Drifterdon Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 (edited) I'm trying to find out what the dimensions are of the small dish antennas on the spine of the RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft. They carry five of them. You can see them in this photo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signals_intelligence_operational_platforms_by_nation#/media/File:RC-135_Rivet_Joint.jpg FlightPath UK calls them Sigint Antennas https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/FHP72221. I've done a google search and the only thing I can come up with is some type of Satcom antenna but no idea how big they are. I'm looking for the diameter of the dish so I can punch out a bunch of the discs in 1/144 for all the RC-'s and other large elint types that I have in the pipeline. Edited June 14, 2019 by Drifterdon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob de Bie Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 58 minutes ago, Drifterdon said: I'm trying to find out what the dimensions are of the small dish antennas on the spine of the RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft. They carry five of them. You can see them in this photo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signals_intelligence_operational_platforms_by_nation#/media/File:RC-135_Rivet_Joint.jpg FlightPath UK calls them Sigint Antennas https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/FHP72221. I've done a google search and the only thing I can come up with is some type of Satcom antenna but no idea how big they are. I'm looking for the diameter of the dish so I can punch out a bunch of the discs in 1/144 for all the RC-'s and other large elint types that I have in the pipeline. You could measure either the disc or its shadow (in pixels for example), and compare that to the fuselage diameter / width. I measured the first two and they are approximately 13.5% - 14.0% of the fuselage width. Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 Can't help on the dimensions but I believe those are SATCOM antennas, not SIGNIT receivers. Would love to see some nice EC/RC-135 conversions, good luck on your project! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 (edited) 15 minutes ago, 11bee said: Can't help on the dimensions but I believe those are SATCOM antennas, not SIGNIT receivers. Would love to see some nice EC/RC-135 conversions, good luck on your project! Completely agree about them not being Sigint antennas. The Rivet Joints and Cobra Balls all bristle with these antennas down the spine. Edited June 15, 2019 by Drifterdon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 2 hours ago, Rob de Bie said: You could measure either the disc or its shadow (in pixels for example), and compare that to the fuselage diameter / width. I measured the first two and they are approximately 13.5% - 14.0% of the fuselage width. Rob Thanks Rob. This gives me a starting point. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 As a general rule satcom gear is on top, sigint gear is on sides or bottom. Think about it..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 1 hour ago, habu2 said: As a general rule satcom gear is on top, sigint gear is on sides or bottom. Think about it..... Um, OK. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 Don, I made some for my 1/72 E-3D, I used 4 and 5mm diameter discs. So 2 to 3mm would work for you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted June 17, 2019 Author Share Posted June 17, 2019 Thanks Ray. I'll punch some out in 2 and 3 mm and see which conform closest to what Rob suggested. BTW - your RAF Sentry looks spot on. Great job! Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 Thanks Don! Good luck with yours I should also add, I based my antennas on the ones in the Flightpath E-8 conversion set which is still to be finished I thought they looked a little large so I reduced the size by about 1 mm for the E-3 scratch built ones as I recall. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted June 19, 2019 Author Share Posted June 19, 2019 (edited) 20 hours ago, Trojan Thunder said: I should also add, I based my antennas on the ones in the Flightpath E-8 conversion set which is still to be finished I thought they looked a little large so I reduced the size by about 1 mm for the E-3 scratch built ones as I recall. I have a package of the Flightpath antennas and thought they looked a wee on the large side as well. I'll scale down like you did for your Sentry. And your E-8 is looking great. You're so close to having it done. Edited June 19, 2019 by Drifterdon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 (edited) 9 hours ago, Drifterdon said: I have a package of the Flightpath antennas and thought they looked a wee on the large side as well. I'll scale down like you did for your Sentry. And your E-8 is looking great. You're so close to having it done. Thanks Don, You and Brother Dutch are driving me to finish my shelf queens! I know there are some paint issues and a couple of antennas that need refitting. What the heck, it will be the next one to attack after a TSR.2 I am working on. Edited June 19, 2019 by Trojan Thunder Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted June 19, 2019 Author Share Posted June 19, 2019 6 hours ago, Trojan Thunder said: Thanks Don, You and Brother Dutch are driving me to finish my shelf queens! I know there are some paint issues and a couple of antennas that need refitting. What the heck, it will be the next one to attack after a TSR.2 I am working on. Git er done! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ReccePhreak Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 Does this help? http://www.sensorantennas.com/product/uhfsatcomgps-antenna/ If you click on the Data Sheet link, you get a neat PDF of the antenna. Larry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted July 18, 2019 Author Share Posted July 18, 2019 54 minutes ago, ReccePhreak said: Does this help? http://www.sensorantennas.com/product/uhfsatcomgps-antenna/ If you click on the Data Sheet link, you get a neat PDF of the antenna. Larry Thanks Larry! That is great. Specs even give the overall dimensions. This is GOLD!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 Larry, That is GOLD! Thanks. R/ Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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