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USCG Jetranger

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  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Newfoundland, Canada
Posted by rodc on Friday, September 11, 2009 5:08 PM

David,

I actually sent an e-mail to Hawkeye this afternoon inquiring about availability and price.  If cost is too steep coming from Australia, I may take your advice and get in touch with Fireball too get the anchors and do the paint scheme myself.

I have the Italeri Hercules as well....unbuilt.  This is a different variant than the ice patrol herc which is a C-130H.  The Italeri kit is a C-130J Hercules II and has a 6 bladed prop instead of the four bladed props on older variants.  The "J" model is also longer than the "H".  Since I wanted a fairly accurate representation of the USCG herc, I decided to get the Airfix kit.

Thanks for the info and I look forward to your Jetranger pictures.....

RODC

  • Member since
    July 2009
Posted by hooknladderno1 on Friday, September 11, 2009 3:23 PM
 rodc wrote:

David,

Di the USCG decals come with the kit or were they aftermarket?  If AM, where did you get them? I am planning on building a 1/72 HC-130 in USCG Ice Patrol livery and am unable to get the decals.  I know Heller produced the HC-130 Ice Patrol herc and the kit is really hard to get plus I am no big lover of Heller aircraft kits.....I find the plastic to slight.

If anyone knows where I can get some USCG decals in 1/72, I would be very appreciative.  I am most concerned with the emblems and text - the color swaths I can paint.

Please post your jet ranger picks when you get them done.  I did a lot of flying years ago in the JR and still am a big fan!

RODC

RODC,

The USCG anchors came from the Fireball Modelwork's 1/48 scale set as Gino mentioned.  Joseph at Fireball is great to work with, and has lightning fast service.  What is nice, is that the anchors are not part of the red stripe, so that you can paint your own(stripes).  The remaining decals I made  - only because the Jetranger (although also 1/48 scale) is a smaller aircraft than the HH-65 and HH-60 aircraft that the decals are made for.  Joseph did make me some alternate numbers and letters, my fault for not realizing/measuring my specific needs, thus they were not used.  He a a true gentleman, and if you explain your needs, he may be willing to accomadate them. 

I too have considered doing a 1/72 scale Italeri C-130.  I believe that the newer kits available on-line, are the "H" or "J" version(?).  Don't quote me on that, as I am just getting into aircraft modeling, and am not very knowledgeable about the specific terminology.  I did a Google search and came across some good reviews(IMPS), etc.  I also may consider using the Hawkeye sheet that Gino mentioned above for the project.

The Jetranger is making slow progress towards completion.  Work, family, and life have pushed it aside for the past couple of weeks.  I will post updates/completed photos soon(I hope!).

 

 

David

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Newfoundland, Canada
Posted by rodc on Friday, September 11, 2009 12:56 PM

Gino......you the man Thumbs Up [tup]..........thanks for the prompt response.

 

RODC

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Friday, September 11, 2009 12:35 PM
Fireball Modelworks has USCG decals for the HH-60J and HH-65C in 1/72 scale.  They will probably be close enough.  If not Hawkeye Models out of Australia has USCG decals that include a C-130H as well.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Newfoundland, Canada
Posted by rodc on Friday, September 11, 2009 12:21 PM

David,

Di the USCG decals come with the kit or were they aftermarket?  If AM, where did you get them? I am planning on building a 1/72 HC-130 in USCG Ice Patrol livery and am unable to get the decals.  I know Heller produced the HC-130 Ice Patrol herc and the kit is really hard to get plus I am no big lover of Heller aircraft kits.....I find the plastic to slight.

If anyone knows where I can get some USCG decals in 1/72, I would be very appreciative.  I am most concerned with the emblems and text - the color swaths I can paint.

Please post your jet ranger picks when you get them done.  I did a lot of flying years ago in the JR and still am a big fan!

RODC

  • Member since
    July 2009
Posted by hooknladderno1 on Sunday, September 6, 2009 5:53 AM

Hey Guys,

Thanks for your positive comments.  Jeremy, the kit is not too bad.  I did have little challenge with the fit of the nose just below the windscreen.  I solved the problem by securing a small strip of Evergreen plastic to one side of the fuselage, and letting it dry.  This was placed so that half of it stuck out, and could be secured in the other fuselage half.  This provided extra suface area on which to glue, and allow the halves to be pulled tightly together.  A little sanding with a "Flexi-file, and all was good.  Hope to wrap this one up in the next few days.  Just out of curiousity, what are they going for on E-bay?  I just love the floats!

 

 

David

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Australia
Posted by Helo H-34 on Saturday, September 5, 2009 7:15 AM

WOW , That's one cool Coast Guard Helicopter build , David . Even though as you say it's only a "what-if " . The USCG paint scheme really suits the Jetranger .

I can't wait to see her finished .

Well done .Thumbs Up [tup]

                                         John.

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Rhode Island
Posted by jmabx on Friday, September 4, 2009 6:20 PM

Looks great so far, David! Thumbs Up [tup] I really like the Coast Guard paint scheme. Very attractive on a helicopter.

How was the old kit to put together? I'm guessing that it wasn't too bad judging by the quality fit and finish you have on it. I see the kit for sale every now and then and have been thinking of picking one up.

Jeremy    Propeller

    

  • Member since
    July 2009
USCG Jetranger
Posted by hooknladderno1 on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 9:13 AM

This is my first scale helicopter build.  Thus far, I have learned many new and different techniques, as I normally build emergency vehicle models.  I have encountered a few minor pitfalls along the way, but here is where she stands at the moment.  I began with an old ESCI 1/48 scale Jetranger kit that I had started many years ago, but never got very far with.  From what I have been told, the Coasties never actually flew any aircraft that looked like this, as they were used primarily for training.  But, I liked the paint scheme, so came up with a "what if"  model.  All was going well, then accidentally dropped the model to the floor, detaching the the windscreen, chin bubble, and tail.  Those are being repaired, and I hope to have her completed soon.  The floats have been repainted and glued to skids.  The windscreen has been glued back in place, and is awaiting remasking and final gap filling:


I finally decided on a "high visibility" scheme for the rotor system.  Couldn't decide which way to go, paint or decal stripes?  So, I figured that decal stripes would be a little more foregiving.

The only challenge was that with such small decal strips, they kept wanting to rotate and follow the length of the blade.  A combination of Micro sol, and Solvaset, along with a diligent nudge from my brush got them in the right direction.

Here is the project where it stands now.

I have to assemble the main rotor system, re-attach the tail, touch up the paint, remove the window masking, resand, redip(Future) the chin bubble and re-attach and tackle many other details.  As always, any comments or suggestions are appreciated.
Sincerely,


David

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