Trojan Thunder Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 This is the original tooling of the 1/72 Airfix C-130 kit. I have built it as a USAF HC-130N CSAR aircraft or as the USAF puts it "the only dedicated fixed-wing Personnel Recovery platform in the Air Force inventory". To build the HC-130N I added a added consoles and cabinets to the cockpit Tasman Models AN/ARD-17 Aerial Tracker Radome, inflight refuelling Hose Reel units from Flightpath and propellors from an Italeri C-130 kit. I also added the observer windows in the main cabin, the recover system rails and flare chutes on the upper ramp door and various antennas as seen on the aircraft. The HF antenna wires are Eziline. The decals are from the C-130 Herc sheet by Caracal Models and walkway outline decals from an Italeri AC-130 kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aircommando130 Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 That's a great looking N model! I liked that paint scheme on the Herk. I flew the MC-130P special operations version of the old rescue Herk. Brings back memories...no air conditioning...inside smelled like puke and hydraulic fluid/JP-4. A lot of people forget to add the ODS rails on the door. That and the flare launcher were exclusive rescue. The MC had the rails removed and the tracker dome removed and they added the air refueling door and defensive system flare cans. Great job on the old handsome, sleek, high performance C-130! Cheers...Ron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Well done TT. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST0RM Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 I knew Ron, wouldn't take long to chime in. That's a great looking Rescue Herk. The grey scheme just isnt modelled much. I think this is the second time ever seeing one. Well done! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Very nicely done. It’s hard to believe it the Airfix kit. You really did a fantastic job with it. Keep build, Mr.Happy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 (edited) Brother Ray! Wow! you have worked a modeling miracle on this original issue Airfix Herk. Well done! Edited February 5 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 I like it a lot! Great to see a couple of Herks beeing displayed here! HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 Great job Ray on a really rough old kit. Having built the old Airfix kit straight out of the box, I know what you went through. And I love this version of the Herk. Anything dealing with SAR is awesome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AWACS-RESIN Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 Great build, looks very good. Greetings, Jost Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DET1460 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 Saw lots of camou'd Hercs during my time in SEA. But I really like the gloss grey variants with full color markings. Nice job with a very difficult kit. I'm in a SLOW process of converting a Zvezda C-130H into an MC-130E. Awesome job! DET1460 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 Hey @DET1460, would you share your experiences so far with that conversion? (Maybe in a different thread). I plan to do exactly the same sometime soon. HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DET1460 Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 Hajo L On 3/8/2024 at 4:11 AM, Hajo L. said: Hey @DET1460, would you share your experiences so far with that conversion? (Maybe in a different thread). I plan to do exactly the same sometime soon. HAJO Still trying to get the DB nose on the Zvesda Herc. That's going to be the hardest part of the conversion.. I'm finishing a Mach @ RB-57F right now and I have other projects in line, but I like the Zvesda kit very much. I wasn't a Herc mechanic overseas... I crewed the Patricia Lynn RB-57E's at Tan Son Nhut but we had lots of Hercs there. Saw one MC-130E CT Blackbird. The camou alone made a very impressive sight! Took a while to find someone who knew what it was! I'm sorry I took so long getting back to you! Been away from the PC for a while! Best regards, DET1460 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DET1460 Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 Correction... "Mach 2" DET1460 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 DET, what is the trouble with the nose? Bad fit? I plan to use the Italeri nose on my Zvesda, but will have as a sort of "practice project" the AC-130J on my list as next project. HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Please let us know how the nose goes. I too have the DB nose, and was thinking I'd have to go with the Italeri kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DET1460 Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 I had a complete conversion with the Italeri kit. The DB nose fit perfectly. After acquiring the Zvesda kit I decided I would strip the original and use the parts on it, It will take some surgery and a little putty to get it to fit but I think the Zves will produce a much better outcome. Dave Buttress created it for the Italeri kit, so you'll have few problems fitting it Da SWO! Hope this helps, guys! DET1460 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mountain Goat Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 On 3/24/2024 at 11:54 PM, DET1460 said: Hajo L Still trying to get the DB nose on the Zvesda Herc. That's going to be the hardest part of the conversion.. I fiddled with that possibility a bit as well. I gave up - I guess you already know, but the cross section of Italeri's nose at the base is much wider and more circular then zvezda's, which tapers to a more narrow bottom. Aftermarket parts for Italeri thus are too wide also. Maybe of no use here, but perhaps useful anyhow: using Italeri's MC-130E nose the conversion is much easier for the zvzda's kit. I made a notch of about 2-3 mm width and 5-6 mm length at centreline of the underside rear edge of Italeri's nose part, then forced the plastic together to close up the notch again. I wouldn't say it fits like glove, but it's def more doable. Jay Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 Thank you for that shared experience! I will probably start my MC-130E within the weeks. HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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