Friday, 17 February 2017

Barely broken Bronco

Back to the pile of dusty plastic now.  The latest to emerge is this OV-10 Bronco.  A distinctive design, it was developed for counter-insurgency use and widely employed in Vietnam.  US (Navy, Marine and Air Force) Broncos have been retired but I gather some serve on in the Philippines.
I recall briefly owning another 1/72 Bronco abut 40 years ago - it's fate is lost to history.
My repairs were limited to reattaching some of the explody stuff and removing the remains of the undercart.
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8 comments:

  1. Robert (Bob) Cordery17 February 2017 at 11:50

    Tim,

    I understand that the US has looked at resurrecting the BRONCO concept for a cheap ground-attack/reconnaisance/fire control aircraft.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pete.17 February 2017 at 21:10

    Great to see it flying again. Would make a great armed FAC for Little Cold Wars. D

    Cheers,

    Pete.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Geordie an Exiled FoG18 February 2017 at 23:11

    I remember this one from teh Airfix catalogue
    Another "one that got away"

    A bit like the Fairey Battle
    Nice catch

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tim Gow19 February 2017 at 20:26

    Bob Cordery
    Just goes to show I'm ahead of the game again!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tim Gow19 February 2017 at 20:28

    Pete
    As it happens I have something else in mind for a FAC

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tim Gow19 February 2017 at 20:30

    Geordie
    I've never built a Bronco but this is the second one I've owned. The first was definitely Airfix.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Milgeek1 March 2017 at 09:05

    To Robert (Bob) Cordery: Yes, Bob. There was a lot of interest in reviving a turboprop close-support aircraft during the recent involvement in Afghanistan (where throwing multi-million dollar 'fast jets' at mud huts just didn't make sense). At one point the USAF was looking at several options including dusting off the Broncos or buying a new concept like the Super Tucano. As it turned out, the conflict 'ended' (but hasn't really) so the idea was shelved...BUT...

    The newly formed Afghan Air Force HAS bought several Super Tucanos (on USAF advice) and there are some fantastic videos of them in action on YouTube. Look them up, they look fantastic.

    The idea of a cheaper turboprop COIN aircraft will keep cropping up every time the US is involved with asymmetrical or insurgency based conflicts, but the chiefs of staff will always favour hugely expensive, 'high tech' jets instead. Go figure.

    Nice Bronco Tim.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Paul Foster26 February 2018 at 05:47

    Sexy beast!

    ReplyDelete