Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 I started a build of a KC-135A on another forum for a GB and while I was tinkering with bits ended up with 3 on the go... So I decide one would be an RC-135V or W since you don't see many (any?) of these completed. There are a couple of things I need to sort out before progressing. I am thinking about a take off config for this build and need to decide if I start chopping open nose gear doors. If not then some nose weight has to go in. The other issue is; will I use the kit TF-33s or steal some CFMs from another kit to make it a current config jet? I have some Wolfpak decals for a USAF machine along with the Spectre Resins cheeks to add to the build. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 You must have a bigger house than I have. I'll be watching this! Cheers, Andre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Off to a good start, I just was outbid on a built 707-300 airliner version. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 (edited) Thanks chaps, not much else to report, I have decided to make it in the take off mode so some research required to figure out which bit of the wing to chop up to drop the flaps. Edited October 18, 2020 by Romeo Alpha Yankee Updated image links Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomjw Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Excellent. You must love a challenge. I'll follow this with interest. Cheers, Tom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme H Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Wow Ray, you are taking on a challenge with this lot Inspired by Wally by any chance? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 Wow Ray, you are taking on a challenge with this lot Inspired by Wally by any chance? Wally's build did give me ideas, just need to dig up his threads to see how he cut the wings up, also I have seen a few nice takeoff pictures and thought it would look pretty cool . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 Hopefully this is the look I will be able to reproduce Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 (edited) Surgery on the wings has commenced Test fit I think I will need to separate all the parts out and box them in. Also have cut the nose gear doors out and trying to figure out how to modify the retraction jack for the nose gear leg. Edited October 18, 2020 by Romeo Alpha Yankee Updated image links and grammar 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 I have a fellow club member build one right now. He has a problem with paint adhering to the fuselage when he went to unmask and he used low tack tape. He has put three complete paint jobs on it now, striping each earlier one. At a recent meeting he was told it might be an "oiler" Something about the plastic having a high oil content or never aired out properly. It was washed each time to. I think he's going to try some automotive primer/sealer this time. The wings and tail were fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon382 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Looking good so far, but 3 on the go at once! Now that is brave. As for a final colour scheme, have you considered an RAF machine? Would certainly be up to date. Just a thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted August 9, 2015 Author Share Posted August 9, 2015 Thanks chaps, I will keep and eye on the paint issues. I usually prime with Tamiya rattle can primer which helps with paint adhesion. This will be USAF jet as I have all the decals already sorted for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 Do the flaps just drop or are they Fowlers? I've never seen them down up close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted August 9, 2015 Author Share Posted August 9, 2015 (edited) I think they just drop, no messy complicated parts to manufacture Got the nose gear sorted in the retracting position. Looks like the nose gear well walls need a little thinning to allow the wheels to fit without interference. And started on the engines. Also gathering reference pictures to see how many new antenna I will need to scratch build. Edited October 18, 2020 by Romeo Alpha Yankee Updated image links 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcNewitt Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 Fantastic gotta love an RC! Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 My friend was able to get the paint on his fuselage touched up and it came out ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) Did some test fitting with the nose gear. Some of the dimensions of the gear well and and the wheels, etc are out. It is a tight squeeze putting the gear partially into the well. I have finished chopping up the wings and will start building up the flaps. Also need to find some aircrew Edited October 18, 2020 by Romeo Alpha Yankee Updated image links 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme H Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Nice work on the Undercarriage there Ray and love to see when you get around to the Aerials, did you ever get a Wedgetail done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 Thanks Graeme, The Antenna will be interesting. i think I will have a few extra to create when the time comes. The Wedgetail is still a work in progress, having some issues with parts staying glued to the fuselage. Wings are warped as well and I have been slowly getting them straight after multiple attempts with hot water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomjw Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Impressive progress so far. And 3 of these monoliths on the go at once? Your work bench must be the size of a house. Cheers, Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted October 18, 2020 Author Share Posted October 18, 2020 Well it is hard to believe this was started 5 years ago, I have just updated the image links from PB to Flickr. It stirred some interest by someone who is building an Airseeker so might have to get this one back on the bench after a couple of 707 projects are cleared. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 Ray: you are one ambitious man, and you clearly have ample space! I built the AMT/ERTL KC-135A when it first came out in 1994-95 and was very happy with it except for one thing: the wing dihedral. It is way too shallow, because it should exactly match the dihedral of the horizontal stabilizers, or 7 degrees, which it does not. I remember proudly "rolling out" my new tanker for a non-modeler and (at the time) Air Force officer and the first words out of his mouth were: "what's up with the wings, dude?" "Well," I said, "the wings are full of fuel, you see..." Hilarious. That, however, did not prevent me from buying a few more (an R and a couple RC's) at the BX (Base Exchange), because they were a real steal at $15.00 a pop. Yes, they were that cheap then. Anyway, when I began working on my RC a few years ago, the first thing I did was to trim the stub wing spar undersides so that they would have a steeper angle. This created other complications, because the lower wing assembly simply will not bend without distorting everything, including the lower fuselage half-circle cross-section to which it's attached. What I should have done was to score along the fuselage / wing join so that it would more easily bend, but it's an irregular shape. So I put it all away. Why should you care? Because the bigger F108 engines on this bad boy are going to scrape the ground, or at least appear to scrape the ground, unless you do something with the dihedral--or depict it in flying mode, which I guess is what you're doing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted October 18, 2020 Author Share Posted October 18, 2020 Thanks for the heads up on the wing dihedral Alex. I have built an F-108 powered R some years ago (wheels up again) Just updated the image links in the thread But I was unaware of the dihedral issue so will look into it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 I just checked out your earlier work. Nice! I think in-flight is the best mode on this. Good job on the lowered flaps, too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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