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Tancred
Scirocco
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    Heller (AMT) KC-135A

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    Post  Scirocco Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:41 pm

    Now that the An is ready (less the aerial) and the JH-7 is nearing decalling, I started Heller's KC-135A, which I will build with its own decals for this machine (61-0300). If anyone manages to find another photo if this aircraft in this livery I will greatly appreciate it:
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A Kc-13510

    First problem: the engine intakes are not round, but include the space behind the lower auxiliary intakes. So plastic card, milliput and filler once more!

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 9186_k10
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 9220_k10
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 9218_k10

    And then the cockpit and interior. Nothing will be seen once it is closed up, just the two front seats may be visible throgh the windscreen, but it's there.

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 9214_k10
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 9217_k10
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 9216_k10
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    Post  Tancred Sat Oct 20, 2012 3:37 pm


    Hey Gordon, very productive lately Cool

    Quite a different aircraft, what scale is it?


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    Post  Scirocco Sat Oct 20, 2012 4:58 pm

    Tancred, for me it's always 1/72nd! It's the only requirement, apart for having flown at least once.
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    Post  skyhigh Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:13 am

    Gordon in my opinion the one you choose to built is in grey scheme, and not silver ...

    look the difference in the phoos...

    Metal.....
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 2b10

    and the grey...
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 1a10
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    Post  skyhigh Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:33 am

    But this is the caption found on Aerofax ....

    Center: March AFB was home to the 15th AF
    Commander, and KC-135A 61-0300 was
    assigned for his use. It retained full tanker
    capabilities. In late 1976, it wore a Bicentennial
    color scheme of natural metal with red, white,
    and blue bands on the top of the vertical stabilizer,
    the wingtips, and the ruddevators.
    Douglas E Siowiak via Brian C 'Buck' Rogers... scratch
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    Post  bcauchi Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:44 am

    Marco, i think that the one in the first photo, unlike the one you found, is in bare metal. You can even see the different shades of the various parts of the fuselage.
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    Post  skyhigh Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:46 am

    bcauchi wrote:Marco, i think that the one in the first photo, unlike the one you found, is in bare metal. You can even see the different shades of the various parts of the fuselage.

    Brian that's what we are trying to find out ......... scratch
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    Post  skyhigh Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:57 am

    Gordon and this is the fate of 61-0300....

    Boeing Model No.... 717-148
    Clno...18207
    Roll-out... 12 Apr 1962
    First flight... 8 May 1962
    Delivered... 5 Jun 1962
    USAF flyaway... 8 Jun 1962
    Re-engined.... 16 Apr 1990
    Attrited... not yet....
    Subsequent Designations..KC-135R.....
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    Post  Scirocco Sun Oct 21, 2012 4:35 pm

    Marco, I have read that caption in the Aerofax book, and I definately think it's not grey. My doubts are if it is natural metal OR silver paint. It does have various shades as Brian pointed out, but it seems more as a painted colour than natural metal. Heller suggest to use Humbrol 56 Aluminium, and I think it's not far off from the photo, which I think has a yellowish tint. Here it is how I edited it to get more neutral colors:

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A Kc-13511

    And here are the grey undercarriage bays Marco, even on a KC-135R:

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A Kc135u10

    By the way, Heller says on the instructions that it was painted like that in the late 60's not 1976.
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    Post  skyhigh Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:03 pm

    Yes From the conclusion of the photos at that time... it's painted and looks like aluminium paint ..watch the photos.......

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 000-f-10

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 000-f-11

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 09050110
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    Post  skyhigh Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:05 pm

    This is a nice shot...

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A Tanker10
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    Post  skyhigh Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:07 pm

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A F-105_10

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A Kc-13510

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A Kc-13511
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    Post  skyhigh Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:09 pm

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A Refuel10
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    Post  Ray Sun Oct 21, 2012 6:50 pm

    I think it is aluminium painted the 61-300 in question & not grey Evil or Very Mad
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    Post  Scirocco Sun Oct 21, 2012 8:35 pm

    That's how I'll finish it, Aluminium colour and not natural metal. It also seems that the upper wing surfaces were all in aluminium as well, just as Heller is saying on the instructions (No grey panels). I reinforced the wings with stirps of wood and superglue as these are known to droop with age, and assembled the fuselage halves, but still need to cement some places. Progress till today:

    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 9222_k10
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 9225_k10
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    Post  skyhigh Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:12 pm

    It is huge...but will look lovely in those colours and insignia...
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    Post  Scirocco Mon Oct 22, 2012 9:23 am

    First problem. AMT's representation of the rear fuselage reinforcements is highly exaggerated. I have included 2 crops of pictures I took at some airshow here, and they are barely visible in some angles. I am considering sanding them off completely and representing them with paint through masking, just to get a slightly marked line.
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A Kc135110
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A Kc135210
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    Post  skyhigh Mon Oct 22, 2012 3:47 pm

    Yes Gordon I agree...you can make a nice effect with thin masking... cheers
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    Post  Scirocco Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:32 pm

    Assembled the wings and it wasn't easy! Getting the angle right, and the undercarriage aligned was as everyone else who built it found out. The main undercarriage is supposed to be fixed to the lower wing from the inside after the wings have been assembled but I am sure that they WILL break out sooner or later if they are just glued to the bottom half. I glued them before and added plastic sheet to hold them in between the wings strongly. Both upper wing joints require a lot of shimming and filler, which is still hardening right now.
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 9232_k10
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 9233_k10
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    Post  bcauchi Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:39 pm

    Very nice work, i love it.
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    Post  Scirocco Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:31 pm

    I started adding strips from the thinnest evergreen sheet available to remake the reinforcement strips. They are still too thick but at least they are whole lines and not disjointed at the top. I will try to sand them down lightly when they are all in place. I used a piece of sealer tube to achieve a straight line, especially for the first one. I used Mr. CementS as glue.
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 0621_k10
    And how they were prior to sanding them off:
    Heller (AMT) KC-135A 0531_k10
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    Post  skyhigh Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:35 pm

    Nice work Gordon ..... cheers
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    Post  Guest Mon Dec 10, 2012 8:02 pm

    Nice work!
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    Post  in nannu pec Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:09 am

    Prosit Smile
    In nannu Cool
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    Post  Ray Tue Dec 11, 2012 1:39 pm

    Nice work as usual Gordon Twisted Evil

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