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

[Ben Montgomery]

Hi again guys!

Been home this weekend to see my parents, grab model kit etc. Managed to lug my AC-130 up on the train (no easy task - its huge!), so the thread can now be continued.

Obviously updates will be slower here as I'm working, working, drinking (a little!), working etc.

I've made a start on the 105mm Cannon and 25mm, and finished off the 40mm. I'll upload a photo in a second.

I'll also chuck on a few of the in progress pics so far, from the old board.

Ben

[SamP]

Can't wait a second, thats far too long! ''A little'' Yeah right

[Ben Montgomery]

Honest! I'm not a big drinker! Pictures soon!

[Ben Montgomery]

OK here we go:

Where I was up to before Uni:

Completed Side fuselage (mostly!)


Some detail work


DIRCM Turret:


Inside, front section:


Inside, rear section:

[Ben Montgomery]

And as of now:

Rear cannons:





In place with fuselage: It does fit very well, just difficult to hold it in position with one hand!


25mm so far:


Main computer console:


And some "exposed" exterior detail I've done. Another first time thing for me.


Needless to say, none of those bits are finished yet, hopefully in the next week or two. Lots of work to do on the 105 and 25mm cannons still.

Ben

[MarkG]

Excellent mate,, I had wondered whether you'd have time to continue this amongst all your drinking.(..I mean Studying.!!).,,
Wouldn't mind building a 48th AC130 myself actually,...!

[viper3111]

That is coming along realy nice, what scehme are you doing again Ben?

[Ben Montgomery]

Thanks guys!

Shaun, it will be as 89-0510, the aircraft I caught at Mildenhall in August:



I have a Wolfpack decal set with the correct markings and noseart for this paintscheme, except the decals are for 89-0514. I can't find a correct size/colour/font "0" in my spares, so I might have to get another set just for the extra "0"s!

[SamP]

Coming along nicely Ben, some great detail work aswell

[Ben Montgomery]

Hi again guys!

Just a small text update for today. I spent an hour or two tonight (after studying, of course!) working on the 105mm cannon. I don't know if I mentioned it in the old thread, but I had already tried this and completely messed it up (much harder than the 40mm I think). Had another bash at it today, and I've got it looking reasonably similar to the actual thing. It's not 100% accurate, but for a completely scratchbuilt part, I'm not expecting it to be. Just got to build the massive yellow handles on the back, install a whole bunch of wiring, and some electronics and then it is finished.

After that it is a simple matter of building the 25mm cannon, building ammunition lockers, computers, chairs, wires, structural reinforcement, ceiling wires, boxes etc. Then lighting up the inside, installing the Flightpath upgrade sets (when that arrives!) and painting the thing.

So not much to do.....

[Ben Montgomery]

Small update for today. I've scalpeled off the little sensor things near the nose on each side of the fuselage (not sure how to describe them, a block on each side with three little flat squares on), and replaced them with my own. They little squares are supposed to be able to move and pivot, so I've added a block behind them to raise them off the backing block (what a rubbish description, pictures will do better!).

I've also been trying to fit a coaming to the Instrument Panel, as it does not have one in the kit (and it should!). Using one from a now-demolished 1/48 B-1B, which is much harder than it sounds. The damn thing won't fit, no matter how much I shape it!

I'll get some pics up shortly.

Ben

[Ben Montgomery]

Okey dokey - photos.

I couldnt resist dry fitting it to see what the finished (almost, so close!) 105mm and 40mm looked like. (And yes, that is my entire desk space at Uni, effectively my whole room!):









And work today:

New sensor doodahs:



Instrument Coambing:

The white strip is extra plastic I added when I realised the coambing would be too low.




More to come later in the week, I "might" even get some small amount of paint on!

Ben

[BOLLO]

Very nice Ben,coming on a treat.Just one question,how you going to get it home?

[Mike]

Very nice Ben,coming on a treat.Just one question,how you going to get it home?

It's that big it should be able to fly home by itself !

[SamP]

Very nice Ben,coming on a treat.Just one question,how you going to get it home?

Just have to put up with a few odd looks on the train...

[BOLLO]

Very nice Ben,coming on a treat.Just one question,how you going to get it home?

Just have to put up with a few odd looks on the train...

That Uni where Ben is,AC 130'S probably took out some of the locals relatives back home.Gonna look good at the station.

[Ben Montgomery]

Oooh careful Paul!

My plan is to build it all up, but not attach the tailplanes or wings until I get home. I cant do any airbrushing here for fear of wrecking my room, so it would work well only assembling it at home.

Still got to motorise, light up and finish the inside before it goes together. Oh, and add the Flightpath etch set.

[Ben Montgomery]

Very nice Ben,coming on a treat.Just one question,how you going to get it home?

Just have to put up with a few odd looks on the train...

Already had that taking ALL my modelling kit up at the weekend!

[Ben Montgomery]

More work done today (gave myself a day off to go out yesterday! haha). I've added some more structural bracing on the outside near the cockpit. I've done it in very thin Plasticard, but will still need sanding down a touch as it is Extremely thin (from what I can see) on the real thing. No pictures at the moment, but for you C-130 experts one of the bits is a triangle shaped thingy above/over the crew door.

Also got to work on the 25mm (I'm leaving the 105mm until I can figure out some way of making reasonably strong versions of those massive "handles"). On the 25mm, I built the linkage from the ammo store to the weapon, and got to work on detailing that a bit. As it is the weekend tomorrow, I should be able to get some more done, but the large amount of coursework sitting on my desk seems to suggest otherwise!

I will of course get some pictures up.

Ben

[Ben Montgomery]

OK so pictures as promised. I've also managed to paint the 40mm cannon, so tell me what you think of that (good/bad/needs more work?). It looks a little "rough" to me.

40mm:


25mm (This one is still work in progress, as is the 105mm):


More structural stuff outside:


Thats all for now!

Ben