Sebastian Haff Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Hi, all. I have a few questions about the KC-135. Were all of the A's natural metal? If so, what would need to be done to convert an A to an E or R? I just picked up the Minicraft A kit, and I'm really not wanting to do a NMF as this was intended to be a quick build to get over an AMS hump. The box art sure looks gray to me but the instructions call for aluminum. Thanks, and happy modeling. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotthldr Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 The A model also wore the ADC Grey and Shamu schemes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 R models had the CFM engines. E models were originally As refitted with TF-33 engines from donor civilian 707s (with the turbocompressor hump configurations on the struts matching which 707 supplied them). Yes, the A models wore gray and shamu schemes later in life and another option would be the KC-135Q models, which externally looked like A models. KC-135As were used up to at least the early 90s, so they operated for well over a decade (the 80s) in ADC gray. As for the silver color, not sure it was necessarily "natural metal". It is more likely it was doped silver for corrosion control purposes since it would take A LOT of man hours to keep a true natural metal finish polished. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sebastian Haff Posted October 15, 2016 Author Share Posted October 15, 2016 10 hours ago, scotthldr said: The A model also wore the ADC Grey and Shamu schemes. Thank goodness. Thank you. What's a Shamu scheme? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
airmechaja Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Shamu colors are the colors of a Killer Whale...........I think FS36081 / FS16473. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pete Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Like this: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
airmechaja Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 I knew someone would have a pict'Thanks Pete. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spruemeister Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 Jay is correct. There was a short time that the A model flew in an aluminum tinted paint, after the initial natural metal factory finish and before the all ADC gray. During the aluminum paint time, the engine nacelles were often partly gray painted. Rick L. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ikar Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 Here's a few shots of tankers during Vietnam: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yardbird78 Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 126th Air Refueling Wing, Air National Guard, Scott AFB, about 2010. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DET1460 Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 The dull silver finish on early KC's was called Corrogard. It was the precursor to ADC gray. They were in that color into the early 70's. DET1460 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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