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Combat Kits 1/72 RC-135W Airseeker conversion coming soon


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For Telford release next month, Combat Kits 1/72 RC-135W Airseeker (Rivet Joint) comprehensive resin conversion for AMT/Italeri KC-135A base kit. Including commercially cast replacement nose, cheeks, radomes, engines and aerial fit. Price should be  in the region of £45.00, message me show for pre-orders as stocks at the event will be limited. Decals not included, these can be found on recently reprinted Xtradecal sheet X72216.

 

Combat Kits are available exclusively from Freightdog Models.

 

Thanks,

 

Colin

Edited by Colin @ Freightdog Models
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Hi Colin

As I will need a base kit for this conversion, would I be right in thinking any of the derivative kits from the original AMT KC-135A would be suitable since the conversion is replacing the nose and engines/pylons in the donor kit anyway?

Scalemates lists reboxings of the AMT kit by Esci, Amtech and Heller as well as Italeri in various guises, if any of these is suitable it would make finding one easier and possibly cheaper.

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On 10/9/2019 at 9:18 PM, Dave Swindell said:

Hi Colin

As I will need a base kit for this conversion, would I be right in thinking any of the derivative kits from the original AMT KC-135A would be suitable since the conversion is replacing the nose and engines/pylons in the donor kit anyway?

Scalemates lists reboxings of the AMT kit by Esci, Amtech and Heller as well as Italeri in various guises, if any of these is suitable it would make finding one easier and possibly cheaper.

Yes, although the KC-135A has shorter span tail planes, these were extended on reengined aircraft. That said the in last Italeri (2014) issue of the KC-135A, they included the wrong longer span tail planes, so this can also be used and is a better quality plastic with less warping than the AMT/Amtech boxings. The modification to the tail planes if needed is not difficult, its around a 5mm extension on each tip.  

 

Colin

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10 hours ago, Procopius said:

The RC-135 kit itself is a fitting subject for the set, correct?

Yes, you wouldn't have to use the resin nose, but all other parts are applicable (the cheeks in the RC-135 kit are much bigger than the current ones on the Airseeker).   

 

Colin

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On 09/10/2019 at 12:36, Colin @ Freightdog Models said:

For Telford release next month, Combat Kits 1/72 RC-135W Airseeker (Rivet Joint) comprehensive resin conversion for AMT/Italeri KC-135A base kit. Including commercially cast replacement nose, cheeks, radomes, engines and aerial fit. Price should be  in the region of £45.00, message me show for pre-orders as stocks at the event will be limited. Decals not included, these can be found on recently reprinted Xtradecal sheet X72216.

 

Combat Kits are available exclusively from Freightdog Models.

 

Thanks,

 

Colin

 

I'm very excited indeed to hear about this, but my wallet most certainly is not...I have the 2003 Heller boxing of the C-135FR which, if Scalemates is to be believed, is the same mould as the 2014 Italeri boxing so presumably has the same extended tailplanes? (Am away from home at present so can't check.) It was always my intention to convert this aircraft into a 51 sqn RC-135W Rivet Joint but with no suitable conversion it went onto the farthest of back burners.

 

I take it that this will be a limited run offering and when the supply runs out, they're gone? That will make it easier to explain to the missus when I don't even come back from Telford with a complete aircraft this time, but some bits of one.

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Hi Colin

 

I'd like one of these to pick up at Telford please, if you are able?  I did email you via your site but not sure if that got through.

 

Many thanks

 

Jim Bren

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3 hours ago, Kitkruncher said:

Hi Colin

 

I'd like one of these to pick up at Telford please, if you are able?  I did email you via your site but not sure if that got through.

 

Many thanks

 

Jim Bren

Hi Jim,

 

Apologies, there is a glitch on the website blocking messages. Yes I'll add you to the list for Telford.

 

Thanks.

 

Colin

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On 10/15/2019 at 11:42 AM, BD757 said:

Hi Colin,

 

Would be very interested in the Airseeker conversion set but will not be at Telford and am having some issues sending PMs to you.

 

Many thanks,

 

Neill.

 

Hi Neill,

 

Apologies, my mail box was full, sent me a pm now and I'll sort out after the show.

 

Thanks,

 

Colin

 

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On 10/14/2019 at 4:38 PM, roy107 said:

 

I'm very excited indeed to hear about this, but my wallet most certainly is not...I have the 2003 Heller boxing of the C-135FR which, if Scalemates is to be believed, is the same mould as the 2014 Italeri boxing so presumably has the same extended tailplanes? (Am away from home at present so can't check.) It was always my intention to convert this aircraft into a 51 sqn RC-135W Rivet Joint but with no suitable conversion it went onto the farthest of back burners.

 

I take it that this will be a limited run offering and when the supply runs out, they're gone? That will make it easier to explain to the missus when I don't even come back from Telford with a complete aircraft this time, but some bits of one.

Scalemates is a bit misleading. The Heller C-135F/R is an original Heller moulding. The Italeri kits were all  reissues of the AMT originals

 

Allan

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31 minutes ago, Albeback52 said:

Scalemates is a bit misleading. The Heller C-135F/R is an original Heller moulding. The Italeri kits were all  reissues of the AMT originals

 

Allan

Hi Allan, but sorry I don't agree, If you compare the images on these reviews of the main parts, the components are from the same mould, Heller didn't tool their own KC-135 kits, they are AMT mouldings;

 

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/Boeing-C135-FR.html

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/Boeing-KC135-Stratotanker.html

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/KC-135A-STRATOTANKER.html

http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/FirstLook/Italeri/Italeri_KC-135/Ita_Boeing_KC-135.html

 

You can also make out just that the Italeri KC-135A re-issue of 2014 has the wrong extended span tail planes for a J-57 version, which are correct for re-engined the Rivett Joint.  

 

Thanks,

 

Colin

 

  

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33 minutes ago, Colin @ Freightdog Models said:

Hi Allan, but sorry I don't agree, If you compare the images on these reviews of the main parts, the components are from the same mould, Heller didn't tool their own KC-135 kits, they are AMT mouldings;

 

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/Boeing-C135-FR.html

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/Boeing-KC135-Stratotanker.html

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/KC-135A-STRATOTANKER.html

http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/FirstLook/Italeri/Italeri_KC-135/Ita_Boeing_KC-135.html

 

You can also make out just that the Italeri KC-135A re-issue of 2014 has the wrong extended span tail planes for a J-57 version, which are correct for re-engined the Rivett Joint.  

 

Thanks,

 

Colin

 

  

 

Thank you Colin for a highly informative contribution. IPMS Deutschland certainly agree that the Heller was reboxed AMT. The parts layout on the sprues seems to be a little different but I'm happy to risk trying it on a Heller C-135.

 

Chris

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3 hours ago, Colin @ Freightdog Models said:

Hi Allan, but sorry I don't agree, If you compare the images on these reviews of the main parts, the components are from the same mould, Heller didn't tool their own KC-135 kits, they are AMT mouldings;

 

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/Boeing-C135-FR.html

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/Boeing-KC135-Stratotanker.html

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/KC-135A-STRATOTANKER.html

http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/FirstLook/Italeri/Italeri_KC-135/Ita_Boeing_KC-135.html

 

You can also make out just that the Italeri KC-135A re-issue of 2014 has the wrong extended span tail planes for a J-57 version, which are correct for re-engined the Rivett Joint.  

 

Thanks,

 

Colin

 

  

No apology needed Colin. I dont mind having to stand corrected!😊.With the actual AMT kit now  being as rare as a politician with integrity, any chance of an EC-135E/N ARIA/ALOTS?😀

 

Allan

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  • 4 months later...
  • 1 year later...
On 5/2/2021 at 8:27 PM, ian fish said:

What is the chance that these kits will get another release?

They are available on ebay. Search for Combat Kits or search for the seller Engine748 and message him direct.

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