Esci 1/48 Ground Support Set (a sort of WIP)

Please give us a link or info on those. I am keen to look into that stuff. It would be fun to build up some of those pieces I used to work on.

BK

BrandonK

I forgot to mention. Since most of the AGE equipment spent time on or near the flightline and was moved around day and night, they all had reflective tape all over them so they would show up at night. 

Well I found the decal sheet for this stuff last nite. It has all the reflector tape for the loader and tractor. Plus various stencils and the instrument gauge dials. So I'm in business! 

Did the tow bars have reflective tape on them?

That is just not right...

"Goofy Marshalling GB" LOL.

BK

stikpusher

these guys were supposed to be doing the "wave"... 1991

 

 

Now there's an idea for a build

Devil Dawg

 

Bish

Ye, seen those reflective belts at Lakenheath. Didn't add that to my figure as i didn't know when i did that one, but will be sure to next time.

You might like this one.

Our guys don't usually salute, but as they don't wear head dress, it would not be appropriate.

 

 

 

That is hilarious!! That wouldn't be YOU in the video, would it, Bish??

 

LOL, no way, they wouldn't let me lose on one of those. Though i was trained as a helicopter handler.

Bish

Ye, seen those reflective belts at Lakenheath. Didn't add that to my figure as i didn't know when i did that one, but will be sure to next time.

You might like this one.

Our guys don't usually salute, but as they don't wear head dress, it would not be appropriate.

 

these guys were supposed to be doing the "wave"... 1991

LOL, there is always one guy, that guy that's always a clown.

BK

Ye, seen those reflective belts at Lakenheath. Didn't add that to my figure as i didn't know when i did that one, but will be sure to next time.

You might like this one.

Our guys don't usually salute, but as they don't wear head dress, it would not be appropriate.

I believe all the branches salute the pilot. The crew chief is enlisted and the pilots are commissioned, so the salute is always done. The rest of the crew doesn't salute unless they approach or are approached by the officer. Otherwise, there really is little to no contact between pilot and ground crew, mostly just the crew chief since he/she is responsible for that AC. Many cheifs will also touch the plane and give a thumbs up as a offer of good luck and safe return. A bit of a superstition, but cool to watch. 

And ALL ground crew, no matter their role, if on the flight line wear a reflective high vis belt in either yellow, red or blue depending on what section you are assigned to. SO, if you are doing figures for stateside AC all the ground personel on the flightline will wear those belts and be colored according to each section.

This kit of stuff isn't all that uncommon to be honest, but they always salute.

BK

BK, nice info there, thanks. I have the 72nd Hase sets, so will have to remember that about the towbar.

I altered a 72nd figure to have his hand coming up into the salute in an F-16 dio, couldn't figure why no one had done a figure like that.

Is that SOP for all US groundcrew.

Yes Sir, that is the one. Although it is displayed with the towbar down. That can't be done as those are spring loaded. When up the apply the unit brakes, when pulled down to tow they release the brakes. So it's not possible to have it disconnected and laying down. The same with most of the units. The hydraulic test mule on the right is also down, which is wrong. And I've never seen the bleed air hose yellow. They were always off white to cream with a black rubber coated cable wrapped around it. Other than that, they look the part.

BK

Some one needs to do up a crew chief giving his salute to the plane when it taxied away and a thumps up for good luck.

Is that the item on the left that comes in this Hasegawa set?

I plan on picking up this set in the near future

This is the M32-60A, or -60 as we called it. It is a turbine generator that has a turbine the size of a man. It is used to provide air for aircraft engine startup and generates power for AC maintanence. It is VERY LOUD. It was by far my favorite piece of equipment to work on. The box on top of the unit is the exhaust that points straight up. It idles at a constant 48000 rpm. Impressive little unit.

BK

Bish

 

 

Devil Dawg

Dang it, guys!! Just when I thought I had enough stuff to build, now ya'll go and make me wanna go and buy all the GSE to go with my kits!! AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!

  

Seriously though, great jobs on all the work you folks are putting into that GSE (ground support equipment for those of you that didn't know).

 

 

 

 

If it means we get more diorama's, it will be worth it

 

i don't know about full blown dioramas, but I plan on more vignettes like this...

Devil Dawg

Dang it, guys!! Just when I thought I had enough stuff to build, now ya'll go and make me wanna go and buy all the GSE to go with my kits!! AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!

  

Seriously though, great jobs on all the work you folks are putting into that GSE (ground support equipment for those of you that didn't know).

 

If it means we get more diorama's, it will be worth it

Dang it, guys!! Just when I thought I had enough stuff to build, now ya'll go and make me wanna go and buy all the GSE to go with my kits!! AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!

Seriously though, great jobs on all the work you folks are putting into that GSE (ground support equipment for those of you that didn't know).

Ok, that sounds good. I am just in the beginning of the manual. I found that I did use the correct green, FS# 34052 On the tractor and tow bar. I will top coat it in semi gloss to get the 24052 appearance. I have plenty of black numerals I can used to fudge serials and such.

Stik, notice the USAF registration numbers.  The first is the FY designator followed by two spaces, the vehicle class letter, and then the serial number.  Your AGE tractor would be like 74  D1215.

BK, I think the biggest thing is the optempo today. We have been at war for almost 16 years. Peacetime military usually has some downtime for all the appearance stuff. Even when you throw in the occasional short wars like Desert Storm, Deliberate Force, Allied Force, etc. Not to mention the current budget caps for the past five years or so...

I was looking at railroad decals and think I found some that will work. Or at least look close enough.

Rich, thanks for that manual link. That will come in handy for this project. I know US Army markings extremely well, but I know absolutely zip about USAF vehicle markings. 

The real tape is way too thick for 1/48. Heck, it's thick on the full size units. I was thinking perhaps an alclad base with clears of yellow, red or grey/white over it. If you could find decals that would rock. As for them allowing more wear than before I'd have to agree with that as the photos of the more modern stuff is way more weathered and worn, and grey now too. Too bad, we took great pride in having all our stuff in tip top shape. Makes me wonder what else they are cutting corners on. 

Now that I'm thinking of it you could paint it using automotive candy colors in yellow and red. Those would be a really good match.

BK

And here is everything you need to know about USAF vehicle markings and painting:

http://www.g838.org/g838_manuals/36_1_3_combined.pdf

And by 1993, vehicles and equipment could have scratches and dents from use without touchups.

Thanks for the info on the bobtails. I found a good photo of one of the truck types towing a bomb trailer. I'll need to see what I can find.

Slivers of actual reflective tape sounds like it would be to thick in 1:48... I need to look for some decal striping, me thinks...

That is a CJ-10 bobtail.  Here is info on them:

http://www.fourwheeler.com/project-vehicles/129-1210-the-elusive-jeep-cj-10/

It is based on the new CJ-5/7 after 1971 which had the longer cowl from the older CJ-5/M-38A1.  The AF also uses Dodge 3500 and Ford Super Duty F-350 bobtails.  And for reflectivie tape, why not slivers of the real stuff.

More power to ya for towing and backing those things. No thanks. I hated towing any single item. Forward was easy enough, but backing... did you know a HMMWV can tow a flipped 10k generator trailer on dirt pretty easy? Don't ask how I know... 

thanks for those photos... that bobtail almost looks like it's made from a M38A1 hard top Jeep... I would love to find one in 1/48 for my collection... 

I wonder what I can use for the reflective tape stuff???

I forgot to mention. Since most of the AGE equipment spent time on or near the flightline and was moved around day and night, they all had reflective tape all over them so they would show up at night. The bobtails we used had pintle hooks on the corners and center of the bumper and we would tow pieces of equipment two wide and up to four deep sometimes. Try backing up that mess. We took great pride in parking those trains neatly. If memory serves, these had 4 cyl diesals and SUPER low gears. Top speed was like 25 with the pedal mashed. BUT, they could pull a mountain.

BK

I remember Harv... he is active over on LSP... not sure if that is the same Harvey. 

Thats a great photo and perfect reference for how I want mine to look.

Wow, looking at that loader and figure, I had a flashback memory.

Remember Harvey,  "Dirtball"?