KursadA Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 (edited) CD72128 will be a limited-edition (250 pcs printed) 1/72 scale sheet with several USAF WC-135/RC-135/OC-135 variants. Similar to the upcoming SAC KC-135A and E/R sheets, it will not include stencilling or national insignia (these will have to come from the kit or CD72070 general purpose markings set coming at the same time). There is a second, Cartograf printed insert (not shown) with nose art, unit insignia and some other markings you are not seeing on the main sheet. Edited July 17, 2021 by KursadA Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gator52 Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 Wow, never dared to hope we’d see Open Skies markings, I’m in! Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 Glad I have another 6 RC/EC/KC kits in the stash!! This sheet will be awesome! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hoops Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Finally! I've got an RC-135U and a RC-135V planned, and I've been waiting years for modern markings. Cheers and thanks Kursad. Hoops Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Yes! I see the RC-135U sharkmouth! And WC-135B Weather tail band. I am in! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spruemeister Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 This is awesome! Rick L. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 (edited) I am guessing at the following types and markings: Boeing OC-135B Stratotanker 55 SRW 61-2670 (Open Skies) 1995 Open Skies - Offutt AFB, NE FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Boeing RC-135S Stratotanker 6 SRW 61-2664 (Cobra Ball) 1981 Cold War (1947-1991) - Eielson AFB, AK FS16473 Aircraft grey Boeing RC-135U Stratotanker 55 SRW 64-14849 Sharkmouth (Combat Sent) 1990 Cold War (1947-1991) - RAF Mildenhall FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Boeing RC-135V Stratotanker 55 SRW 64-14845 (Rivet Joint) 1990 Cold War (1947-1991) - Offutt AFB, NE FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Boeing RC-135V Stratotanker 55 SRW 64-14841 (Rivet Joint) 2004 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom - Al Udeid AB FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Boeing RC-135W Stratotanker 55 SRW 62-4134 (Rivet Joint) Offutt AFB, NE FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Boeing WC-135B Stratolifter 55 WRS 61-2665 (WEATHER) McClellan AFB, CA FS16473 Aircraft grey Boeing WC-135C Stratotanker 55 SRW 62-3582 (Constant Phoenix) Offutt AFB, NE FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Edited July 18, 2021 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 9 hours ago, Dutch said: I am guessing at the following types and markings: Boeing OC-135B Stratotanker 55 SRW 61-2670 (Open Skies) 1995 Open Skies - Offutt AFB, NE FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Boeing RC-135S Stratotanker 6 SRW 61-2664 (Cobra Ball) 1981 Cold War (1947-1991) - Eielson AFB, AK FS16473 Aircraft grey Boeing RC-135U Stratotanker 55 SRW 64-14849 Sharkmouth (Combat Sent) 1990 Cold War (1947-1991) - RAF Mildenhall FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Boeing RC-135V Stratotanker 55 SRW 64-14845 (Rivet Joint) 1990 Cold War (1947-1991) - Offutt AFB, NE FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Boeing RC-135V Stratotanker 55 SRW 64-14841 (Rivet Joint) 2004 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom - Al Udeid AB FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Boeing RC-135W Stratotanker 55 SRW 62-4134 (Rivet Joint) Offutt AFB, NE FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Boeing WC-135B Stratolifter 55 WRS 61-2665 (WEATHER) McClellan AFB, CA FS16473 Aircraft grey Boeing WC-135C Stratotanker 55 SRW 62-3582 (Constant Phoenix) Offutt AFB, NE FS16473 Aircraft grey FS17875 Insignia White Too much time on your hands Dutch! I thought you wold have added pictures too! Just wondering if the RCs will be earlier TF33 or later F-108 powered versions? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KursadA Posted July 19, 2021 Author Share Posted July 19, 2021 17 minutes ago, Trojan Thunder said: Too much time on your hands Dutch! I thought you wold have added pictures too! Just wondering if the RCs will be earlier TF33 or later F-108 powered versions? Dutch's list is pretty much spot on. I know the difficulty of having to cross-kit to build the newer CFM56 engined versions and tried to provide options from different time periods, both with the legacy engines and the new ones. The markings for 62-4134 depict the aircraft with the older engines; and I will provide markings for 61-4849 with both old and new engines. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 11 minutes ago, KursadA said: Dutch's list is pretty much spot on. I know the difficulty of having to cross-kit to build the newer CFM56 engined versions and tried to provide options from different time periods, both with the legacy engines and the new ones. The markings for 62-4134 depict the aircraft with the older engines; and I will provide markings for 61-4849 with both old and new engines. Thanks Kursad, sounds great! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KursadA Posted July 19, 2021 Author Share Posted July 19, 2021 (edited) these too: This one is really great, but I can't find a photo to confirm the size. The VVS "excellent aircraft" marking on a RC-135 is just too good - it must have made an impression on the Soviet pilots who interecepted it. http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/MA/MA99-2/25-5.jpg Edited July 19, 2021 by KursadA Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 (edited) Ray & Kursad, Yeah, I am kind of a 135 geek! It's not too hard to figure out the serial numbers. I have many memorized. BTW, 14849 has always been my favorite U-boat, especially with the VVS "excellent aircraft" marking. It was only on for possibly one or two missions out of Mildenhall, I believe. The shark mouth was pretty short lived too. Although it was painted on at two different time periods, once during the 90s (TF33s) and later in the early 2010s (F108). When they got the comm decrypts back after a day, the AF COS was pissed to learn that the Soviet pilot said something along the lines of "The shark is back!" He ordered them to remove it. It was a great focused collection op, for sure. I believe it also carried the name "JAWS II". Have to check my hard drive at home in a couple of weeks when I return from my current overseas trip. Kursad, have you scrolled through the thumb drive I sent you a couple of years ago? I am sure I have a photo of it in there. The guys at Shemya also had a tradition of painting "special markings" on their Cobra series of aircraft. Kursad, You almost had me with 3582. It started life as a KC-135B, then converted to EC-135C, before finally becoming the WC-135C Constant Phoenix airframe. She was dubbed "Lucifer's Chariot" due to constant break downs and maintenance issues. Not sure if the name was ever applied to her nose, though. Retired to AMARC last year. All in all, a very nice sheet and much needed. Hats off to Kursad, once again. And can't wait for the 1/144 scale 135 sheets, hopefully by years end. K/r, Dutch Edited July 19, 2021 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 I remember 64-14847 sporting a sharkmouth back in 1990, when I worked at Mildenhall: That second version was quite a different style from the 1983 version: Revived in 2017, the third version looked very similar (if not identical) to that carried by 14849: Though when it comes to RC-135 sharkmouths, this one's my favourite: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 (edited) On 7/19/2021 at 1:33 AM, KursadA said: these too: This one is really great, but I can't find a photo to confirm the size. The VVS "excellent aircraft" marking on a RC-135 is just too good - it must have made an impression on the Soviet pilots who interecepted it. http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/MA/MA99-2/25-5.jpg Do you mean this one? Edited to replace linked Photobucket images with enlargeable clear and larger self-scanned versions Edited July 20, 2021 by andyf117 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 (edited) Andy, To quote another great Brit, "Hast hit it, friend wiggle!" (CSL) Those shots are perfect. Thanks for sharing. K/r, Dutch Edited July 19, 2021 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 7 minutes ago, Dutch said: Andy, To quote another great Brit, "Hast hit it, friend wiggle!" (CSL) Those shots are perfect. Thanks for sharing. K/r, Dutch I can't claim credit for them - found in an old thread about Sharkmouth RC's somewhere, and bookmarked just in case.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KursadA Posted July 19, 2021 Author Share Posted July 19, 2021 These are great - it's not too late to add the "excellent aircraft" badge to the insert. Thanks! The RC-135U sharkmouth on the sheet is a representation of the most current (2018-2019) version - note that the sheet has both old (TF33) and new (CFM56) markings for this aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 16 hours ago, KursadA said: these too: This one is really great, but I can't find a photo to confirm the size. The VVS "excellent aircraft" marking on a RC-135 is just too good - it must have made an impression on the Soviet pilots who intercepted it. Kursad, Just for the record, the 1484x RV-135U/V aircraft are from the FY64 serial range, not FY61 as is sometimes indicated [as in the Russian screen grab I posted.] Look at the data block in the photo above. FY64 was a big year for aircraft procurement, pushing into the five digits. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 39 minutes ago, KursadA said: These are great - it's not too late to add the "excellent aircraft" badge to the insert. Thanks! Happy to help - it's been quite some years since I had any input on a decal sheet... ....there are a handful of mid-90's Airfix and Revell kit sheets with my fingerprints on them! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 Yes, three cheers for including the Soviet Aircraft Excellence badge. Hopefully we will see all these markings on the 1/144 sheet as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, andyf117 said: Though when it comes to RC-135 sharkmouths, this one's my favourite: This is a pic of RC-135S Rivet Ball in her hanger on Shemya before she was lost in 1969. King Hawes has a great story behind the sharks mouth that can be found here. Raven-1 (rc135.com) on page 3 half way down. Edited July 19, 2021 by Drifterdon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 Looks like I'm going to have to source a set of F108 engines from a KC-135R kit. I had several sets and let them go not knowing this sheet was in the works. Would love to build 845. Photo below is copyright of Ryan Dorling. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 Brother Don, Minicraft sells the CFM-56 engines (albeit, DC-8-70 series) for $10. I order three sets back in February, free shipping. I intend to use them on my E-3 AWACS kits to make the UK/French/Saudi versions. That is, if Kursad prints the decals in 1/144 scale. K/r, Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KursadA Posted July 19, 2021 Author Share Posted July 19, 2021 I will definitely do these in 1/144 in the near future\; along with all the other KC-135A/E/R subjects on 72115 and 72116. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Dutch said: Brother Don, Minicraft sells the CFM-56 engines (albeit, DC-8-70 series) for $10. I order three sets back in February, free shipping. I intend to use them on my E-3 AWACS kits to make the UK/French/Saudi versions. That is, if Kursad prints the decals in 1/144 scale. K/r, Dutch Dutchmaster. I'm looking for 1/72 engines. I have several of the AMT RC-135s and was going to do one as 845 using Kursad's new decals. I have more 1/144 KC-135A/E/R's than I can shake a stick at. Edited July 19, 2021 by Drifterdon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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