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This is my rendition of Heller's Lockheed EC-121/WV-2 Warning Star. Heller is not what I would consider one of the top tier model companies and there were a lot of inaccuracies. To address these I used; Fisher Models' nose and radomes, Plus Models' engine nacelles, wheel wells, tires and tail surfaces, and Caracal decals. Actually I only used the Plus Models central fin from their tail surfaces kit. Given its size and all the aftermarket total build time was 22 day or probably around 60 hours. For more details on the build see the WIP at With that let's see the results. Next up is the Planet Models' XF-91 Thunderceptor Enjoy.

My current project is the venerable Heller 1/72 EC-121 AKA WV-2 kit. In another thread it was suggested that I do a WIP for it because of all the after market sets I am using and after some thought I have decided to inflict one on you . This kit has been on my pile for a few years, but early last year a fellow member of my modeling club brought in this magnificent build. At the meeting he went through the a litany of errors with the kit and the after market parts that he had gotten for it. After the meeting I sort of went on a buying spree and bought a boat load of them, spending far more then the original cost of the kit. So in addition to the original kit I also have, in no particular order: The Fisher wheel set The Plus Models Wheel well interior set. note that it also comes with wheels The Plus Models tail surfaces Fisher tip tanks Fisher nose Fisher radar set Plus Models engine nacelles and to support all of this the Scale Aircraft Conversions' metal landing gear In addition I got the Caracal decal sheet(s) with which I will be going for this scheme Finally I have the Ginter book as reference Needless to say my work table is covered with parts and and instruction sheet. So, I started by cutting off the Heller nose from the fuselage, painting and installing the Heller interior, joining the fuselage halves and attaching the Fisher nose. When I did that I saw that this band Was much lower then both the fuselage end and the transparency rear edge. I am guessing that mine was slightly warped. I used some sculpting epoxy to fill the depresion in and blended the nose into the fuselage I was at this point that I realized that the Plus Models from wheel well was not just an insert but a resin replacement for the kit part also that the front gear should be installed before closing up the fuselage. , There is not much I can do about the wheel well, but I will have to deal with the front gear later. Build in haste repent at leisure, sigh. The instruction show to add weight to the nose, but are silent about how much. With all the resin their suggestion probably would be off anyway. Using the #6 shot from 2 1/2 disassembled 12 gauge shot gun shells, relics from my unsuccessful attempt to take up trap shooting, I think I have it balanced to sit on its nose . Today I plan on working on the wings, engines, and tip tanks.

Does anyone know what color, if any, the wheel wells and landing gear of the WV-2 Warning Star were painted? I am working on the Heller kit and the instructions say they were unpainted aluminum. That is probably true of the civilian versions, but I have my doubts about the military versions. I have found pictures on the web of museum display Air Force EC-121's and it looks like the interiors were white. But those are not the Navy version, and you can't always trust museum display aircraft for accuracy. Anyone know, have pictures? Thanks Howard

Pics taken by Darwin at the Combat Air Museum in Kansas of an EC-121T 52-3418. The aircraft was delivered to USAF in October 1954 as an RC-121D and redesignated an EC-121D in 1962. It was converted to an EC-121T, but the upper radome has been removed.

Sources: https://www.facebook.com/SAMEditor1/photos/a.55307324994.19764.54187339994/10150384017419995/?type=1&theater http://modelweb.modelforum.cz/2014/05/07/pripravovana-novinka-firmy-plusmodel-na-mesic-kveten-2014/?lang=CS V.P.