Hello C-130 Fans,
I am building and converting 2 Airfix C-130's models to the HTTB (High Technology Test Bed) configuration. The HTTB is based on the L-100-20 airframe.
Attached to this email are some photos of the converted fuselage.
The fuselage was cut and lengthened, based on Lockheed Cadam, engineering drawings, photos of the HTTB and articles which appeared in the August 1980 issue of Airfix Magazine and the July 2005 issue of Fine Scale Modeler on lengthening an Italerie C-130 J.
(Does any one out there have a copy of the Lockheed Horizons that contained an article about the HTTB? If so please contact me if you would be willing to make a zerox copy or scan a copy of the article and email it to or for me?) .
During the 1980's I was employed at Lockheed Ontario for 4 years, from 9/1986 to 11/1990 during my employment at LAS the HTTB was TDY at LAS Ontario for the Quiet Knight program. During this time I was fortunate enough to be given a tour of the HTTB by one of the HTTB's crew members. I was allowed to examine the aircraft from the top of the tail to the tip of the radome. I made a number of drawings and notes about the HTTB's numerous modifications. I was very impressed with the HTTB. After my tour I decided that someday I would build a model of the HTTB.
To tackle this conversion I decided to convert and build the HTTB like Lockheed built the L-100-20 airframe.
(As an aside note when Airfix released their AC-130 E, Airfix modified the C-130 molds and added the AC-130 E features to the C-130 E mold thus altering the Airfix mold permanently, therefore when one purchases a Airfix C-130 post 1990 or thereabouts or a Heller C-130 or some other C-130 kit one is actually purchasing the Italeri C-130 kit as Airfix permanently damaged their C-130 E mold. So buyer bewares and if possible examines the kit before you buy.)
(I do not know if ESCI or AMT are still producing their version of the C-130, my first impression upon examining the ESCI C-130 or AC-130U was that the engine all of the shapes looked wrong he engine nacelles looked like they were shaped incorrectly and the kit looked like it had other numerous problems. If anyone out there has a different opinion of the ESCI C-130 please let me know. Needless to say I never purchased one. All of the kits I own are either Airfix or Italerie.)
To convert the kits to the HTTB one has to lengthen the fuselage, add 2 feet to the wings add a Horsal to the tail and two Dorsals to the vertical stabilizers.
First I cut what would become the HTTB fuselage behind the cockpit bulkhead, and cut the fuselage along the panel line right behind the paratroop doors.
After this I cut the second Airfix C-130 fuselage (one I started to build back in the 1970 or 71 then consigned to my spare parts box) directly forward of the leading edge panel line and directly behind the wing root right along the panel line. These cuts are at the points recommend in the Airfix article. Now one could purchase a Flight Path (old DB) resin C-130 fuselage plugs for the stretched L-100-30 conversion kit and cut it down or carve the section out of balsa foam or planking it out of sheet plastic.
The l-100-20 plugs are 5 feet for the forward plug and 3.3 feet for the rear fuselage plug. In 1/72 scale the forward fuselage plug is 13/16th or 20 cm long and the rear fuselage plug is 9/16th or 13 cm Long.
The next step will be carving a new nose radome then adding the Horsal to the tail and Dorsals to the horizontal stabilizers fins and widen the wings.
I built the dorsal fin out of the spare Airfix C-130 kit, some sprue, and sheet styrene.
I plan to carve the Horsal fins out of sheet styrene. Then build a wider rudder by either sectioning and widening the kit's rudder or just building one from sheet styrene.
Then modify the wings. I know the HTTB's wing is 2 feet wider than the standard C-130 by 2 feet. 1 foot to the leading edge and 1 foot to the aileron and flaps.
To lengthen the flaps and aileron I plan to cut the flaps and modify them to the 2 piece blown flaps and add the one foot at the junction of the flap and the wing. Then add 1 scale foot to the Aileron and the space between the flaps and the wing. That's the easy part.
The leading edge of the wing is 1 foot wider and cambered; I am experimenting with ¼, ½ and round pieces of plastruct tubing to create the cambered wing leading edge look...
Then modify the Engine Nacelles. Does anyone know if the HTTB's Allison 501D Series IV engine nacelles are longer or wider than the standard Allison T56 A-15 Engines? Did the HTTB ever test the C-130J propellers?
Any comments or suggestions are welcomed.
After I finish the HTTB I will tackle and convert an Italerie C-130 E to the YMC-130 H Credible Sport aircraft.
Then make molds for an YMC 130H and maybe a HTTB resin conversion kit.
I Hope you enjoy this and any comments, corrections, suggestions, and other ideas are very much welcomed and appreciated.
Enjoy
Tim Rathbone.
Now back to the conversion.
“A C-130 that can do anything can’t always do everything. In 1980, A follow on rescue scheme, Operation Credible Sport, added large retro-lifting, and takeoff rockets, to a YMC-130H with the idea of landing in Tehran's soccer stadium and flying the hostages out. During the first landing trial, the shattered aircraft was destroyed by fire. Before a second effort could be mounted. " Air & Space August 2004 page 43 Carl Posey