RAAF Cessna A-37 Dragonfly FAC

KiwiZac · December 04, 2015, 09:52:02 PM

Hi guys,
A while back a friend gave me a bunch of kits, projects and finished builds. Among them was an Academy 1/72 Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, finished in SEA and just needing decals and weapons.

Except I had an idea. For a while the RAAF used the CAC Winjeel, an indigenous trainer quite similar to the Percival Provost, as a Forward Air Control aircraft and I think there was talk of using them in Vietnam...so what if the Winjeel FAC unit did get deployed, but got the Dragonfly?

And with a recently completed companion RAAF machine:

The decals are the kit stencils and the High Planes Winjeel decals. Paints are Tamiya acrylics - the very nice-looking RAF Ocean Grey and Dark Green on top with Light Grey undersides.

I hope you like it. I do!

zenrat · December 05, 2015, 02:12:12 AM

I DO like it. Your friend did a good job and you provided a perfect finishing touch.

Dizzyfugu · December 05, 2015, 03:53:21 AM

Pretty. The grey/green scheme looks good on the Dragonfly.

PR19_Kit · December 05, 2015, 03:56:34 AM

Super job there, and wholly believable too.

NARSES2 · December 05, 2015, 05:51:55 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 05, 2015, 03:56:34 AM
Super job there, and wholly believable too.

Very much so on both accounts. You could really see the RNZAF using this

Glenn Gilbertson · December 06, 2015, 03:55:20 AM

That looks really good & believable

DarrenP2 · December 06, 2015, 04:37:01 AM

looks superb I wonder how the Strikemaster would have looked as a Fast FAC for the RAF, RAAF and RNZAF

Captain Canada · December 06, 2015, 06:12:47 AM

Love the look of that one Zac ! love the two in the same shot as well.....quite the pair

sandiego89 · December 06, 2015, 06:45:30 AM

Like the colors!

KiwiZac · December 06, 2015, 11:26:25 AM

Thanks guys! It was essentially a repaint and repair/finish, but I'm very pleased with how it turned out. As with the F-104G, this looks right at home in RAAF colours and I think the red fin band looks really sharp on this camo. You're all very kind.

Speaking of the squadron marking, I also shared this build on an Australian modelling site where a former 76Sqn RAAF maintenance manager - who worked on the exact FAC Winjeel I used as inspiration - had this to share about it:

QuoteAs an aside, this flash was only on A85-426 for about 5 weeks before the pilots complained that down close it made for a good target for the enemy and was repainted in the lo-vis no colour version. One target we couldn't get rid of was the hi-vis roos which made it as just a big a target as the Hi-vis tail flash.

He also pointed out the panther in said marking should be facing forward

I didn't even realise it was handed!!

Aussie747 · December 07, 2015, 08:20:49 PM

Nice work Zac!

comrade harps · December 20, 2015, 12:30:27 AM

Neat job

KiwiZac · December 20, 2015, 11:16:35 AM

Thanks folks, you're very kind!