E-8 J-STARS

[Jabba]

Do not be worried by the title, I am using a Heller kit for this model. I am hopefully going to be using the Heller 707 kit along with the DB conversion and Wolfpak decals to complete one of the two J-Stars prototypes that flew in the Gulf war of 1991. I still need to a bit of research into the build such as window positions and the engine pylons, but I am onto that.

 

 

 

 

 

[JOCKNEY]

Wow, at 1/72 this is going to be epic.

"Go Large or Go Home" 

Good luck with this build

Cheers Pat

[Wez]

Nice one Jabba old mate, great subject choice too!

 

Welcome to our little GB, good luck with this one (even though I know you don't need it).

[Planebuilder62]

Hi there

DB also do a new resin engine set that might suit this plane. Fantasy Printshop decals are ace.

 

regards Toby

[PeterB]

Is it still DB - I thought Flight Path took over their moulds?

 

Pete

[Jabba]

1 hour ago, PeterB said:

Is it still DB - I thought Flight Path took over their moulds?

 

Pete

Correct flight path did take over the moulds of this update set and added a etch sheet with it.

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Oh goody,

I'd do one too but I have my started one that just needs to be finished up in the operational scheme (also using Wolfpak decals)

 

Haven't touched it in 2 years, so I suppose I should get it finished as well!

 

[Jabba]

The upper book arrived in the post at work last week and I was able to pick it up today (first day back after 2 weeks off), and although more about the more modern in service aircraft it does have a bit on the prototypes and their operations in the Gulf. The lower book also has a small section on the E-8. Both these books and other photos that I have seen show that all 4 engines had the turbo compressor on top of them, although the decal instructions state that there were only 3. I have an Airfix E-3D AWACS in the stash which I hope will have these type of engines in them so that I can steal the other outer engine with the compressor on it and use it for this build. I have done some work on this build but not that much that warrants a picture, but there will be some soon.

 

 

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

I think Mark used a generic 707 profile for the decal instructions, it definitely had the TC hood on the No.1 engine, on the production aircraft they were panelled over as they were not used and on the later engine upgrade removed completely.

 

Here is a picture of your jet in 2007 with the TC hood on No.1 engine and covered over.

 

I scratch built the TC hood on my build, engine on the left

 

[Jabba]

Thanks Ray, I was thinking along those lines.

 

A start has been made in that I have put the windows in that will be painted over on the real aircraft. The ones that will actually be clear have not been fitted and will be added with Kristal Klear post painting. I did this after studying pictures of the real aircraft and making a Heath Robinson/ back of fag packet guide seen in the latter photo. I hope that I have got the windows correct as it was difficult trying to count the painted over windows on the pictures available. I have also started to put the flight deck together and a few other odds and sods. I did find the Airfix AWACs kit and the same sprue is in there as is in this kit, so the correct parts that I require were taken from that.

 

 

[Jabba]

Flight deck made up and will be added to a fuselage half along with the nose U/C later.

 

 

 

[Jabba]

As mentioned earlier the flight deck and nose U/C fitted to one fuselage half. I also gave the inside of both fuselage halves a quick blast of black.

 

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Looks good, I actually went to the trouble of adding the rear flight stations to my last build, not that you could see it!

 

It will start to com toghter very quickly once you close up the fuselage

[Jabba]

Having now finished a PITA kit, I have got some done on this project. The fuselage is now glued together and i have also fitted the lower wing central piece and the upper wing parts. This has however resulted in a lager than wanted gap at the wing roots, which I will either fill or super glued this together. Hopefully I will add the outer lower wing parts after this and then start on the engines.

 

 

 

 

[Alan P]

Wow, great project! Will be following from now on 👍

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

I had the same issue with my E-3, I glued the top wing halves the fuselage first and then coaxed the lower part up with hot water. I think In my previous build I added a spreader to push the fuselage out to meet the top of the wing pieces.

[Back in the Saddle]

Glad to see you and Ray also building this kit - I shall watch with interest and look out for any pitfalls!

[Jabba]

On 08/11/2020 at 22:51, Back in the Saddle said:

Glad to see you and Ray also building this kit - I shall watch with interest and look out for any pitfalls!

Thanks but I think that I maybe getting tips from you as I am not progressing that quickly at the moment.

 

Thanks also to the others who made comments.

 

Another small update. I have managed to get the wing roots glued and I have also added the outer lower wings. I have started to sand down the wing roots, but it is taking a bit of time. I am also slowly building up the engines.

 

 

[Back in the Saddle]

Your wings fit better than mine! I’ll post a picture later showing my issue...

[Jabba]

Sorry for such a delay from my last update, another model in a different Gb has taken preference and is taking longer than it should. Anyhow I have been busy with this one sanding down the seams and getting the wings sorted. I have also built up the engines, using one from an Airfix AWACs kit, oh what a difference in the plastic on this one. A question though is the gap at the back of the engine in the last photo between the engine and the pylon meant to be there, as it is there on all 4 engines?

 

 

 

#

 

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Good to see you back on it, no the gap needs to be filled on the engines. YOu might also want to fill the gaping hole on the roof of the intake.

[Jabba]

Thanks for that. I have already filled the huge gap at the front of the engines with a mixture of Kristal Klear first and then filler.

[Jabba]

Had a slight disaster after the last set of photos, but did not discover it until the next day. I was in a room in the house when I stood on something sharp, which turned out to be the nose U/C leg. I do not know how it came off, but it did. So having drilled a hole in both sides of the leg I glued in a piece of wire and then glued it all together. Hopefully this will stay together.

 

Engines now fitted, had to remove some plastic from the front of the Airfix engine joint to get it to fit as it is actually meant to fit the other wing. The fin is not fitted at the moment, so that I can remove it for fitment of the under fuselage fairing. I have done a trial fit of this fairing, and it does not fit flush totally along its length. I will have to decide whether to remove some plastic from the front of the small fairing under the wing/fuselage fairing or from the resin fairing itself so that it sits flush. I have also carried out a trial fit of the window piece. 

 

 

 

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

The nose gear coming off is common issue, has happened to my E-3D and E-8C builds. I did the same and pinned it.

 

Coming along nicely, you are shaming me to get my E-3A going again.

[Jabba]

Radomes now fitted. I managed to fit the Fwd one with only a smallish gap without removing any plastic or resin I have also taken a chunk out of the L/H wing for the fitment of the HF aerial which I will fit later. Hopefully the clear piece will be fitted tonight and then the fin. Hopefully I shall have some paint on this soon.