LorenSharp Posted May 12 Posted May 12 I know I'm going to regret this, but since I' already did the "little" AC-47 "Spooky" I've figured it only nacheral thathis bigger though younger brother The AC-130A should have a place in this magnificent Vietnam GB. I don't know if I'll be able to get this one across the line before the end, I'm still stripping the old paint from the fuselage. But what I'm planning, or plotting, is this: Restore my aging Testors AC-130A to a proper correct Vietnam glory as an AC-130E Correct inaccuraccies in the cargo bay including adding the fire control center Extend the engine nacelles Make better Mini guns, both the 7.62 and 20 mm Improve the 40mm Bofor Add 105MM Howitzer Update and correct the flight deck and wheel wells, including new tires Add correct ordinace racks for all the guns Replace any missing parts lost through the years That doesn't sound too difficult does it? Heres what it looks like so far, please remember this is a REAL WIP.... Before After Piece o' cake 7 1 1
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 12 Posted May 12 I built two of these and one transport version back in high school (late 80’s). They were only like $35 at the local hobby shop then and I got them for less because I worked there. I have the very same A/M decal sheet also. Sadly I need them in 1/72 though as right now I have the 1/72 kit.
LorenSharp Posted May 12 Author Posted May 12 I doubt I'll be able to use much of the kit decals because of age. I not even a heavy coat of clear lacquer will help these, What I need after using the aftrer market decals I'll scrounge from my spares, The ship art I may make and print myself 1
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 12 Posted May 12 1 hour ago, LorenSharp said: I doubt I'll be able to use much of the kit decals because of age. I not even a heavy coat of clear lacquer will help these, What I need after using the aftrer market decals I'll scrounge from my spares, The ship art I may make and print myself If I was building an “E” Id ask you to downsize the artwork and buy it from you.
TheyJammedKenny! Posted May 13 Posted May 13 Excellent project! My first AFROTC Professor of Aerospace Studies (PAS) was an ex-AC-130 skipper in Vietnam; having started the war pulling crossbow bolts out of the belly of his C-123, he was happy to "fire back" on his second tour. I also worked with someone more recently who flew them in the 80s and loved the mission; he was one of the back-up crews for the Iran hostage rescue mission, the plan being to orbit the embassy and Doshan Tappe Air Base during the raid.
81-er Posted May 13 Posted May 13 I'm a sucker for an AC-130, so I'll grab a pew (or should that be a pew-pew-pew-pew-pew?) for this one James 1
LorenSharp Posted May 13 Author Posted May 13 Its more of a brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrip in 4 part harmony, with a 105mm base backbeat. Very accapella 6
LorenSharp Posted May 27 Author Posted May 27 Speacking of which, here's s small update. All the big parts have now been stripped and sanded. I am definitly going to have to make a new Flight deck and cargo bay area along with the bulkheads and vacing a new windscreen. the kit parts are too far gone for salvaging. Bu t Now i get to add more detail, Yippie!, that will never be seen/ Not much but progree HAS been achieved! More to come.... 8
TheyJammedKenny! Posted May 28 Posted May 28 Wow, vacuforming a windscreen for this baby? This I've got to see.
LorenSharp Posted May 28 Author Posted May 28 What I ( crossing fingers) want to do is make a hardened support from kids "bakeable" clay. I"ll test it with the damaged windscreen.If that works, then I'll use the good windscreen as a Master. Proper way would make a rubber mould first,cast it then use that to vac from, but I dont have any of that on hand. 1
LorenSharp Posted June 16 Author Posted June 16 With not much more than 3 weeks to go I best get on the stick and get some progress done on this enterprise. First order of business is joint the front and rear sctions together and filling in the substantial gaps. Filled in the gouge marks from the old glued external fuel tanks and ECM pods. and I removed the flaps in prep for adding a dropped set. 7
LorenSharp Posted June 16 Author Posted June 16 THe bulk of my time has beenmaking new parts, either because they weren't accurate or because they were too damaged. In no particular order, new flight deck and seating, extentions for the engine nacelles, better detail for the main gear wells, and Navigator's station. At the moment I have a better cargo floor printing out in multiple sections because of the size. then new prop hubs and turboprop gearing. The next step after that would be to make combat CIC consoles,and updates, new miniguns, 20,and 40 mm guns, 150mm howitzer, and Ammo storage, 8
LorenSharp Posted June 16 Author Posted June 16 Got the flight deck looking a little better, I still have to add the inflight rest area next to the Nav station, yep, it still retained the bunk and for lack of a better word, sofa. Not much, but I have gotten on the board finally. Now to see if I can get this done in time. More to come soon! 9
TheyJammedKenny! Posted June 16 Posted June 16 Nice detail! It looks spot on. There's no need to go to town on the flight deck, because the windows don't allow much light to get back there.
LorenSharp Posted June 16 Author Posted June 16 There's not really much more that could be added. I could add some more bits around the instrument panel but like you said, most won'r be seen. I save the extra detail for the cargo area.
AdrianMF Posted June 17 Posted June 17 Crazy project, insane time targets. I'm in 🍿. Go, team Hercules! Regards, Adrian 1 1
LorenSharp Posted Sunday at 06:27 PM Author Posted Sunday at 06:27 PM Thanks James, It's a touch more accurate, though the seats probably should be a skosh bigger only because of all the empty space on the flight deck but they'll do for the main deck and eventually the CIC box. Iwill hve to mke harness' out of tape. I don't have enough of any on type in the stash to do all 8 seats.
LorenSharp Posted Sunday at 06:30 PM Author Posted Sunday at 06:30 PM But getting on with an update, I masked off the cargo deck and painted the anti-skid sections then added the first of the interior parts. 5
LorenSharp Posted Sunday at 06:38 PM Author Posted Sunday at 06:38 PM Next I cut the aft port hatch for the 105MM and moved the AN/APQ-150 Radar Set forward, eliminating one 40mm Bofors. Added the Port sponsion and infrared detector then filled in all the gaps. 4
LorenSharp Posted Sunday at 06:44 PM Author Posted Sunday at 06:44 PM Next up come the wings and engines, I did make new gear assembly ad ducted fans for the nacelles, but those I forgot to get a pic of before I sealed them up'. The extension plug more of less works, I'll have to do some finessing to get the shape fight, but not much. I expected this since these were a "quick and dirty" fix and not something I really took time to get perfect because of the time limitations left on the GB. The first layer of filler for the gaps. I know I'll have to do this at least one more time to get the shapes properly corrected. 5
DaveJL Posted Sunday at 07:15 PM Posted Sunday at 07:15 PM Some great work going on mate . All that filler is making me shudder
LorenSharp Posted Sunday at 07:27 PM Author Posted Sunday at 07:27 PM Next I did some design work and came up with the making of the CIC station, along with the 20MM, 40MM, Bofors, and the 105MM Howitzer. I still have to add the additional supports, but those will be added when I finally install the guns. I still have to make the additional mounts, Gun belts and Ammo racks for the Bofors and Howitzer. I may yet get this beast across the finish line yet, though Hopefully if @DaveJL and @Enzo the Magnificent should decide to give a small extension I won't complain one bit., 4 1
LorenSharp Posted Sunday at 07:30 PM Author Posted Sunday at 07:30 PM Thanks Dave, Same here. Hopefully since it's so hot and humid today It it'll harden fast, but too hard. Either way I see a powdery time in my immediate future.
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