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

[viper3111]

£28? that should do the real one I didn't spend that much on my 32nd trumpeter A-7 in Vietnam cammo.
All joking aside, I look forward to seeing this one finished. It certanly looks impressive

[Ben Montgomery]

OK, Im ready for painting bar the final sanding, tomorrow hopefully.

Masking the canopy:



And installing:





Testing out some of the Archer Decals - the film on these is very thin, so you need to varnish or seal them in pretty much straight away to prevent them from just coming off. That said, they will be great when under the paint - the film should be completely invisible!





A few photos of a further engine run to ensure the electrics all still work (that's my excuse, I just like running the thing! )









And the final load of milliput to clean all the edges off. A bit industrial in the application, but it will all sand out OK in the end.





Getting there!

Ben

[Phill318]

I'm sure engineering elements revision is more important......
Seriously this model is really impressive and even more so when you see it for real. I'm going to have to go cold turkey over christmas and have to resort to just looking at the pictures like everyone else.

[Ben Montgomery]

Aaah! Just looking at the last photo, and there is a big old gap between the wing inside and the etch!

Wheres that superglue....

[HighlandSniper]

These things happen mate - you've done a fantastic job with your Herk, looking forward to the finished result.

[Ben Montgomery]

OK, a bit more done tonight. All "finer detail". I added the two long strips running down the length of the fuselage, which will be sanded down to very thin. Then built up that big round top aerial. also added the first half of the front two sensors near the cockpit, and the slipway lighting (still working on that too).

Not quite ready to paint as I thought, there is always something else to do!!





Ben

[Ben Montgomery]

Well, I'm home again, and the airbrush was straight out!

So here you go - paint!



Oh - and some progress on the 25mm. Bit stuck with the 105 - the barrel snapped a while back, and I reglued it with brass rod support, but it keep s coming apart. Aaargh!





Tasty rivets....



Mini Monty working on his AC-47 Spooky, whilst my Spooky II dries.





And got a coat of nose colour (I think!) done. I varnished the paint next to the nose, but this didnt stop the tamiya tape peeling some of it off. So this shot is a little photoshopped to give you a better impression.



Pretty close?

I'm aiming to get the painting complete tomorrow, and maybe the weathering started the day after.

Ben

[Ben Montgomery]

Forgot to add - the dark grey is not finished yet! Some areas havnt got a full coat on, I need to wrap around the wing edges, and do the engine nacelles.

[viper3111]

Ben,

What paints did you use in the end as that is a realy nice finish.

[Ben Montgomery]

Shaun, its the Xtracrylix stuff, diluted with a touch of water. Painted at about 10psi in a cold conservatory, and left to dry for a few hours before applying the next coat. This is about 7 coats worth.

[HighlandSniper]

Looking great Ben, really impressive. You've clearly done a good job of rubbing down as the filler and extras don't show.

This is clearly going to be a stunner when it's finished.

[GreenBat]

Nice work Ben..... looks like all the work applying those rivets has paid off

[MarkG]

Looking good mate,, I've had Tamiya tape peeling paint before , really frustrating .!!

[Ben Montgomery]

Hey guys - bit of an update for you.

I've slacked off a bit recently, but started back on it yesterday. Got the wheels on, and all the rivets in and painted. Varnished last night and today, and planning on getting the decals on tonight.

Dont expect any photos tomorrow though!

[Gary West]

Splendid work Ben - you can have tomorrow off ok

[Ben Montgomery]

Hello again!

Heres the latest progress on the Spooky - a lot has changed!

I've effectively finished the paintwork, bar the engine nacelles (which suffered a rather severe crash into my desk and needed to be repaired - dont ask!) and a few touchups.

The electrics all still work, and I'm beginning to work out a plan of attaching this to a base.

Decals are partially complete - I had to change the 0514 serial to 0510 - not to easy when you have no spare "0" decals!

And I've started to unmask the canopy - I just couldnt resist!





A few closeups of the rivets on the back - as always Im using the excuse of the flash bringing up all the rough parts! Haha.





Props still to be painted - tomorrow I hope:



Converted tail serial - from 890514 to 90510, and showing a tiny bit of silvering, nothing major so Im happy



Refuelling markings - just remembered I need to add 89-0510 along the back here too!




Hope you all enjoy that - it's coming together now!

Ben

[HighlandSniper]

Looking good Ben

[MarkG]

Haha who can resist the de-masking.?!! Looks like the AC is gonna launch from ya bedroom. Top stuff mate

[viper3111]

Nice work chief
The decal film has disappeared nicely and they look the part

[blakey]

Looking very nice