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The AU-23A was a gunship version of the Pilatus Turbo Porter for the USAF under the 'Credible Chase' Project. This project was started in 1971 with the aim of providing the south Vietnam AF with added mobility and fire power but it did not live up to the expections. It was slow, tail heavy(more weight added in the nose to counter it, making it heavier) and short endurance. It was armed with a Single 20mm Gatling gun in the rear cabin firing sideways + 4 underwing pylons. 17 aircraft were modified for this purpose and 15 ended up being sold to the Royal Thai Air Force for counter Insurgency operations.
Kit - Roden Scale - 1/48
Extras - quickboost front nose correction, exhaust and spinner/propeller.
Built mostly OOB with the exception of the quickboost sets and minor detail in the cockpit instrument panel. General fit of the was not that good and the surface texture of the plastic was rough, almost sort of orange peel which had to be sanded smooth. Panel lines were also a bit wide but were managed to a more acceptable level. Had to scratchbuilt the left front cabin door cause I managed to make it disappear and the paintwork on it did not match a 100% to the rest of the model. There were times when I was going to catapult the thing against a wall but finally managed to finish it though I am not that happy about it!
Kit - Roden Scale - 1/48
Extras - quickboost front nose correction, exhaust and spinner/propeller.
Built mostly OOB with the exception of the quickboost sets and minor detail in the cockpit instrument panel. General fit of the was not that good and the surface texture of the plastic was rough, almost sort of orange peel which had to be sanded smooth. Panel lines were also a bit wide but were managed to a more acceptable level. Had to scratchbuilt the left front cabin door cause I managed to make it disappear and the paintwork on it did not match a 100% to the rest of the model. There were times when I was going to catapult the thing against a wall but finally managed to finish it though I am not that happy about it!
welldone 
