E-4B "Doomsday" Nightwatch Plane Questions

[eraucubsfan]

Just picked up the Hasegawa kit of this unique 747.  But I have some questions 

 

1. I picked up an older boxing but wonder if anyone does aftermarket decals?   I can probably paint some if I need to.

 

2.  Hasegawa provides a decal for the blueish-purple color on the nose, does anyone know of a close paint match?  

 

3. What is the deal with the windows on the aircraft, they seem to be in some photos and not others.  Does it have to do with the original 3 being E-4As before being upgraded to the E-4B? 

 

Thanks,  

[A-10 LOADER]

#1. I've never seen any.

#2. I believe the blue used on the anti-glare panel area is the same blue as the rest of the jet, it's just flat which gives it a different sheen. I'd try a bottle of either Testor's Light Blue ( 1/4 oz. # 1108 ) or Bright Blue ( 1/4 oz. # 1110 ).

Every pic I just looked at shows the windows, they either have a color matched shade on the inside or, they are painted over ? The major external difference between the E-4A and B, is the B has the SATCOM hump on the spine.

I'm no E-4 expert and I'm sure others can answer your questions better.

 

Steve

[efd327]

If I'm remembering correctly some time ago they did away with the windows.  So depending on the time frame of the photo the windows might or might not be present.

[habu2]

1 hour ago, efd327 said:

If I'm remembering correctly some time ago they did away with the windows.

 

Like replacing them with some kind of plug ???

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[Quixote74]

14 hours ago, habu2 said:

 

Like replacing them with some kind of plug ???

😳😳😳😳😳

Or just painting over them, as far as the exterior at least.

 

The first photo in the following link shows a clear view of one of the "windowless" birds, and it's clear the window frames are still there (cheat line and on the upper deck):

https://www.usafpolice.org/e-4b-neacp-duty.html

 

If it's like other converted Boeings (E-8 JSTARS coming to mind), for modeling purposes what you see up close is a panel line at each window, but around 1:144 or smaller you can effectively just ignore the "plugged" windows as indistinguishable from the surrounding fuselage.

 

Re: decals, DRAW is probably your most likely choice if anyone might do decals for the E-4s, and if not you may also be able to find something suitable from their sheets for other types (EC-135 predecessors, or other USAF VIP types). 

 

It looks like the "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" text is the only large/unique graphic - if you can't find an aftermarket set that's suitable, Microscale makes generic letter & number sheets of a "Roman" font that looks pretty close for what you would need.

[habu2]

20 hours ago, habu2 said:

 

Like replacing them with some kind of plug ???

😳😳😳😳😳

 

Sorry, that was my poor attempt at dark humor wrt Boeing (door plugs) ....

[JohnEB]

If you miss something, don't worry, no one will call you on it.

When visiting USAF bases, they are parked in very secure areas so few get very close.

 

At the base I was at, I'd get calls when they visited. Later, when I was a TV news reporter in the same town I'd still 

get calls.

Everyone wanted to know what Air Force One was doing there.

[markiii]

I went on a tour of one in the early eighties at Offutt AFB (no cameras allowed), pretty cool aircraft! I did see the famous red telephone.

[Pieter]

This E-4B s/n 73-1676 was in the static at RIAT 2022 I hope this pictures I took are useful

Edited August 9, 2024 by Pieter

[eraucubsfan]

Well, I was able to track down some aftermarket decals for this kit.  Classic Airliners makes a set for it.  I will report back on how they look in person.  As I suspected the kit decals are trash.  

 

Thanks everyone for the help 

[habu2]

Article about the E-6B, the other "Doomsday" plane ...

 

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-aircrews-call-signs/

 

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