Drifterdon Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 (edited) Just curious if anyone has heard any scuttlebutt on the release date of the KC-135A from Minicraft in 1/144? Need the J-57 engine versions of the ole 135. Don Edited May 5, 2015 by Drifterdon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 This year as far as I know, but nothing specific. Unfortunately, like their CFMs, they copied the really bad J57s from the AMT/Ertl kit, including all the errors they contain. Fortunately however, Paul Fisher is, even as I write these words, feverishly at work on new engines and a bunch of other stuff for the Minicraft kit, including correct J57s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gator52 Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 I'm looking forward to seeing what Paul & the rest of the aftermarket have in store for the -135 family. I would love to build an Open Skies jet. Jonah Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kingoalie Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 There are also conversions from Welsh Models available. However they do not address the windscreen issue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 I've been feeding Paul information for his projects. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 I'm looking forward to seeing what Paul & the rest of the aftermarket have in store for the -135 family. I would love to build an Open Skies jet. Jonah Paul is doing TF33s that you'd need for that, but nothing else. You'd be on your own for decals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted May 7, 2015 Author Share Posted May 7, 2015 You'd be on your own for decals. Or get the "wish it could be released" Fundekals sheet that has markings for all the really oddball but super cool 135's that were used. I know Jennings, you only have so much time in the day but we can hope and pray right? :worship:/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aircal62 Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 Were the civilian JT-3's (non fan) the same engine as the J-57? Wonder if those could be used adding the noise suppressors from the Roden 720 to make more accurate engines for the 720? Jennings you know that your old KC-97 decal scaled down and with KC-135's added would make a great $40 decal combo. Now what can we do to get Roden to do a C-141? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 It was the same engine and basically the same cowling. But 707s used accessory turbo compressors for cabin pressurization, which is what the "hood" on top of the cowling was for. No J57 powered 135 ever had those, so you'd be on your own for that part. Honestly, the engines in the old Revell 707 and KC-135 kits (if you can find the ones with the turbojets) are much better than the Roden engines, plus they have the t/c hoods on them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F-16 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Here is a review of the new Fisher resin for the KC-135... Fisher Model and Pattern 1/144 KC-135 Nose and TF33 Correction Set First Look It looks GREAT!!! Just what the doctor ordered! :woot.gif:/> Scott CNJC-IPMS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
757flyer Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 I'm looking forward to seeing what Paul & the rest of the aftermarket have in store for the -135 family. I would love to build an Open Skies jet. Jonah Speaking of Open Skies, when did the jets wear this variation of the scheme? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Oc-135_xxl.jpg The OPEN SKIES font on the tailband is not the standard USAF 45-degree lettering, and the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the fuselage is a thinner font than most other photos I have seen of the aircraft. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 (edited) I'm not sure when the markings on that jet changed. The pic is somewhat overexposed though, which makes the fuselage lettering look skinny. Edited July 15, 2015 by Jennings Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 To answer the post on HS just now (if you're reading this), they have tooled the EC-135C/J parts but AFAIK they have not said when they will release it. In any event, like the AMT kit, the engines will be wrong for the EC-135C/J, plus their TF33s are beyond awful. Fortunately Paul Fisher has fixed the latter problem. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JeffreyK Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 ...I want an "A" and Paul's parts. This will make me tap into 1:144 for the first time! Jeffrey Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 The basic plastic is the same in all of the kits, so if you have an E or an R, you can do a proper A when Paul's J57s come out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
majortomski Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Tower Hobbies is now showing arrival in mid-August. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEDUU&P=7 They have a neat feature that they will email you when it hits their shelves. I had my R model two days after they had emailed me. Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share Posted July 20, 2015 Cool cool. Can't wait. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted July 27, 2015 Author Share Posted July 27, 2015 So now that Paul Fisher has released his update set to this particular kit and the KC-135A kit is right around the corner, any hint that Fundekals or Caracals might be putting the finishing touches on a 1/144 KC-135A sheet? Or more importantly, a data sheet that has walkway stripes, emergency exit outlines and any other data (US Air Force and USAF) and or refueling receptacles? Most everything out there is for the later 135's with black low vis data. Need high vis SAC stuff! Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Yes. I just need to get through the next two weeks of hell first. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Fleming Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Still hoping for a Rivet Joint conversion :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Military J57s also didn't have the organ pipes on the back that the civilian engines had. I'm waiting for the 135A as well so I can do a NASA Vomit Comet (they never utilized TF33 powered birds in that role to my knowledge). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) Minicraft isn't doing an RJ, but Paul Fisher is. Jay - you'll want to wait for Paul Fisher's resin J57s. The ones in the kit are pretty bad. They copied the AMT/Ertl 1/72 engines. Edited August 3, 2015 by Jennings Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Fleming Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Minicraft isn't doing an RJ, but Paul Fisher is. . Good good - although someone sent me a link to a Welsh Models conversion for the same, which I hadn't heard of. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 Good good - although someone sent me a link to a Welsh Models conversion for the same, which I hadn't heard of. I have a couple of the Welsh RJ conversions and am a little disappointed with them. The chipmunk cheeks are too long and will need to be cut back in length and the hog nose is also too big and needed to be reduced in size. Thinking of just resin casting a bunch of new noses for my planned RC builds. I have Paul Fishers KC update set and they look to do the trick. You still need to clean up the resin bits but they look 1000% better than the kit parts. Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 I've not seen the Welsh parts, but I can tell you that Paul Fisher is a fanatic about accuracy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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