1/48 AC-130U Spooky II - She Lives! (Just about)

[viper3111]

Sweet!!!!
Thats a hell of a lot of metal there Ben, looks fantastic. They will just scream out for a wash of some kind when painted.
Looking forward to seeing this finished.

[Ben Montgomery]

Yeah, I'll definately be giving it a wash Shaun. In fact, the whole aircraft is pretty mucky - I saw it on the way back from theatre so it didnt seem to have been cleaned for a while!

I've now got the second flap section installed on the wing, and the wingtip light in (which works!). Aim for tonight, after work, is to get the second engine nacelle sealed up, and glued onto the wing. Then get the wing sealed and glued.

I hope.

[Ben Montgomery]

OK, little bit more. I mentioned that the engines were too short - well here is my "industrial" response to making them longer. I just made a framework on the back, and then wrapped a few layers of very thin plasticard over the top of it. This gave it an engine shape (ish). Now just rescribing the panel lines, and then some gentle sanding and filling to get the inserts nice and flush with the engine parts.

And then the same on the other wing.







Probably no more this week, it's test time at Uni.

Ben

[Daveayr]

model down and books up young man! good luck

[Ben Montgomery]

Some more progress to report! As for photos, at the moment my Photobucket account has bandwidth exceeded as you can see, so no photos until monday when the limitation lifts apparently.

I've been adding yet more structural detail to the outside (I think I have all the bracing stuff done), and am currently in the process of attaching the tailplanes to each side of the fuselage.

Managed to find myself another two problems as well! Somehow got to seal the fuselage before adding the wings (seems easier), but then have to get the wires from the wings through the bottom of the fuselage?

I also need to find a way to build the little "box" raised section for the refuelling receptacle - should just be a quick plasticard job when I get to it.

So, more on Monday!

Ben

[Ben Montgomery]

OK, If you want to see someone who really knows what he is doing, check out this AC-130 build:

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/ind ... =0&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ben Montgomery]

Finally! Another update. Got bogged down in mid semester tests, so had limited time to do any work. Heres just a bit more up till now.

More painting around the back section (that big green fabricy tall thing), which turned out WAY better than I expected. Very pleased with this.



Inside section test fitted to the fuselage side, still needs so much detail in there (so...much....detail......). You can see the partially painted 25mm and computer panels up near the front.



One of the tailplanes rescribed and glued to the fuselage side. I also added the top structural brace, which looks to be wider than those on standard C-130s?



And finally, the front section fully done (apart from aerials and stuff on top, which will be done when I close her up). I also test painted the entire nose cone again. Still doesnt look right. Need to sand it down again before I airbrush.



And thats it until the weekend I think.

Ben

[MarkG]

This is looking really good mate,, the etch flap set looks ace, cant believe all this detail going on..!

Top stuff, I must start putting more effort into my modelling.

P.S. I think Shaun meant a weathering wash rather than soap and water..!!

Mark

[HighlandSniper]

Looking great Ben - my son is currently building the Italeri 1:48 AC-130A, but strictly OOB - he just about had a siezure when he saw the pix of yours.

[Ben Montgomery]

Can you post some pics up of that - I'd be very interested to see it! There are only about 4 AC-130 1:48 builds I've seen on the internet, so another one must be a good thing!

Mark - - I knew what he meant - i was talking about a panel wash to bring out the detail. I was trying to say the actual aircraft looks filthy, and I have to try and replicate that on my kit.

Ben

[HighlandSniper]

I was given the AC-130A kit about ten years ago by a friend - apart from the interior of the fuselage having been painted it was otherwise un-touched. My son un-covered it whilst searching for a part-completed Tamiya 1:32 F-14A I've had in the box since 1981

[MarkG]

Mark - - I knew what he meant - i was talking about a panel wash to bring out the detail. I was trying to say the actual aircraft looks filthy, and I have to try and replicate that on my kit.

Ben[/quote]

Well I was gonna say..sorry about that I misread the wash bit.!

[Ben Montgomery]

Another quick update on tonights work - I got the other tailplane scribed and installed. The fit was not so flush here so it might need a bit of filler.

i also installed the starboard side of the "booth" section in front of the big guns, effectively covers all that nice painting I did yesterday. Started installing the lights inside too.

As you can see from this, she is somewhat of a tailsitter! Hopefully it will even out with the wings on and all the stuff inside.



Ben

[Ben Montgomery]

Well, I think this is easily going to be the biggest update!

To start with, let me explain todays situation. I had no college work to do, ALL my friends (apart from Phill318 on the other side of campus!) had gone home for the weekend, the weather outside was rubbish, and there was nothing to do at uni. So, I thought to myself, what should I do.

Get the fuselage finished and sealed!

So, here comes the mammoth update!

First off, I started using some Klear I picked up in Wilko to coat the windows for extra shine and protection:







Oh, the shot above also shows a structural brace behind the scanners window removed, its not actually there.

Then I started building the "bulkheads" inside:



Got the main wheel bays painted, and sealed in. All those wires are going to be used as leaders to pull the wire from the wings through. It was the only solution I could think of that allowed me to assemble the fuselage without having the wings on first.



The inside section completed - along with a scanners chair cannibalised from an old F-14 seat.



Test fit to make sure it is all going well:



Glued inside to a fuselage side:



And finished!





And I tried the wings too, to make sure they fit, and all the wires would work




And then for fun, I added the cannons, and did some flying!





Looking pretty Spooky now!!

[Phill318]

Looks amazing mate.
Can't wait to come and see it.

[Ben Montgomery]

Is anyone able to tell me which Hasegawa Weapons set the LANTIRN pod comes in, I think it is set D? I need the second head before I can start painting the Spooky when I get home!

[viper3111]

It is indeed set 'D' Ben.
That is a lot of wiring Ive never 'electrified' any of my kits. I look forward to seeing it in action (props & lights)

[HighlandSniper]

AFAIK, one of the very first C-130 kits made was in 1:144 - I built one in the late sixties (Revell in my memory serves me correctly) before Airfix lauched their C-130K in 1:72.

[Ben Montgomery]

Another (very) brief update. Im slowing down somewhat now. Not much more to do, apart from put the wings on and paint. Which I can't really do until I get home!

So, essentially I've been sucked into super detailing even more just for the sake of doing something!

Heres a bit of progress then:

Hopefully this:



Is now not too distant from this:



I know, it still looks rubbish without the paint on, but have faith!


And heres a view of the raised refuelling slipway indicator that I've made, as well as the start of some forward sensor things, and other bits and bobs on top. Anything in white I've made.





Ben

PS - no more updates until I get some more sandpaper, I've completely run out sanding this thing down!

[Ben Montgomery]

Just noticed it all looks very rough, but thats because all that milliput at the front has just been added, no sanding yet. The Slipway is actually very smooth, and flush with the fuselage.