Finished - - - JASDF KC-130H Hercules Tanker (1/200)

[bianfuxia]

This is a quickie build as I wind up my T-2 and try to figure out the next step on my M-41.

 

 

These Hasegawa C-130 kits are awesome. The two in this boxing will be my 5th and 6th - I have already built three and have a fourth about halfway there. 

 

You may think, as I did, that the JASDF's fighters - F-15s, F-2s, and F-35s - are all the probe type not the drogue type for refuelling. But the JASDF has two of these KC-130s to support their search and rescue Seahawk helicopters.

 

Here are the sprues - there are two sets of course. I also have a leftover decal sheet from my other JASDF two-kit box because I made one of those into a non-Japanese aircraft.

 

This is my other JASDF C-130, built in about 2008 or 2009. 

 

That aircraft was used by the JASDF in support of allied operations in Iraq early on - it flew aid into Jordan where it was then on-flown by countries with fewer legal restrictions.

 

Here's the set I have so far:

 

In front is the Heller 1/160 Noratlas (not an exact match for this flightline) and the Hasegawa C-1. At rear L to R is a Taiwanese C-130 (Bestfong decals), a Moroccan one with self-made decals, and the JASDF one. The fourth, as yet unfinished, is a RNZAF version.

 

For the two kits in this boxing I will do the one on the cover art in blue, and another JASDF one in blue/grey camo which you can see in this diagram from the 1/27 Zvesda C-130H kit (where I discovered the scheme). Both are from the same unit so I have the decals on the existing sheet.

 

 

 

Edited August 7, 2022 by bianfuxia

[Grandboof]

Nice choice . Will be watching . 

Martin H

[bianfuxia]

And off we go...

 

First of all, here is the second set of sprues for the record:

 

Tonight I painted the wheels, props, and other things:

 

Experience from earlier builds was that some nose weight is needed, not to prevent tail sitting but to assist a proper nose-down stance.

 

And I've assembled one set of wings. Each engine goes on separately.

 

 

[Dazzio]

I have seen these kicking around and have wondered what they would be like.  I will be keeping an eye on this build (love the C-1 btw).  I just wish there was a decent 1/144 example of the Herc/C-1.  Although now I know what the scheme is like inside of the Zvedea kit, I might get my mits on one of those.  No idea where I will store it though lol.

 

Looking forward to more - says he who hasn't posted about his kits in a while...

 

Kind regards,

 

Dazz

[bianfuxia]

I realize I forgot to drill out the holes for the outboard pods - the instructions don't actually mention it even though the wing piece has the half-drilled holes there. I can hold it up to the light, mark the spot, and drill it out later.

 

Here is the progress with the fuselage:

 

The canopy took a while to get into place, but it did eventually snap in. I glued it with some of that super fine Tamiya Extra Thin Cement. 

 

 

The big hump aft of the round one is not in most of these C-130 kits. I have since deleted the two smaller humps either side of it.

 

Here it is next to the RNZAF one I have half-done - it's waiting for a new can of white spray paint to arrive so it can get a nice glossy finish topsides.

 

 

the dark area on that sponson thing where the wheels will go is not a gap but a bit of shadow. The fit there is quite good - the front of each sponson is a separate part.

 

If the windows were bigger it'd be worth doing a cockpit even though it's 1/200. But once that front clear part is painted, those windows will be quite small.

 

Next step on this one is to do a bit of tidy-up sanding on the top, then to start painting!

[Grandboof]

Looking great . Going to have to get one or more 

Martin H 

[trickyrich]

And you'r back with another one, well done and that's what we like to see.

 

A nice choice and again a little bit different, didn't think I'd see a C-130 in the build.

 

This looks to be a nice scale for this size aircraft, not a shelf eater like the larger scales.

 

Good luck with this one, looks like you're well on the way with her.

[bianfuxia]

I painted one of these C-130s today. It's not exactly the right colour but close and with the advantage of no mixing.

 

 

It's Vallejo Light Sea Grey, which is quite blue (I used it effectively on the bottom of my MiG-21SMT recently).

 

 

I hand painted the window frames under a loupe. It obviously transforms the appearance:

 

This is a JASDF image - ok to use here - of the actual plane. 

 

So I think my blue is a pretty decent match.

 

 

[trickyrich]

gosh the colour seems to match perfectly with the photo.

 

They do look very tidy in this scheme. Interesting pods fitted to the outside pylons on the closest one....IFR pylons???

[bianfuxia]

8 hours ago, trickyrich said:

gosh the colour seems to match perfectly with the photo.

 

They do look very tidy in this scheme. Interesting pods fitted to the outside pylons on the closest one....IFR pylons???

Yep they're the tanker pylons. I was happy when I noticed that too because the instructions didn't identify that this blue one had the IFR pods. I figured they'd be interchangeable and went ahead anyway but it's good to know (I am not much of an accuracy fiend but still...). 

 

The JASDF uses these planes to refuel Seahawk helicopters, as all its fighters use the other kind of IFR - they have KC-767s for that.

[bianfuxia]

Quick update from last night - another coat of blue on the plane and I got these bits ready:

 

[bianfuxia]

Most of the decals are done now. These close-up photos aren't doing my construction any favours - plenty of things I could have done better. But to the naked eye those lines and gaps aren't as obvious.

 

 

 

This is aircraft 080 - actually the same one as the camo version I built years ago that's posted up at the top of this thread.

 

Not much left now - I will probably finish it tomorrow night. 

 

I may leave the second kit on the Shelf of Doom for a bit because I'd like to try to finish my M-41 tank in this GB, too. There's only a fortnight left!

[bianfuxia]

this is basically done - just waiting on the underwing tanks to dry. By the next set of pics, it will be in the gallery.

 

 

Close-ups of a brush-painted 1/200 Hercules don't do the finish a lot of favours. Imagine it with the naked eye - it looks better.

 

 

 

I noticed the exhaust stains in the pic I posted earlier, so I used some old school technique to try to replicate that:

 

 

 

 

Again, to the naked eye it looks a bit better.

 

 

[trickyrich]

gee she is looking nice.

 

It's strange knowing how big these aircraft are then to see a wee scale one in someones hand, it sort of looks odd if you know what i mean.

 

Anyway looking forward to seeing her in the galley very shortly!

[bianfuxia]

The sun popped out today so I took the final pics for this model.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here it is with the rest of my 1/200 C-130s at today's C-130 fly-in. Left rear is the ROCAF one, middle is the Moroccan AF one and to the right is actually this same aircraft in an earlier scheme.

 

 

 

and here is the JASDF collection; the same two Herks and the C-1 in the background.

 

 

 

 

[trickyrich]

Well done you made it with her, a great addition to the gallery....and by the looks of it you collection. And a nice collection indeed!!! 

 

Just keep Godzilla away just incase it decides to sit on one! 

[Roberto]

Great work, and beautiful collection!