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While waiting for paint to dry on another one of my projects, I began construction on AMT/ETRL's big RC-135. (thanks again to ajlafleche!) Even in 1/72 scale this plane is HUGE!!! This is easily the largest kit I have built so far!
I will be making this plane as a gift for my grandfather, who flew on them during Vietnam and afterwards. But Because of its size, It will have to be a ceiling hanger. That decision reduces build time substantially because I dod not need to worry abut the interior details (I also decided to paint over the windows. Cant see anything through them anyway, they're too small) or the landing gear/bays.
First up, was closing the gear doors. Easier said than done. While the instructions make numerous references to building the kit "in-flight" the pieces themselves suggest that this was definitely designed to have the gear down....
I used scrap plastic cards to make tabs for the gear doors to rest on, otherwise they would fall through the hole!
A healthy dose of putty will help to smooth everything out. And by looking at the preliminary test fittings....there will be plenty of putty to be used!
More to come as I make progress!
OWL
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Now that I'm here, where am I??
Owl...looking forward to this one! I had a roommate back when that was crew on those birds and mn did he have some stories...at least the ones he could tell.
13151015
I love these kits simply because of the subject matter... however the fit on them is horrible. be prepared to do some filling and sanding, especially in the boomers area.
Owl,
Nice looking on the mods you've made so far. I remember them flying out of Offutt when I was stationed there. My neighbor was a pilot for them and was always off for extended tours all over the world.
Paul
intresting subject CallSignOWL ,read the whole 707 family history some month ago, and this sure the better variant i see
never see the kit, how are the parts you will not use? (gears , wells etc)
rtoo speed makes ugly results, too relax don't make results
I have made many of these AMT C-135s. Make sure you stiffen the wings or they will droop. They are molded very thin.
I wouldn't call these kits dogs, but due to the size you will still need a good bit of putty on the fuselage seams and where the wings meet the fuselage.
Excuse me.. Is that an Uzi?
Thanks for the comments guys!
Hercmech: my grandfather has some interesting stories, too, I hear. Grandma always jokes that that you can tell when Grandpa is telling the truth if he tells the same story drunk, as when he's sober!
padakr: I've always seen these planes flying overhead throughout my entire life. It seems no matter were I live in this town, the house will be under the RC's flight path! They've now become a sign of home that I miss when I'm at the university.
bsyamato: the unused pieces are decent. They could definitely use some additional details that's for sure. But I'm not too surprised. I would think the internal details of the RC-135 would be pretty classified!
thanks for the tip, paintsniffer, I'll keep that in mind when I build up the wings.
After smoothing down the gear bays, I moved on to the fuselage join. There was a bit of warping on the two pieces, which I should be able to get rid of with some creative clamping and gluing.
the warping meant a nice flat join was just not possible, so out comes the putty again!
huge beast!
Wow that is a lot of putty. Looks like an old Buick with tons of Bondo on it.
Hercmech Wow that is a lot of putty. Looks like an old Buick with tons of Bondo on it.
you have no idea....
after lots of sanding and sneezing the fuselage and landing gear part of the wings are together. Almost all the joins on this plane will require putty. The first outer wings are being attached, and there is a big lovely gap between one of the outer sections. MORE PUTTY, WHOOOO!!!
Nice work, Owl. Although I may have to buy stock in Squadron with all the putty necessary on these old AMT 135s. Can't wait to see it finished.
Cheers, Aaron
Aaron Skinner
Editor
FineScale Modeler
Does this plane not having a working refueling receptical?
Aaron Skinner Nice work, Owl. Although I may have to buy stock in Squadron with all the putty necessary on these old AMT 135s. Can't wait to see it finished. Cheers, Aaron
Lol. I was thinking the same thing Aaron. Might want to order a LOT more.
Building- (All 1/48) F-14A Tomcat, F-16C Blk 30, He 129
On the plus side, once you get done with all the puttying and get the primer on it, you're 2/3 there! All you'll need is the 'skunk strip' down the back.
While he probably didn't fly that particular bird, my Dad flew a bunch of [KR]C-135's in the late '60's at Wright-Patt. I remember going to the base with him as a kid and crawling all over those big birds. I have a late-rev KC in my stash to do in his memory.
Nice work so far.
Gene Beaird,Pearland, Texas
G. Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
MrRabbit Does this plane not having a working refueling receptical?
I am almost certain it can be refueled in flight. If you are asking about the refueling boom, that has been removed.
Thanks, Aaron, but its Bondo putty that I'm using. It smells amazing, though!
after puttying and sanding, with some more putty and sanding on the side, I think I've got this beast ready for paint!!
Looking great! Love the chipmunk cheeks on the RC
Wow that thing is huge!! Looking good!
One entire top shelf at my local hobby shop is devoted to thses hugeeeeeeeeeeee AMT kits ... I keep asking her what the heck she was thinking when she ordered them. Lord knows I don't have anyplace to put something that gigantic, but it looks like you're taming the fit issues in fine style.
I used up the rest of a Testor's rattle can spraying this beast. While you can't do precise detail work with these cans, the coverage is very nice!
fun with masking
ready for decals!
what do you use to fill seams?
SmartGambler what do you use to fill seams?
I use red Bondo glazing putty. You can thin and smooth it down with acetone nail polish.
nice progress on the beast, the particular version is the v?
yes, bsyamato, the kit is a RC-135V.
I'm slowly inching closer to completion! The decals in the kit went on well, and I had surprisingly little trouble with the long black stripe on the fuselage. However, the wing-walk decals gave me fits. The included decals didnt include them, so I had to source the black strips form my spares, and 1) they didnt want to come up off the backing, 2) were rather brittle, and 3) kept sliding out of place! I had to work on them in sessions because I would get too frustrated.
Now, all I have to do is final touch-ups and painting, then attach all the antennas!
Wow. Looking real nice there Owl!!
Excellent build Owl......... and in record time!
Science is the pursiut of knowledge, faith is the pursuit of wisdom. Peace be with you.
On the Tarmac: 1/48 Revell P-38
In the Hanger: A bunch of kits
and the beast is vanquished!! I've finally finished up the last bits of the RC, and IM calling her done!It was also difficult to find a good place to take photographs, this was too big for my normal spot!
Dunno where I will put it while I wait to send it to my grandfather, though.....
and of course I had to get a pic of it in flight!
Owly work!!! great finish
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