there!

Condition looks alot like the one in Madras, except the IP has been pretty well stripped on that one.

Undecided as to if I want to do a gray, or something more in line with a SEA camo.  I do like the old SEA scheme.

I realize they were pretty much gray for visibility for the fast movers.

Or you can do one of the black ones....

stikpusher

Or you can do one of the black ones....

 

 

John

rangerj

There is at least one mulitary version, O-2, doing the airshow circuit. I saw one at "Thunder over MI" airshow a few years ago. The Hawk kit started out as a Cessna Push/pull (337) and the O-2 version followed a few years later. Testers did a re-box of the kit. There is a 1/72 scale kit made by Airfix. A 1/32 scale kit would be neat and it would be nice if they would do a 1/32 scale kit of the L-19 (Bird dog).

 

They've had it there the last few times I've gone. I don't go every year, these days...it's gotten way to expensive and I've pretty much seen all the stuff. Probably my favorite civilian to military "crossover"!

 We had a couple 337s based at my airport. One, was showing its age, the other was immaculate and very well cared for. The first was sold off back when I was working on my Private Pilot ticket, the really nice one got sold about 3-4 years ago. Not as much exciting stuff there now, like there was 17-18 years ago.

Built this one a few years ago...Testors boxing...$5 vendor table special!

Nice.....  Thought just hit, might try something in the gray, with black "the fac" on the wing.  Would be different at least.

Hello!

Cool stuff!

DRAW Decal has a set of markings with big "DON'T SHOOT" on the top of the wings - do you know if that machine did fly in Vietnam or is it some kind of stateside airshow trick?

Good luck with your O-2s and have a nice day

Paweł