Jump to content

CD72128 - 1/72 USAF C-135 Recon Variants


Recommended Posts

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.

 

cd72128.jpg

Edited by KursadA
Link to post
Share on other sites

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 by Dutch
Link to post
Share on other sites
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?

Link to post
Share on other sites
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.

Link to post
Share on other sites
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!

Link to post
Share on other sites

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. 

135u.JPG.10f838e763cfe33e13af36259df0da9c.JPG

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 by Dutch
Link to post
Share on other sites

I remember 64-14847 sporting a sharkmouth back in 1990, when I worked at Mildenhall:

50446626393_d3c0690d08_k.jpg

That second version was quite a different style from the 1983 version:

Boeing_RC-135U_(739-445B),_USA_-_Air_For

Revived in 2017, the third version looked very similar (if not identical) to that carried by 14849:

35343415352_1bc53573ab_k.jpg

 

Though when it comes to RC-135 sharkmouths, this one's my favourite:

img_44_2.jpg

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
On 7/19/2021 at 1:33 AM, KursadA said:

these too:

RC-135U-markings.jpg?resize=678,381&ssl=

 

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?

1088379589_o.jpg

1088379595_o.jpg

 

Edited to replace linked Photobucket images with enlargeable clear and larger self-scanned versions

Edited by andyf117
Link to post
Share on other sites
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....

Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Link to post
Share on other sites
16 hours ago, KursadA said:

these too:

RC-135U-markings.jpg?resize=678,381&ssl=

 

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.

Link to post
Share on other sites
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!

Link to post
Share on other sites
5 hours ago, andyf117 said:

 

Though when it comes to RC-135 sharkmouths, this one's my favourite:

img_44_2.jpg

 

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 by Drifterdon
Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

64-14845 USAF United States Air Force Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint photographed at RAF Mildenhall (MHZ / EGUN) by Ryan Dorling

Link to post
Share on other sites
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 by Drifterdon
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...