SteveV22FE Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 (edited) From 1996 to 1999, I was a Guidance and Control Specialist in the 93rd Air Control Wing, 12 ACCS, 93rd AGS, Robins AFB, Georgia. While I was stationed there, I was present for the first aircraft delivery, E-8C, P-1 - 92-3289, and subsequent tail numbers, P-2 - 92-3290, P-3 - 93-01097 and P-4 - 93-0597. I was there for IOC in 1997 and numerous deployments. I was assigned to aircraft 3289 during my flightline time in the 93rd. I can honestly say that I was the first guy in the Wing that came in one day with a 1/72 scale E-8C, converted, the correct way, from the Heller 707 and DB JSTARS conversion. It was cool being the first kid on the block with a 1/72 JSTARS model. I had a few pilots offer good money for that kit. It was pretty cool walking in the the IPMS Club in Warner Robins with a JSTARS model. I got a few "WOWs" that day. Well, needless to say, a few moves and few disasters later, the 1/72 JSTARS is no more. I always wanted to do another one, but in 1/72 scale, while impressive, takes up a lot of space and 1/144 is too small for me. I picked up a couple of the Nitto/Entex/Dyousha E-3/707 kits a few years back with the intent of building one of the as an E-8C. The build: To build an E-8C the correct way, you have to convert a 707-300C airliner. An E-8C is NOT an AWACS airframe. If you look closely at pictures of the E-8C, every window outline is on the aircraft. They are filled in with a blanking plate. They are still visible when you look at the jet. I began the build by gluing in all the windows except those that are clear on the aircraft. These openings will be later filled with Krystal Klear. The fit is less than stellar and they are not the right thickness to totally fill in the window opening. So to correct this, I did end up filling the windows. As you can see from the pictures, quite a bit of filler is required...and required and required. The cockpit is painted neutral gray. You really can't see it anyway, so I didn't put a lot of work into it. Wing assembly is pretty straight forward with no fit issues. The kit comes with full engine assemblies that will have to be painted. You will have to use the optional clear engine cowling to get the correct outboard #1 engine. The canoe: I scaled the canoe from the DB conversion. The canoe is made out of wood. Test fit on the jet: Stay tuned for more... Edited March 13, 2014 by SteveV22FE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SERNAK Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Good job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Nice work! So, if I want to build one in 1/72 scale (Flightpath makes a nice conversion set), would you recommend using the Heller 707 vice the E-3 AWACS kit? After you mentioned the windows being in place but covered it got me thinking between the two. Aside from the from the windows, is the AWACS the same length (707-320)? I'm leaning towards using the AWACS kit and using a template to lightly scribe the windows in place vice having to deal with filling a bunch of holes. Thanks and keep up the great work. I crewed on the E-6 TACAMO jets and built one of them a few years back in 1/72nd scale, I thought an E-8 would be a nice companion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SteveV22FE Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 (edited) Nice work! So, if I want to build one in 1/72 scale (Flightpath makes a nice conversion set), would you recommend using the Heller 707 vice the E-3 AWACS kit? After you mentioned the windows being in place but covered it got me thinking between the two. Aside from the from the windows, is the AWACS the same length (707-320)? I'm leaning towards using the AWACS kit and using a template to lightly scribe the windows in place vice having to deal with filling a bunch of holes. Thanks and keep up the great work. I crewed on the E-6 TACAMO jets and built one of them a few years back in 1/72nd scale, I thought an E-8 would be a nice companion. As far as using the AWACS kit to build a JSTARS, they are exactly the same, minus the windows. The JT3D engines in the AWACS kits are correct for #2,3,4 engine. You will have to correct the #1 engine strut. Now, if you decide one day to build a USAF AWACS, don't use the kit engines. Get a set of aftermarket TF33s. AWACS TF33 engines don't have the sucker doors and look quite a bit different from the JT3D engine. Edited March 29, 2013 by SteveV22FE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric2020 Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Nice work Steve!! I'm currently working on an listing of airliners in military service. your information is helpfull for the listing and I'll edit it into the listing. Thanks for explaining! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SteveV22FE Posted March 13, 2014 Author Share Posted March 13, 2014 (edited) I am now waiting on a sheet of decals to come in for the C-130 project, Time to pick this project back up again. I am going to finish this one concurrently and work on an E-3A in 1/100 for my old Flight Chief. He is a former AWACS Jet Troop. Edited March 13, 2014 by SteveV22FE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Steve, great job on both the C-130 and the JSTARS, the base plaque looks good as well. Keep up the great job and looking forward to your next installment. Steve BTW, Did you know a Shawn Fritz while you with the 93rd ?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SteveV22FE Posted March 13, 2014 Author Share Posted March 13, 2014 Steve, great job on both the C-130 and the JSTARS, the base plaque looks good as well. Keep up the great job and looking forward to your next installment. Steve BTW, Did you know a Shawn Fritz while you with the 93rd ?? Thanks for the compliment!! Ummm...the name kinda sounds familiar. Was he a flightline guy or was he in ops? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 I believe he was an officer. He was a crewmember on the JSTARS. He had a side business of selling patches and I was one of his patrons. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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