Italeri Gunship

[Flyingfortress]

Happy Happy Joy Joy!!!!!!! Been waiting for this one and just ordered it!!!!!!! See here:

http://store.spruebrothers.com/172-italeri...139-p23899.aspx

[ikar]

Are you ogint to paint it the gloss black/cammo top version or the gray that followed it?

[Andrew MacKay]

When I saw here at the Air Force Museum,she was in the grey scheme,so I thought I'd go with that.

1:72... build it in 48th...

http://www.keaphotos.com/v/Models/AC130/

[Liberator24]

Oh Hell YEAH! 1/48!!! 1/48!!!!!

-Jim

[C-130CrewChief]

I'm building a Gunship for the Desert Storm group build. I will take a bit of scratch building. I almost bought one of those the other day for nearly 80 bucks! Glad it's re-released!

Curt

[ikar]

Are you talking this color gray?

notice the tail code. When they arrived ak Korat there were no tail codes on their ships and they never wore any while I was there.

[C-130CrewChief]

That plane was lost in a live fire accident off the coast of Ethiopia. Ikar... What time frame are those photos? I would love to see more please.

Curt

[ikar]

I took them in 1974 when I was at Korat.

[C-130CrewChief]

I bet the 119 will be out again soon.

[Mark S.]

Gents:

If you're looking for decals for a gunship grey AC-130A from Desert storm I have them on Wolfpak sheet 72-034. You'll need 4 blade props for it.

Mark S.

[Andre]

I bet the 119 will be out again soon.

It was repopped a couple of years ago.

Cheers,

Andre

[C-130CrewChief]

"Now the big question,should I want to make her a more modern Gunship (not the "U"),can I get away with just using 4 bladed props instead of the 3 bladed? I'd sure like to build this:"

A quick answer... Yes

You would be looking for reference pics in the mid 90's then. I think the A model gunships were retired in 96? That pic was taken after retirement. I think that plane is in the USAF museum, so a lot of pics should be available of her. You say a more modern Gunship, Well you also have to discount the H model Gunships then. Be specific in your searches and look for "AC-130A Spectre Gunship" or you will get all three types in your searches. As for just changing the props you should be okay, however there are some subtle external visual differences that happened between Desert Storm and retirement. For example...

The search light in the tail was removed and fared over, leaving just a fairing. The stars and bars on the left side is where this light was mounted. The plane in the USAF museum has the close out panel removed and the light re-installed FYI.

A normal FLIR ball was installed where the old large FLIR ball (that is included in the kit) is mounted not under the nose.

The mini guns were removed leaving just the 20MM's and the twin 40's. The gun fairings were also left behind and the holes blanked out.

Most of the other differences are standard C-130 model differences... I could make a HUGE list of A model Herk differences...... Just pay attention to what references you are looking at. If you need help feel free to ask me. I am by no means an expert on A models, but I know a bit. This is also not a complete list... It's just off the top of my head.

Curt

[ikar]

I have never seen a "A" model with a 4 bladed prop. When did they upgrade to four.