1:72 OV-10A Bronco

The real subject

The OV-10A Bronco is an American light aircraft for reconnaissance, fire control and support of ground units. You recognize it at first glance: a short nacelle with a glazed cockpit for a crew of two, the tail surfaces carried on two booms and a high-mounted wing. The machine was built for operating from short and unprepared strips close to the front, so it has robust landing gear and excellent visibility from the cockpit downwards and forwards. On a model the attention therefore concentrates precisely on the cockpit and on the slim flying surfaces.

What photo-etch adds

Photo-etched parts are made of thin metal sheet and can therefore be an order of magnitude thinner than the corresponding plastic parts. That shows on everything that is meant to be made of thin material on the real subject: on instrument panels, consoles and levers in the cockpit, on buckles and loops, on latches and covers on the skin. The set is listed for the OV-10A in 1:72 scale, that is for the size in which details are hard to suggest by any means other than photo-etch. The scope of the set and the exact placement of the individual parts are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

• photo-etched parts in 1:72 scale
• listed for the OV-10A Bronco type
• thin metal sheet instead of thicker plastic
• the parts are bonded with super glue
• wash and degrease before painting

How to work with photo-etch

Cut the parts off the fret with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not with pliers, which will twist them. Make the bends over a straight edge or in a bending tool, and in one go; repeated bending tires the metal and the part will crack. They are bonded with super glue applied in a tiny amount; degrease the area beforehand. Before painting it pays to wash the metal as well, otherwise the paint will not hold on grease from your fingers.

Terms of supply

The aircraft model, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.