Minicraft 1/144 KC-135A Stratotanker

[bluedot25]

This project was built along side my earlier NC-135B. It depicts a regular line jet of the 2nd Bomb Wing in the 1980s.  
 

The 1/144 Minicraft KC-135A kit had some improvements added including:

 

*Fisher resin nose

* Authentic Airliners KC-135 cockpit window decals

*Details added to the main gear wells

*Fuselage reinforcing bands sanded off and re-done using thin tape and paint

*Added visible rib detail to cargo door

*Refueling pod window added with clear plastic from the “spares box”

*Added faired “bulge” below HF antenna at top of the tail

*Filled and re-scribed most of the fuselage, and deleted some panel lines on the wings, and horizontal stabilizers, and re-scribed others

*Shortened the span of the horizontal stabilizers

 

Paints were enamels (Model Master, Xtracolor and Testors). Decals are kit, aftermarket, spares box and custom. 
 

And as with NC-135B build, a BIG thank you goes out to Chris (Gator52), Don (Drifterdon), and Paul (Dutch) for their help with decals, parts, info and motivation!

 

 

Edited October 12, 2024 by bluedot25

[A-10 LOADER]

Nice job, she looks good.

Steve

[Gator52]

Really sharp Tom, taking notes for my next -135 build!

 

Chris

[Trojan Thunder]

Another lovely built from the Bluedot production line 🏆

[Drifterdon]

Damn!   This is the BEST 1/144 KC-135 build yet.   You knocked this one off the planet.   Truly an award winner for sure. 

Edited October 18, 2024 by Drifterdon

[aircommando130]

Awesome "steam jet"...I've got a lot of time under A model 135's 

when I was a loadmaster on A model C-5's.

 

Cheers...Ron

 

[Dutch]

Tom, I have to agree with Don, this is simply a superb build.  The scribing and panel line detail is outstanding.  Love those photo realistic windscreen decals.  It really looks like a 3D interior. Adding the clear boomer window is a huge plus!  Yes, it needs to be entered into a model contest for proper accolades.  K/r, Dutch

Edited October 23, 2024 by Dutch

[Drifterdon]

On 10/11/2024 at 7:59 PM, bluedot25 said:

 

 

 

Tom, I see in many of the individual panels there are data stencils.   Did you have these custom printed or did you get these from some other decal source?   It really adds to level of detail in this build.   It truly rivals many of the 1/72 builds out there.   I keep coming back to marvel at the level of detail you put into this thing.   Absolutely amazing sir!

Edited October 23, 2024 by Drifterdon

[Ichitoe]

 Very nice build!

[bluedot25]

On 10/23/2024 at 8:55 AM, Drifterdon said:

Tom, I see in many of the individual panels there are data stencils.   Did you have these custom printed or did you get these from some other decal source?   It really adds to level of detail in this build.   It truly rivals many of the 1/72 builds out there.   I keep coming back to marvel at the level of detail you put into this thing.   Absolutely amazing sir!

Hi Don… thanks very much for the kind review… much appreciated and very motivating!  Those stencils on the wings and stabilizers are mostly from some old Microscale/Superscale 1/72 sheets that had lots of random stencil decals on them (their old F-4 sheets for example).  Those old generation sheets had printing that was pretty un-readable at all. I used some really small ones and just cut small pieces to suit the area I was stenciling. Pretty much all of them would look like scribbling if enlarged to life size. It’s all an illusion you could say!  (Now, some stencils, from Caracal for example, are readable on the model, but either way, who’s going to actually read them..!)😉 

Edited October 24, 2024 by bluedot25

[Drifterdon]

It's a pretty convincing illusion Tom.   You've inspired me to pull out a couple of my half-built 135's and try to get them over the finish line!  

[bluedot25]

A big and humble “thank you” to all for the kind comments… best motivation there is..!  

[Gator52]

You now have us addicted to your work Tom; time to crank out another '135 for us to admire!

 

Chris

[Drifterdon]

I still can't get over how amazing your 135 looks Tom.   Simply stunning.

[bluedot25]

Thanks very much Don..! I really admire your work as well… your conversion work is stellar..! How are your -135s coming along? Looking forward to seeing you post some soon..!