zebra Posted March 26, 2023 Posted March 26, 2023 I'm going to build the Roden 1/144 RC-135V/W as an RAF Airseeker R.1. This will be straight from the box, with Caracal decals. Sprues: Quite nice looking plastic. Looks a lot better than the Minicraft KC-135 kits - in particular I think the engraved detail for the reinforcing straps on the rear fuselage is a lot nicer than the grossly overscale raised detail on the Minicraft kit. Looks like it should be a pretty straightforward build... ...and the fuselage is together already: The fit isn't great at the first attempt - you get a bit of a step at the join on top of the fuselage. This is caused by the base plates for the various aerials which are moulded into one side and are a bit too deep, so when you bring the fuselage parts together and the aerials moulded into the other side sit on top of them that side is pushed up a bit. Filing down the base plates did the trick. The other fit issue is that the clear part doesn't blend in to the fuselage very well - do they ever? - so it'll need a bit of cleaning up. More soon Julian 9
Col. Posted March 26, 2023 Posted March 26, 2023 You're off to a good start identifying and taming the issues with this one 1
zebra Posted April 7, 2023 Author Posted April 7, 2023 Fuselage seams are cleaned up and wings are on. No significant problems so far. more soon Julian 6
zebra Posted April 8, 2023 Author Posted April 8, 2023 Almost a complete airframe, and ready for paint (engines and tailplanes will be painted separately and attached later). 8
zebra Posted April 15, 2023 Author Posted April 15, 2023 Over the last few days I've got the engine nacelles on and most of the painting done. The engines are a bit of a disappointment - short on detail, fans don't look very convincing, and the intake rings are a bit flat. If I was to build another of these I might think about using one of the spare sets from a Minicraft DC-8. more soon Julian 7
zebra Posted April 18, 2023 Author Posted April 18, 2023 As I've said in a couple of my other builds, modelling is on hold for now as I currently have a temporary exoskeleton on my left arm and only one opposable thumb. But the standard 6 weeks healing time would give me a couple of weeks before the end of the GB so I'm hopeful that I'll be able to get back to this and get it finished in time. Meanwhile I'm going to crack on with some CAD for some of my 3D printing ideas.
Col. Posted April 21, 2023 Posted April 21, 2023 Hope you heal well Julian. Sounds as if you'll not be idle during the intervening period though. 1
zebra Posted June 3, 2023 Author Posted June 3, 2023 The cast is off and I'm back in action! Going to try and get this one finished before the GB ends. I'm going to be away for a few weeks from the final weekend of this GB so I want to at least get one build finished before I go, and this is the one that's most likely. I got about half the decals on today, will do the rest tomorrow. more soon Julian 7
zebra Posted June 19, 2023 Author Posted June 19, 2023 Well that didn't happen. Life kept on getting in the way and I didn't get a lot more done. Now I'm in London (fun fact: thanks to the war in Ukraine the flight from Hong Kong to Heathrow is about 15% longer than it should be. That's two hours I'm not getting back) and no more modelling will for about 4 weeks. This will get finished when I get back, but obviously after the end of the GB. 2
stevehnz Posted June 19, 2023 Posted June 19, 2023 I hadn't seen this before Julian, as I'm not in this GB, though I did sign up originally, life & all that as you well know, reading through it. Pity you didn't get it done, it looks really good as far as you've got. Please do complete it & put it in an RFI. Steve. 1
Phil.P Posted September 6, 2024 Posted September 6, 2024 On 26/03/2023 at 11:13, zebra said: I'm going to build the Roden 1/144 RC-135V/W as an RAF Airseeker R.1. This will be straight from the box, with Caracal decals. Sprues: Quite nice looking plastic. Looks a lot better than the Minicraft KC-135 kits - in particular I think the engraved detail for the reinforcing straps on the rear fuselage is a lot nicer than the grossly overscale raised detail on the Minicraft kit. Looks like it should be a pretty straightforward build... ...and the fuselage is together already: The fit isn't great at the first attempt - you get a bit of a step at the join on top of the fuselage. This is caused by the base plates for the various aerials which are moulded into one side and are a bit too deep, so when you bring the fuselage parts together and the aerials moulded into the other side sit on top of them that side is pushed up a bit. Filing down the base plates did the trick. The other fit issue is that the clear part doesn't blend in to the fuselage very well - do they ever? - so it'll need a bit of cleaning up. More soon Julian Hello Julian. Does the Airseeker differ at all from the standard RC-135W? I've just picked up this kit and have ordered the RAF decal set from 26Decals Phil
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