1/100 scale is the new black - Page 134

**Brent** · #**1331** 02-02-2023, 08:30 AM

Thank you! Next up is my repaint and mod of Bruno's OV-10 Bronco. I will start this a little different with some background information on the plane I repainted.
The plane is the YOV-10D NOGS (Night Observation Gunship System) as used in Vietnam in 1971. The plane is Bureau 155396.
Link to a Youtube video on the planes 155395/155396.
North American BRONCO YOV-10D NOGS - YouTube

155396 was the second of two OV-10As converted to YOV-10Ds. The Marines wanted to make more of the Bronco by adding new sensors and heavier armament. North American Rockwell modified Bureau Numbers 155395 and 155396 to "YOV-10D" configuration in 1970. The gun sponsons were removed and a three-barrel General Electric M197 20 millimeter Gatling cannon in a turret was added under the rear fuselage. The Bronco's cargo space was used to accommodate the turret system and cannon ammunition. The nose was extended 30 inches to accommodate a turret-mounted "forward looking infrared (FLIR)" video imager. (YOV-10D NOGS Information) After stateside tests at the Naval Air Weapons Staion China Lake, California the YOV-10D NOGS Broncos were shipped to Vietnam on April 26, 1971.

The two YOV-10Ds arrived in Vietnam on May 7, 1971 for combat evaluation with the VAL-4 "Black Ponies" at NSA Binh Thuy. Before & after the NOGS operated with the Black Ponies in 1971, average 20 mm ammunition usage was 5,138 rounds a month; from June 5 to August 13, 1971 the average usage went up to 50,527 rounds as the Black Ponies & NOGS fired 151,580 rounds. The YOV-10Ds flew 207 missions with 275 confirmed enemy kills and 23 injured, 63 sampans were destroyed and at least 30 damaged, 39 structures were damaged and 14 were destroyed, 19 secondary fires were noted and 36 secondary explosions were heard, 7 bunkers were destroyed and 19 damaged and 4 supply caches were destroyed/damaged. On December 24, 1971 155396 left VAL-4 at NSA Binh Thuy and returned to China Lake were it remained until May 25, 1972.

Pictures of the completed model to follow when finished.

Brent