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| In late 1962 the U.S. Air Force began evaluation of the Cessna T-37C "Tweety Bird" trainer to meet the need for an efficient low cost attack aircraft to counter communist-sponsored insurgency in Southeast Asia. Development led to the A-37A "Dragonfly" (aka "The Super Tweet") with stronger wings, larger wingtip fuel pods, better avionics, 6 weapons pylons, and an internal gun. |
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| In 1967 the USAF flew "air commando" missions with the A-37A in Vietnam under the "Combat Dragon" evaluation program. Results of the evaluation led to a much improved A-37B delivered in 1968 with a stronger airframe, more thrust, better handling, better endurance, better crew survivability, and aerial refueling capability. |
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| As the Vietnam conflict came to an end the A-37 had flown over 160,000 combat sorties (including close air support, helicopter escort, FAC, and night interdiction missions) with only 22 USAF losses. It was found to excel at close air support. Its straight wings allowed it to engage targets 100 miles per hour slower than swept-wing fighters which improved bombing accuracy to within 45 feet. |
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| Dragonfly combat loads included high-explosive bombs, cluster munitions dispensers, unguided rocket packs, napalm tanks, and the SUU-11/A Minigun pod. For most missions, the aircraft carried two additional external tanks on the inner stores pylons. Mounted in the right side of the aircraft's nose is the General Electric GAU-2B/A 7.62 mm "Minigun" Gatling-style machine gun. The gun has a rate of fire of 3,000 rounds/minute and 1,500 rounds of ammunition. |
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| This is a very nice kit with the exception of the simplified cockpit. It's cleanly molded with relatively no flash, fine raised panel detail, and fit is generally good. Size and shape compare well to the real aircraft. |
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| I started with a base coat of Testors Enamel "Gunship Gray" and then lighted up with white for my weathering. An oil wash was applied to the panel lines and then finished off with a light coat of Testors Dullcoat Lacquer. |
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| The canopy was molded in one piece (closed position) which obscured the scratch building I did on my seats, so I carefully cut it open. I used masking tape to make seat harnesses and the nylon flak curtains around the cockpit. Infamous substandard pilots are included but no flight controls so I borrowed from my spares box. |
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| Overall this was a very good kit. There is room for improvement in the cockpit and wheel bays but the rest is pretty nice. |
This kit placed third at Squadron Scalefest 1998
Dual-crew Jet Aircraft category. |
