Nigel Bunker Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 (edited) I intend to build an RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint. I have an AMT KC-135R, some cheek fairings from Spectre Resins and assorted after market goodies and Xtradecal do the transfers. What I lack is the nose. Does anybody make a resin nose or alternatively can anybody point me to some accurate plans so I can build my own? Cheers Nigel Edited September 7, 2014 by Nigel Bunker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennings Heilig Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 (edited) For one, there are no accurate plans, period. The ones I've drawn over the years (and which were used by AMT/Ertl for their kit) are pretty much it. Especially so for the RC. Here's a side view, but the real thing has a very subtle triangular cross section that will be difficult to do. You'd be **FAR** better off just finding an AMT RC-135V kit and starting from there. You'll pull a lot less hair out... Edited September 7, 2014 by Jennings Heilig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bunker Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share Posted September 7, 2014 Thank you Jennings. As AMT RC-135V kits are rarer here than dinosaurs, it's out with the plasticard & milliput. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain.. ipms north somerset Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 I was in my barn...going thru some kits looking for something totally different And remembered i had this lot in one box ..... I even have several versions of the awacs .....airfix and heller ...so i will watch and learn... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 Nice collection Iian, I have the same kits as well as a couple of KC-135As and Rs. What I would like to find out is what mods were made to the new KC-135R Speckle Trout. It would look good next to the KC-135E version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennings Heilig Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 (edited) The SPECKLED TROUT has all *kinds* of lump-bumpies on it. It's got the LAIRCM system installed (see below) plus about twenty dozen other things... And for the record, the AMT CFM engine pods are pretty bad. Airfix got it much closer to the mark, but getting Airfix's pylons to fit the AMT kit is going to be a right b**ch. Same with the (very heavy) Flightpath ones. Edited September 7, 2014 by Jennings Heilig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris57 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 (edited) Nigel Are you coming down to Modelfest next week, only I had some Maintrack RC-135U conversions I was looking for, for someone else on the forum which I think must be mixed up with Pats stock. I won't know for sure until next week though. cheers chris Edited September 8, 2014 by chris57 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radar Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 What brilliant timing I'm doing a 1/144 EC-135 but an older engined USAF version. I'll be watching this one closely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bunker Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 Chris A prior commitment means I won't be at Modelfest next week. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radar Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Iain, What are the chances of a scan or a close up picture of that 3 view picture of the AMT EC-135V instructions that are in the picture above that you posted above please? So that I can use it as a painting guide for my 1:144 model please. Cheers Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennings Heilig Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 You'll be *much* better off looking at photos of real RC-135s on www.airliners.net (and any number of other places). The AMT instructions are pretty iffy. It's basically white over FS 16473. Depending on the time frame you're modeling there are a number of detail differences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radar Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Thanks Jenning , I'll have a look on there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElectroSoldier Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 How hard would it be to make a cast copy of the nose from a kit I have?I would just need some Plasticine to make a female tool and then pour some resin in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 (edited) Better with RTV rubber or one of the other moulding materials, Plasticience probably wouldn't hold it's shape Edited September 10, 2014 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoops Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I'm resurrecting an older thread here, but I finally picked up a RC-135V kit, and started taking a close look at it with the view to update it to current standards. I realized that the Hog nose as kitted is too flat on the top. There is much more of a curve on the top side of the real nose than as kitted. You can really see it where the nose joins the rest of the fuselage below the canopy, on the kitted nose it is almost completely flat and goes straight into the bottom of the canopy. The real nose as you can see here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/62382288@N04/5678346507 the nose curves down much more on the sides, resulting in the "bulges" below the windscreen where it meets the hog nose. Its hard to explain without having a picture of the kit nose. I've been sanding mine back and trying to reshape the top, but capturing the transition from the canopy is proving tricky to capture accurately. Cheers, Hoops Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 good points mate what really need is walkaround photo shot of the RAF airseeker !! .. thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoops Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Externally at least, they have the same antenna fit as the current baseline RIVET JOINTs. I'm sure that there are lots of differences internally, but after lots of work looking at current US RIVET JOINTS and other RCs I think you can come up with everything you need as far as references go. Getting from the plastic in the box to representing any of the above is a lot trickier. I've got a KC-135R that I want to turn into a RC-135U COMBAT SENT, and I have the RC-135V kit, that I want to bring up to current standards, but the engines are being a sticking point. If I can't solve that problem, I'm halfway considering doing the NC-135W (12666) as it still has the old TF-33 engines instead. It has all the modern antennas and a weird mix of external protuberances from various versions of the RCs. Cheers, Hoops 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark S. Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 I've printed decals for the RC-135W and would post pics here but the last time they were deleted. You can see the announcement for the decals here: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=282458 Mark Wolfpak Decals 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyking_comms Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I purchased a AMT RC-135V last year and struggled to find decals to replicate current flying examples. I even posted here http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234961067-decals-for-amt-rc-135v/but didn't get anything. Thanks to seeing this post I purchased Mark's RC-135W decals today, so can finally start to get the model built! One question I do have is whether anyone has successfully added the HF wire that goes from the tail to around the center of the fusealage? If so how did you do it? Thanks, Darren www.raf-fairford.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I have done a few of those on other types, I use Eziline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyking_comms Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Eziline? Where can you get it from and do you have any pics of your models with the Eziline HF aerial added? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 It is an elastic line, I got mine locally from Red Roo Models here in Australia. I am sure you can google and find somewhere more local. It can be stretched up to 7 times its original length though I don't stretch it that far. I attach it with superglue. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyking_comms Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Superb models! I have to admit that the HF aerial adds a touch more reality to these models and I'm surprised they aren't included in the box. Similarly the SATCOM domes that are on a number of USAF aircraft's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey8251 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I purchased a AMT RC-135V last year and struggled to find decals to replicate current flying examples. I even posted here http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234961067-decals-for-amt-rc-135v/but didn't get anything. Thanks to seeing this post I purchased Mark's RC-135W decals today, so can finally start to get the model built! One question I do have is whether anyone has successfully added the HF wire that goes from the tail to around the center of the fusealage? If so how did you do it? Thanks, Darren www.raf-fairford.co.uk Not sure if you may have seen these decals hitting the streets soon too, Xtradecals RAF RC-135... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Xtradecal-1-72-Decals-72216-RAF-2014-Update-/231482212489?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e56a4089 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoops Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Bobe's Hobby House (actually physically located in Pensacola FL USA) sells rolls of 100' of the EZline on Ebay http://www.ebay.com/sch/Models-Kits-/1188/m.html?item=200405607941&hash=item2ea91ae605&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&_ssn=bobemt It's actually a decent brick and mortar shop, and buying from them off ebay was painless. Cheers, -Hoops Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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