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Converting AC-130A to C-130H...help!


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So I've been working since October (yeah yeah yeah) on the Testors 1/72 AC-130A Spectre Gunship kit. Finally got it gloss-coted and ready for decals...only to find last night that the 30+ year old decals are completely shot. Doing a quick search reveals NO aftermarket decals for the Spectre Gunship (at least that I can find). So! I'm looking at converting to a C-130H (more or less) and using the Caracal ANG decal set.

 

Here's my dilemna: I can cut out the guns and make new windows, but I have a big gaping hole where the front crew door should be (the kit didn't come with those parts, since it was supposed to be open). Anyone have any suggestions, or scratchbuild ideas? I've built it gear down and cargo bay closed, so I'm tempted to just use sheet styrene and seal it. Thoughts?

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Depending on how picky you are about accuracy, the Caracal decals all depict 74 super Hs. From 1974 and on all C-130Hs had the main landing gear sponsons lengthened. On the left side, the gtc was replaced with an apu and on the right side, an air conditioning inlet was added. The easy way to confirm this is to look for the red prop warning line on the fuselage. It cuts across the sponsons, whereas 73 Hs and earlier versions have the red line before the sponson. 

 

CC-130 (C-130E) Left side.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lockheed_C-130E_10327_CAF_LGW_18.04.70_edited-2.jpg

 

YC-130A right side

https://imgur.com/gallery/f916P

 

Compare with these C-130Hs;

Top picture, Camo C-130H, right side.   Note Italeri did not address this in their C-130H kit and even in the J kit, it isn't quite right.

http://cspropeller.com/2016/07/28/history-c-130-part-one/

 

Same link as for the YC-130A, scroll down to the second picture. LC-130H ski bird. Left side. Italeri has a replacement part in their J kit and I believe some versions of their H kit. 

https://lockheedmartin.com/us/products/c130/History.html

 

Attack Squadron replacement sponsons for a better view. Sorry, but they went out of business.

http://www.attacksquadron.pl/en/2015/03/16/c-130-hercules-upgrade-sets/

 

This thread kinda gives a survey of the available kits with some of their problems'

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234910469-which-c-130-kit-is-best/

 

You may be interested in fixing the kit engines, they are too short. 

Can't find anything on correcting the engines. Damn you Ph***bucket. But here is a post talking about the engines that I made earlier.

1. Engines - The kit engine nacelles are too short.

The C-130A had the T-56-9 engines, the B/E had T-56-7s and the H had T-56-15s. They are externally the same but the T-56-9s were set further into the wing. So it would appear shorter. The Italeri kit apparently started as an AC-130A. so the nacelles are correct for the T-56-9s but are too short for a later C-130. BUT, the part of the engine nacelle that protudes from the lower wing is correct for the later models and not correct for an A model. Part of the nacelle on the C-130A extends onto the flaps.

The others are nice to correct, but not necessary.

2. There is a step or line on the lower fuselage, about level with the bottom of the forward crew door. That way you could have a wider cargo floor with the minimum fuselage diameter. The Arfix kit has it on the right side but it was largely removed when the landing gear housing was extended. Perhaps you could get away with scribing a line or adding a strip of plasticard and fairing the top into the fuselage.

3. The fuselage top ahead of the wings should be rounded like the Airfix kit. The Italeri kit has this area flattened. Not really noticable until you know about it.

4. The Italeri kit fuselage is wider around the rear cargo door compared with the Airfix kit. I think that the Airfix cargo door was a bit narrow, so the Italeri kit might be OK.

There are other points, but it is up to you on how much you are willing to do.

 

Sorry that I can't be of more encouraging news. 

Grant

Edited by gmat
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If you want to keep the model as an AC-130A, Wolfpak Decals have a couple of options on sheet  72-034 'Workin' Nights'. It's out of stock on the Wolfpak website (http://www.millcreekconsultants.com/WP72-6.html ) but looks as if it's still available from the printers, Fantasy Printshop, here in the UK: http://www.fantasyprintshop.co.uk/Workin-nights_ASHG4.aspx.

 

As Grant has pointed out it'll save you an awful lot of work converting it into a C-130H.

 

HTH,

 

Jonathan

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