tomprobert Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 I started this back in November of 2014, and after 8 months of hard toil, I've got my big C-17 finished. Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, 99 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton. DSC_0042 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr There are two kits currently available in 1/72nd of the C-17: one being the Anigrand Craftworks resin kit, and the other is the Combat Models vacuform. I really wanted to add a C-17 to my collection, and with the fact that I don't get on with resin all that well I decided the easier option for me would be the Combat kit. I love a modelling challenge and knew what was in store having built a few Combat 'kits' in the past... previous experience didn't prepare me for what lay ahead though - this was a pig! I also knew that the Anigrand kit is poorly shaped, with the wing being too far forward and the nose and cockpit being completely off. I'm not bothered about accuracy all that much, but having seen the Anigrand kit before even I couldn't live with the obvious shape errors. Rumour has it that the Anigrand kit was based on the Combat one, so I knew that the shape errors were likely to be common to both kits, and reshaping vacform parts is a far easier task than sanding chunks of resin. I was proved right, and much work was ahead of me. The kit's fuselage as it comes: S1030063 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr The plastic is some of the thinnest I've ever come across in a kit, and the whole length of the fuselage had to be strengthened with bulkheads and bracing. The fuselage is together here - you can see the reprofiling of the nose as well as the wing having been moved back by 1": S1030301 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr The flightdeck had to be scratch-built, and the glazing was cut to shape from clear acetate and dropped into the apertures I'd cut: DSC_0031 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr The engines were very basic, and started out like this: S1030007 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr But with a lot of work with filler and much sanding, they came out alright in the end: DSC_0056 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr All the surface detail that you see had to be added by me - the kit's surface is devoid of all detail and both raised areas and the panel lines had to be added: DSC_0120 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr I sourced a set of undercarriage from Anigrand, but all the doors etc. needed to be scratch-built. The undercarriage took a lot of work to get installed - all mounts etc. had to be made from scratch: DSC_0109 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0143 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Part II to follow... 68 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) Thomas, MAGNIFICENT and it really is MIGHTY IMPRESSIVE. Like it a lot.. WOW It still looks HUGE even at this scale.. BRAVO... Edited June 21, 2015 by HOUSTON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 Part II: Decals were from DrawDecal, and provide a scheme for ZZ177 which wears the distinctive 10th Anniversary of C-17 operations badge on the fin - a splash of colour for an otherwise drab scheme. Here follows some general shots of the completed model: DSC_0029 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0048 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0059 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0102 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0103 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr And a couple of 'with something else' shots: Alongside a 1/72nd Lancaster: DSC_0100 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr And an earlier generation of Globemaster - modelled by my dad a few years ago: DSC_0139 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Although this was a very challenging build, it was a huge amount of fun, too. They say that the name 'Combat Kits' are a description of the building process rather than a brand, and I'd have to agree. I've heard many modellers say that Combat vacs are about as close to being unbuildable as you can get, but I've happily proved they can be built - I just wouldn't recommend one for a vacform virgin! A full, in-depth WIP can be found here for those interested: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234970958-a-172nd-c-17-globemaster-iii-the-hard-way/ As always, feedback both good and bad is gladly received Tom 34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon382 Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Wow! I'm lost for words. You have my admiration for a job amazingly well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray S Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 That is stunning Tom. A cracking finish, and a wonderful host of tips and tricks in the WIP. A complete inspiration for the model and the way of doing them. Ray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 With only two kits of the C-17 in this scale on the market, I thought those of you that might be considering buying either the Anigrand kit or the Combat vacform might be interested to see the differences with an example of each finished model from both manufacturers. My dad built the Anigrand kit many years ago soon after it was first released, and although I've heavily modified the Combat kit, in my humble opinion I think it's the better looking of the two. Nose sections - here you see the modified Combat nose on the left, and the Anigrand kit on the right. I'm not a stickler for accuracy, but even I find the shape of the Anigrand nose hard to stomach! DSC_0080 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Tails - the Combat kit's tail is shaped significantly better than the Anigrand one when it comes to comparing them to some plans I have - notice how the rear of the upper fin is much deeper on the Anigrand tail. Also, the Anigrand tail is over half an inch taller: DSC_0088 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Wing position - both the Combat kit and the early Anigrand releases had the wing positioned too far forward - 6 scale feet in fact! On the left is the modified Combat kit with the wing box moved to its correct position; compare this to the Anigrand kit on the right. Also, notice how the Combat kit's fuselage has a far more 'chunky' look to it which is more in keeping with the real aircraft, compared to Anigrand's 'skinny' rear section, made to look worse by the wing being too far forward: DSC_0087 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Some interesting areas to ponder if you want to add a 1/72nd scale C-17 to your collection... Tom 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight_Flyer Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 You've certainly done an awesome job. If you hadn't posted pics of the original parts I would have been tempted to say it was from a high tech kit. I can't see anything negative about the result, it does look perfect 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Another excellent vacform build Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardiff guy Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 loving your work well done Glenn ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Stupendous! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 SIMPLY stunning !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 that is absolutely fantastic modelling Tom. A brilliant job indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Wonderful work there and I'm full of envy at your skills (sorry for calling it a banana all those months ago!) Putting it next to the Lanc conveys just what a beast the thing is. Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 I`ve been following this amazing model on WIP and now that it is finished it is totally outstanding,....brilliant modelling! The old Globemaster is a beauty too! Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 That's a fantastic bit of modelling. To see what you started with and the end result is amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonl Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Very nice excellent work.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookytooth Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Truly stunning Tom, when you compare it to the Lanc etc, you get the size of her. Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 You appear to have disproved the thing about pigs and lipstick... Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchem Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Britmodeller's got talent !!! You're an absolute magician Tom :thumbsup2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritJet Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 That looks stunning and very interesting to see the comparisons with the Anigrand kit. Well done, you should be very proud. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiton Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 sweet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HL-10 Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 I am constantly amazed how you are able to produce such masterpieces out of vacforms! This is just another example of your incredible modelling talent, well done, excellent work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Wow, Fantastic result. TBH you might have just built it from scratch as I don't see the point of calling this a kit, to me what you had to begin with is a misrepresentation of what a kit should be. My hats off to your skills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snitok1983 Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Here it comes!!!! Your WIP has been a real bestseller movie for me!!! Very very very Well done, sir!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 That looks stunning and very interesting to see the comparisons with the Anigrand kit. Yes, indeed. Now I'm having second thoughts about the few Anigrand kits I own! Too bad Tom's creation can't be used as a master for an entirely new kit of the C-17. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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