From 1996 to 1999, I was a Guidance and Control Specialist in the 93rd Air Control Wing, 12 ACCS, 93rd AGS, Robins AFB, Georgia. While I was stationed there, I was present for the first aircraft delivery, E-8C, P-1 - 92-3289, and subsequent tail numbers, P-2 - 92-3290, P-3 - 93-01097 and P-4 - 93-0597. I was there for IOC in 1997 and numerous deployments. I was assigned to aircraft 3289 during my flightline time in the 93rd.
I can honestly say that I was the first guy in the Wing that came in with a 1/72 scale E-8C, converted, the correct way, from the Heller 707 and DB JSTARS conversion. It was cool being the first kid on the block with a 1/72 JSTARS model. I had a few pilots offer good money for that kit, including the Col. Robinson, 93rd ACW Commander. It was also pretty cool walking in the the IPMS Club in Warner Robins with a JSTARS model. I got a few "WOWs" that day.
Well, needless to say, a few moves and few disasters later, the 1/72 JSTARS is no more. I always wanted to do another one, but 1/72 scale, while impressive, I just don't have room for it and 1/144 is too small for me. I picked up a couple of the Nitto/Entex/Dyousha E-3/707 kits a few years back with the intent of building one of the as a E-8C.
The build:
To build an E-8C the correct way, you have to convert a 707-300C airliner. An E-8C is NOT an AWACS airframe. If you look closely at pictures of the E-8C, every window outline is on the aircraft. They are filled in with a blanking plate. They are still visible when you look at the jet.
I began the build by gluing in all the windows except those that are clear on the aircraft. These openings will be later filled with Krystal Klear. The fit is less than stellar and they are not the right height to totally fill in the window opening. So to correct this, I did end up filling the windows. As you can see from the pictures, quite a bit of filler is required...and required and required.
The cockpit is painted neutral gray. You really can't see it anyway, so I didn't put a lot of work into it. Although it may not need it, I added some weight to the nose to be on the safe side to keep it from sitting on it's tail.
Wing assembly is pretty straight forward with no fit issues. The kit comes with fill engine assemblies that will have to be painted. You will have to use the optional clear engine cowling to get the correct outboard #1 engine.
The canoe:
I scaled the canoe from the DB conversion. The canoe is made out of wood.
I am now waiting on a sheet of decals to come in for the C-130 project, Time to pick this project back up again. I am going to finish this one concurrently and work on an E-3A in 1/100 for my old Flight Chief. He is a former AWACS Jet Troop.
