Models

This is a conversion of a standard Italeri C-130J to the stretched version, known as the CC-130J in USAF service. The basic conversion was done with Flightpath fuselage plugs, which proved to be slightly undersized in diameter. The plugs were glued in place with milliput used to fair them in. The kit engines were discarded with Flightpath engines used instead. The kit was then finished as a Rhode Island ANG aircraft. At the time I was living in Oman, and unfortunately, the starboard wing was damaged in transit, so I recently decided to do a partial rebuild and a repaint. This actually became more work than originally planned, and involved replacing both wings, nose undercarriage (which had also been damaged), engines and propeller blades. The donor kit was the latest C-130J kit from Italeri which has an additional sprue for the –J model, with additional parts including a replacement of the port forward undercarriage sponson, as well as various antennae and a new tail fairing (which is a poor fit).

I also decided to replace the cockpit transparency at this time. I found that the plastic the prop blades were made from was sufficiently soft to enable them to be rotated into the feathered position, which is the standard parked position for these blades. Once rotated, they were glued into the spinner assembly, thus sealing their fate forever. The paint was rubbed off, and repainted again. Markings were added to represent the aircraft that was at RIAT 2007. This aircraft is from Little Rock AFB.

Unfortunately, the model was dropped at this point, which caused separation of the nose and the starboard wing, and a crack in the aft fuselage plug. This was repaired and resprayed, and markings renewed as necessary. Eventually, it was finished, and I can’t wait to get rid of it, as it has been an unlucky kit when in my hands.

Model and article by Ted Bayliss