bluedot25

Thanks... But it's the flat fairing in front of the dome I'm trying to get a good look at... Still searching... 🔎✈️

Thanks Sleepy... I haven't seen the lower photo before... I agree, it looks similar to the saddle antenna on the EC-135C... Definetly not round, and I don't think it's even oval...

I know... I've found plenty of side views, but nothing that shows the "roof" set up... Fingers crossed... Somewhere, that elusive photo or diagram exists...!

Dutch, Don... Thank you guys for the kind review... Yeah Dutch, it wasn't too difficult... I just wondered if I was going to ruin a nice, fairly rare kit..! Trick is go slow, start by carving it down to the general profile, then sand, putty, sand and prime... and repeat several times..!

I'm trying to find a photo of NC-135B 61-2662 (sometimes identified as JC-135B) that shows the top of the fuselage. This plane had a large SATCOM dome on the top of the fuselage. I'm trying to determine the shape of a flat fairing just in front of the large dome. I've scoured the net, but no luck. If you can point me to a photo, or any info, please let me know... Thanks...

I agree, so let's test it Kursad... How about making a sheet for the KC-46 or A330 MRRT/Voyager KC.2..?!!

Got the nose section attached... I've heard that resin can shrink as it dries, and apparently mine did a bit. It didn't fit as well as I had hope for. So, it took some repeated applications of red putty, sanding, priming. Mr. Surfacer, and more sanding, but I finally achieved an acceptable join to the fuselage...

I think its pretty much there.... I've re-contoured both sides now, but will wait until the wings are glued in place to clean up and blend the wing roots into their final contour. A really good primer has helped a great deal... I used "Rustolem 2X Flat Grey Primer" from a rattle can... it dries very smooth, sands well, polishes well, and will even accept some light scribing....

The fuel dump pipe isn't difficult to make from scratch... A little carving, putty, sanding and plastic strip and rod.... Here's the one I made on my current build of the JC-135B... In Dutch's pic, it looks like the "boomer's" window might still be there... on most, if not all others so modified, it was not...

That would be AWESOME...!

I have a Meng 1/72 F-106A (bags sealed) to trade for a 1/144 Revell late mold B-52H (NOT the Crown/Minicraft kit with separate flaps)... Looking for a kit in similar condition... US only due to postage... Let me know if you're interested... Thanks... Email me at: tacoma(at)verizon(dot)net

And thanks to all for the kind words... I thrive on the encouragement...!

Thanks very much Dutch... I don't believe it though..! And you definetly have me beat in another way... you actually finish a lot more models than I do..!

I've started the really nice B-52G kit from Revell... But, it has the leading edge "strakes" found on only a select number of airframes modified under the START treaty way back when. So, since I want to build a "standard G," I figured I had two choices... Swap fuselages with the equally nice "H" kit (which would leave me with the non-existent "straked H,") or do some surgery. So, I backed up the inside of the fuselage with plastic putty just in case I cut too deep, and broke out the Dremel tool, xacto knife, sandpaper, red putty, primer and scriber, and went to work.... I did ok I think, but the next challenge will be matching the other side to it...! Yeah, apparently I'm a glutton for punishment...!

A little more progress on the ARIA.... I added the a/c intake under the right forward fuselage, along with the bleed air vents behind both... they still need a little cleaning up before I call them done though... I also am going to have the gear doors open on this one. The Minicraft nose gear well is pretty well rendered in this small scale, but isn't visible at all unless you open up the doors. I added the two skid plates to the nose well, which I believe are designed to stop the wheels from spinning on retraction. I'm also adding some detail to the main gear wells with solder and plastic bits, just to add a little interest. More to be done on them though...