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1/72nd Zvezda AC-130J "GHOSTRIDER" 4th SOS


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Made a little more progress on the AC-J. After much masking, the back section of the fuselage is finished. The wings should be much easier to mask, not as much in the way to mask around. The round access hatches will get their circular edges painted after the wings are dry.

Wishing everyone all the best in 2024 and, thanks for looking in on the build.

Steve

 

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The wing walkways are finished. This was a lot of work but, I think it was worth it and, way better than dealing with decals. I just need to go back and add the circular lines to the three hatches. She's starting to look the part now.

Steve

 

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Steve, your AC-130J Wraith glider is coming along nicely!  I especially like the underwing panniers for additional munitions as they are no longer needed for fuel. 😉  Can't wait to see her all done. K/r, Dutch

Edited by Dutch
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I've been trying to post an update, with pics, for most of the afternoon and I just keep getting the dreaded "Internal Server Error". So, let's try it this way, text in one post and pics in the second post. 🤞

Another small update as I forge along on the AC-J.

I added the "slime light" decals to the horizontal stabs and the wingtips. I also attached the scratch-built "bat wing" antennas to the top of the wing. I'll need to touch-up the paint where I attached them.

That's it for now, thanks for looking.

Steve

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theres always Imgur. Makes it easy to upload a bunch of photos at the same time, all you have to do is post a direct link.

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Posted (edited)
13 hours ago, utley said:

theres always Imgur. Makes it easy to upload a bunch of photos at the same time, all you have to do is post a direct link.

I don't have a issue uploading multiple images as you can see from my last post.

This Internal Server Error pops up on here from time to time, as other can attest to and, it won't allow you to put both text and photos in the same post at the same time, for whatever reason.

Steve

Edited by A-10 LOADER
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24 minutes ago, aircommando130 said:

Looking good Steve...your walkway lines came out great!

 

Cheers....Ron

Thanks very much Ron.

Steve

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23 hours ago, A-10 LOADER said:

I don't have a issue uploading multiple images as you can see from my last post.

This Internal Server Error pops up on here from time to time, as other can attest to and, it won't allow you to put both text and photos in the same post at the same time, for whatever reason.

Steve

its just a suggestion, photobuckets been downhill since they went behind a paywall IMO.

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Wrapped up painting all the antennas on the top of the fuselage of the AC-J. Gloss coat next followed by decals. I'm gonna be one national insignia short, the one for the topside of the port side wing, because Zvezda made it part of those wingwalk decals. Cutting it off isn't an option because the underside color is not Gunship Gray.

Steve

 

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3 hours ago, A-10 LOADER said:

I'm gonna be one national insignia short, the one for the topside of the port side wing, because Zvezda made it part of those wingwalk decals. Cutting it off isn't an option because the underside color is not Gunship Gray.

I think you could snatch a decal from another sheet (I don't know how big your stash is). The gray might be a bit off, but it's better than nothing.

 

I wrestled with the same issue, it's a shame Zvezda decided to do the walkways as those huge decals. Are you gonna do any "no step" stencils or just the masked walkways?

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22 minutes ago, ST0RM said:

Badass Steve! Really coming together perfectly. 

-Jeff

Thanks STORM, glad you like her.

 

3 minutes ago, Lasinaatti said:

I think you could snatch a decal from another sheet (I don't know how big your stash is). The gray might be a bit off, but it's better than nothing.

 

I wrestled with the same issue, it's a shame Zvezda decided to do the walkways as those huge decals. Are you gonna do any "no step" stencils or just the masked walkways?

My stash is all 1/48th. This gray is way different than anything I have. If it's not correct, it's not going on the aircraft, that's just me.

At this scale those "no step" stencils are unnecessary so, just the walkway lines.

Steve

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18 minutes ago, Dutch said:

Steve, post a pic of the decal you need please, with dimensions. K/r, Dutch 

 

IM sent Dutch, thank you.

Steve

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Gunship update for today, the fuselage and wings got their gloss coat.

The horizontal stabs were finished up on Tuesday and I removed the liquid mask from the lights. Thanks for checking in.

Steve

 

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Those lights on the stabilizers are to illuminate the hose pods on the HC/MC. 

If it's really dark from no moon illumination they turn them on way down dim

so the receiver can see the pod and the hose. Looking good so far. 

 

Cheers...Ron

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Steve, I really like your spray booth setup.  I need one of those (and vented outside) so I can spray inside.  Right now I do all my spraying outside and the humidity really wreaks havoc with my results.  My current home (cinder block construction) is not setup for it, but I will definitely plan a good paint area into my retirement home / workshop / garage. K/r, Dutch

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14 hours ago, aircommando130 said:

Do you have the outlines of the troop door and side hatch and crew door?

They are in reverse of the airplane paint. 

 

Cheers...Ron

Yes sir they're part of the decals.

 

7 hours ago, Dutch said:

Steve, I really like your spray booth setup.  I need one of those (and vented outside) so I can spray inside.  Right now I do all my spraying outside and the humidity really wreaks havoc with my results.  My current home (cinder block construction) is not setup for it, but I will definitely plan a good paint area into my retirement home / workshop / garage. K/r, Dutch

Thanks Dutch, it works great ! It's so much easier having the booth in the basement. No more dragging everything out to the garage, which is heated but, no a/c. The spray room is heated and has a/c but, the temp pretty much stays @ 65-68 degrees with @ 30-35 % humidity.

Steve

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Looking better and better Steve.
I 'm in awe you can work the model with all these fragile antenna already in place. I would have glued them 10x over by now.

Great work

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6 hours ago, Red Dog said:

Looking better and better Steve.
I 'm in awe you can work the model with all these fragile antenna already in place. I would have glued them 10x over by now.

Great work

Yeah, I've snapped two blade antennas off on my 130.

Beautiful build.

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12 hours ago, Red Dog said:

Looking better and better Steve.
I 'm in awe you can work the model with all these fragile antenna already in place. I would have glued them 10x over by now.

Great work

Thanks Red Dog. Since I added mounting bases to all the antennas, they're much more solid. The part I keep hitting is the 105mm barrel, surprised that hasn't broken off yet. Master needs to make a brass one.

 

5 hours ago, Da SWO said:

Yeah, I've snapped two blade antennas off on my 130.

Beautiful build.

Thank you Da SWO.

 

Finished up the decals on the fuselage today, some will need another coat of Micro Sol but, overall pretty good decals. There's quite a few errors in the instruction sheet for the decals. Some that they list are in the wrong spots and, others that they tell you to use are not even on the sheet. I'm waiting for my one national insignia in the mail, for the top of the port side wing and, they'll be done. Heading into the home stretch with this one. Thanks for checking in.

Steve

 

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