Drifterdon Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share Posted March 9, 2016 Thanks Dutch. Got a RC-135C on the bench as well but there's not much to see with it other than a wart under the nose radome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 So as I was working on my KC-135R (in addition to all the Recce birds) I discovered this little part on the sprue containing the CFM-56 engines. Part #128. It's not on the instructions but it looks vagely familiar. Then the lightbulb in my fat head went off and I realized it's the intake for the other A/C pack that goes under the starboard side. I ended up using it on my RC-135U and it takes some work to get it to fit right. Not sure which is easier, using this part or just cutting and filing and sanding like I did with Amber. Pics to show what I'm talking about. The angle of the pic makes the opening look smaller that it is but it is the same as whats on the port side (molded with the fuselage). I wish Minicraft had provided some kind of an outline that shows what to cut out before this is glued in place. I just started hacking with a saw and knife and got a bit excited. CA to the rescue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 Here's an update on Amber. She's got her tail feathers on and nose gear. I ended up snapping the HF antenna off the top of the tail so I'll need to replace that. I plan to wait till most other assembly this just begs to get snagged and bent or broken. Did the same thing to my KC-135R but was able to save it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 (edited) Here is a teaser for my RC-135C. These went on to become the RC-135U Combat Sents and RC-135V Rivet Joints. If you look to the left of the photo, you'll see that I also carved and sanded the A/C pack intake rather than use part 128. Edited March 19, 2016 by Drifterdon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Looking good Don! Paul Fisher told me since he's got his big Meteor T.7 done, he's back onto his 135 stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 That's great news Jennings. I can't wait for his J57 engines. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 Don, Great work there. No trepidation! I love it. I haven't opened my MC KC-135R boxes yet, so it was nice the see the wingtip IFR pods as well. R/ Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jminer Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 Looking great, Don! I have enjoyed seeing the progress so far! Justin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted May 7, 2016 Author Share Posted May 7, 2016 Well, since I am wanting to build a whole fleet of RC-135's I decided it would require I learn a new skill set. So I've since learned the basics of resin casting but have a long way to go before I can get anywhere near where I'd like to be. For now I'm able to chunk out the basic shape but since I don't have a vacuum chamber or pressure pot, I have bubbles, bubbles and even more bubbles. Some parts I'm able to salvage while others need to get filed away in the circular bin. I posted an earlier pic of the hog noses I was able to do up for all my other RC builds. Here is a shot of some of the other pieces parts I've been able to reproduce to help make the builds a little easier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Great work! Casting is fun once you get the Hang of it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 (edited) Couple updates on the RC-135U Combat Sent. Edited March 14, 2020 by Drifterdon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share Posted May 30, 2016 Here's an update on my Big Team RC-135C. Not much but it's coming along. Cheek fairings still need to be worked out to match each other and blended into the fuselage. I'll use the resin TF-33's engines from Paul Fisher. The T/C hoods are the best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share Posted May 30, 2016 (edited) Here are a couple shots of my start on the RC-135M Rivet Card. Pretty basic bird with just hog nose, ventral antenna in place of boomers pod and the antennas at the aft end in front of the horizontal tailplanes. I'll use the updated kit TF-33's for this one. No T/C humps to worry about. http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u199/drifterdon/IMG_0753_zpsrlhqtvzj.jpg http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u199/drifterdon/IMG_0719_zpsunjsfegt.jpg http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u199/drifterdon/IMG_0718_zps9atu6iom.jpg http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u199/drifterdon/IMG_0767_zpsxrbyvmpf.jpg Thanks for following along. Edited August 9, 2022 by Drifterdon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 You know Don, since IPMS Nationals are in Omaha next year, you should consider getting the fleet done and entering it as a collection. I know it would be a very popular group of subjects around here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spruemeister Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 You know Don, since IPMS Nationals are in Omaha next year, you should consider getting the fleet done and entering it as a collection. I know it would be a very popular group of subjects around here. Seconded. Rick L. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 Don, Did you save the molds for the RC-135U? Just asking. R/ Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 Don, Did you save the molds for the RC-135U? Just asking. R/ Dutch I have all my molds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 I have all my molds. I know where this is going :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted June 4, 2016 Author Share Posted June 4, 2016 (edited) Edited August 9, 2022 by Drifterdon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 (edited) couple of minor updates on Rivet Card. Decided this will be 4139 as seen below. I just have one major question though and that is does anyone know what color the engine panels were painted? They look to be dirty white or a very light grey. Edited July 7, 2016 by Drifterdon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spruemeister Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 My guesses are 16473, or maybe Corroguard, depending on your opinion of the exposure of the picture. How's that for an "I don't know"? Rick L. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 I thought it was "Aircraft Gray" FS 16473 (Ditto Spruemeister). HTH, R/ Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 Hey all. Brushing off this old thread. Is everyone seeing the in progress pics I've posted or does the dreaded "photobucket 3rd party hosting" image show? I'm seeing all my pics but then I still have a photobucket account which would explain why I'm seeing the images. Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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