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NC/AC-123K Black Spot in 1/72 by Roden


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My first entry for this GB will be the NC/AC-123K Black Spot. This bird has a very unique camoflage and can also be considered to be a "Gunship", so it perfectly fits my category.

 

IMG_6409_zps25otywwk.jpg

 

The first impression of this kit reveals a lot of nice molded parts, so I think it will be a fun to do!

 

 

HAJO

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Although I have been busy every of the last evenings, things are progressing slow. I painted a lot of th eparts while still attached to the sprues. However, I have done the cockpit!

 

IMG_6411_zpsadd6ufxt.jpg

 

I think it looks quite good, the instrument panel has some nice detail that will come out nicely if you paint it.

 

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Thanks to some input in the Researh Corner I will do my two pilots next.

 

 

HAJO

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I noticed some things I´m not too happy with. First the fron landing gear:

 

IMG_6423_zpsbko36ibl.jpg

 

It propably is something that in the real aircraft is a factor as well, but I have no idea how to correctly get the gear angle right. There is no strut or similar to arrest it in the proper "down" position.

 

And I also glued in the first clear parts. They look good, but the fit into the fuselage openings is not that well...

 

 

HAJO

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Just for fun I put the two fuselage halves together:

 

IMG_6425_zps21xlfjan.jpg

 

And I´m coming up with another problem: On the left side, one of the windows of the NC/AC is different to the default C-123. It´s round, and the kit provides this part, but the window itself is open!

 

IMG_6426_zpstylkcvat.jpg

 

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Any idea if this is just a mistake of the kit or did the Black Spots flew with this open window?

 

 

HAJO

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Thanks to some fellow ARC-members I got the intel that the open window is most likely the exhaust of an APU. It makes perfect sense, so I used a piece of a straw to simulate the APU-exhaust.

 

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Then I painted it grey and iron. You can also see the silver curtains I installed over the windows - I saw those on the picture that´s online on Wikipedia.

 

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And the other halve of the fuselage, where all the stuff has been glued on.

 

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At this very moment the two halves have been mated and the glue is drying.

 


HAJO

Edited by Hajo L.
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  • 2 weeks later...

Back from the holidays!

 

A quick and final look through the cargo door:

 

IMG_6432_zpsndvvbdew.jpg

 

And these are the upper and lower ramp. As you can see, I used the inner side to test some different paints for the final camo scheme. Because of the flash when picturing it the colors look a bit off.

 

IMG_6434_zpsk2xfjyrd.jpg

 

The model without the ramp and vertical stabilizers:

 

IMG_6433_zpsriclfp0v.jpg

 

...and with them! A nice tailsitter, but that´s why I haven´t attached the nose yet - plenty of room for ballast!

 

IMG_6435_zpsusha05kt.jpg

 

 

HAJO

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Wings are attached:

 

IMG_6436_zpsoxmlyarl.jpg

 

On th enext picture you can see the nose with the sensor. I simply painted the backside of the clear part that comes into the "ball". Most of it is silver, the red part is transparent window color.

And I started the engines. They look pretty good and have good detail, but I encountered some problems when I put them into their nacelles...

 

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I can really suggest to NOT attach the exhausts (parts no. 7F) before putting the engines into the nacelles. The risk that they don´t align with the small cup in the nacelles left open for them is quite high, and you will much likely screw up the whole propeller alignment - at least that´s my fear... We will have to see.

 

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And finally the bird "flying" over my desk - the front wheels are currently drying and I don´t want them to be weighted and lose their position. The nose has also been attached, there were some heavier gaps that needed treatmet with small strings of heated sprue.

 

IMG_6438_zpsrp6rf48c.jpg

 

 

HAJO

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The building part has been finished!

 

A photo-etched sheet simulates the openings for the bomblet-drop-system:

 

IMG_6440_zpsabmkbvcw.jpg

 

Engines, jets and auxiliary tanks have found their positions on the wing:

 

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When I attached the clear parts of the cockpit I had to apply some pressure to put it in the right position - but it wasn´t that big trouble.

 

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Also the landing lights were added:

 

IMG_6443_zpsjvm8eyeh.jpg

 

IMG_6444_zpsocsjwglh.jpg

 

Now it´s time for painting!

 


HAJO

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I´m sorry for the delay, but I was fighting some kind of flu and stayed in bed during the last days. So I´m not that far with the paintwork as I had previously planned.

 

IMG_6445_zps7eqxygee.jpg

 

The only colour missing now is the bright black, which will complement the scheme. In the end there will be six different colours on the underside of the bird, and three on top of it.

 

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And another look at this cool looking bird! Interesting that the windows at the bow had to be painted as well...

:

IMG_6447_zps6z5jhe62.jpg

 

 

HAJO

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Camo is done! :)

 

IMG_6451_zpsnxmz0aot.jpg

 

Maybe that "green-yellow"-tone should have been a bit brighter and in more contrast to the pure green, but I love it anyway!

 

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I didn´t checked, but I think brushing it all an took over an hour of work. Thank god the model isn´t that heavy as my C-130s are. I remember getting a sore hand after having to hold a C-130 for over an hour while painting...

 

IMG_6454_zpsv9fa0yxm.jpg

 

I think this is one of the coolest camo-schemes ever done!

 

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The motors still look a bit "un-camoed" from below, maybe I´ll add some stripes and colour to them. I also have to check my references concerning the tanks and jet engines, I´m sure they´ll need some more colour as well.

 

 

HAJO

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I just finished the model!

 

On sunday evening I attached all the decals:

 

IMG_6456_zpszpoxawbj.jpg

 

The decals were OK, although now a couple of them show a slight silvering. And I have the feeling that the markings, especially the mission marks, were not present during the time when the bird was "active".

 

Yesterday I applied the final matt coat and today the props came on:

 

IMG_6458_zpszhgo0xqi.jpg

 

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More pictures with better light later!

 


HAJO

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I owe you guys some pictures! I shot them in the garden and I have the feeling that our winter-sun did not support making good pictures outside...

 

On the other hand, it looks like evening dawn and the bird is ready for another night-time mission!

 

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The front view with the big sensor ball is impressive!

 

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Belly shot:

 

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HAJO

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