Gator52

I appreciate your kind comments, thank you! The next model in the Barksdale KC-135 collection is on short final, just needs a flat coat and final details. I will post pictures soon, using for the first time the new lights I bought for photography! Chris

Bump with updates; thanks to Dutch and Viking73 for their help with a couple of these! Chris

edit: After completing a third Barksdale KC-135Q model, I thought I'd consolidate the threads rather than start another! ******** Lots of transition for the USAF in the 1990s; the combination of BRAC, MAJCOM reorganization, and the post-Cold War drawdown led to some unique and short-lived paint and marking combinations. In June 1992, the 2d Wing at Barksdale was reassigned from SAC to Air Combat Command, and the Wing's aircraft received ACC-style unit markings. For the KC-135s of the 71st Air Refueling Squadron, these markings were fairly short-lived, as the squadron was rea

Wow, thanks for sharing. I especially like the Doolittle Raid B-1. Chris

I may do the same Dutch. For Loring, the blue vs gray tail markings based on paint scheme was not absolute, I did find a photo of a strat-camo jet with the gray Loring markings (58-0255). Overall though, it seems that the blue was used on strat camo and the lighter gray on the FS 36081 jets. Chris

58-0195: I checked with a friend who is a B-52 expert; his notes indicate she went through depot maintenance in summer 1989 and received 36081 at that time. This photo was taken at Jeddah during the war, so perhaps the RIAT photo on Flickr was erroneously dated? Of note, the 36081 jets had the Loring tail markings painted in light gray, vice the blue used on the strat-camo jets (and therefore on GWH's decal). Also of note is that the photos on Jakub's site show the mission markings in two different locations on the fuselage, so there was evidently some touchup painti

Phenomenal all around, and I like the choice of Grand Forks tail stripes. I look forward to the future SAC>ACC sheet as well, plenty of potential there for never-done subjects. Chris

Good intel Dutch, thanks. I’ll get one of those. Wonder if Roden might go after the YB-60 & XC-99? Chris

I have the Western decals from this boxing if you're interested: Boeing 727-200, Minicraft Model Kits 14536 (200x) (scalemates.com) Chris

All great subject choices, and thanks for adding the windows! Chris

Sunflake was retained on the 319th jets after the conversion to ACC, along with the extended stripes; here's the same jet (86-0116) a few months later with the sunflake: 86-0116 | Rockwell B-1B Lancer | United States - US Air Force (USAF) | Mike Head | JetPhotos

Can you add OSO/DSO window decals to the 1/72 & 1/144 versions? Don't believe either Revell or Academy adequately account for those ... Thanks Chris

I test fit the SRAMs from the Crown/Minicraft B-52 in the Academy aft weapons bay, and they are too long to fit. After comparing the Minicraft SRAMs to some photos of the actual missiles, it appears the length is based on the optional tail fairing, which was apparently used for external carriage on the FB-111 & B-52. So, trimming down the section aft of the fins should do the trick! Chris

Thanks, hadn't seen that. Good to know there's an option out there for B61s. Chris

Turned out really nice; did you have drawings to help with the ECM blade antennas, or did you eyeball it? Chris

With Caracal 144025 coming soon, I've been thinking about what's involved with backdating the Academy B-1B to the SAC era. Here's what I've got so far: - Omit targeting pod & fill opening - Omit towed decoy fairings and fill openings - Remove ALQ-161 DAS fairing from underside of aft fuselage, add original blade-type antennas - Replace late exhausts with original turkey-feather exhausts (any options yet? Didn't see any on Scalemates) - Nuc mission loadout: use kit bay tank, SRAMs from Crown/Minicraft B-52H...any 1/144 B61s or B83s out there? Would need to

The printing on the squadron emblem and nose art looks very nice; what sort of printer did you use?

Might look good with the orange from Sunrise Surprise, but you know more about the process than I do! Chris

That’s really nice Steve, tell us more about it! Don’t believe I’ve ever seen any decals for the ACC days- Chris

Super, I’m in! Chris

Great lineup, especially looking forward to the Bones & F-111D/F! Chris

After looking through my photos, 1992 is the latest I see with turkey feathers still installed. Chris

Looks great Fred; get a photo of the presentation to Roto for us! Chris

Bump

Very nice, thank you for the photos- Chris