[:)]Good morning everyone! Yes I’m still around. Yes I’m still building models.
I hope I find you all happy and well[^]
Right, I need to know if any of you chaps have crossed swords the above mentioned kit.[?] I’ve got some leave and I’ve managed to escape to my workshop only to find a horrid amount of fit problems and parts that don’t seem to match the instructions[:(!][V]!
If you’ve built this one before, please let me know how you got on, as I’d be fascinated to hear any advice you may have.
Hey Awood,
I cannot thank you enough for all the info. that I’ve found on your link[bow][bow]
Like you, I’ve had many of the same problems and I’ve noticed some mistakes that need correcting[V][V]. Still, better to find out now that after I’ve finished![:D]
I found putting the fuselage halves together a real pain in the [censored], anyway I’ve done it now and I’ll just keep sanding until it’s right! Oh, and I’ll just swap those rear guns around while I’m at it!![:D][:D][:D]
I built an AC-130 a few years back but I think it was a Testors kit (like I said it’s been a few years). What I clearly remember is that the fit was pretty good and not too many corrections needed to be made.
Dragonfire, I wish I had your kit instead of mine! I spent two hours this evening sanding this kit, respraying it and now I’ve added some more filler around the tranparency at the front as it’s still not flush with the rest of the airframe!
All this started out a simple build! What was I thinking? If I ever do finish it, I plan to display it on a base with some ground crew working around it. I’m not going to super-detail the rear/inside as it would take too long, I’m just going to add a few bits here and there to give an “inpression” of what the real bird looks like.
In the end it’ll be worth it, for all the effort you’ll put into the kit. Finish up sanding and then head for the pub for a pint to clean out the dust.[:D] Cheers Mate![:D]
Ive built the Testors kit too and its by far the better of the two molds. Unfortunatly Testors only made the AC-130A version. If they ever come out with a AC-130H Id be all over it. I guess it wouldnt be too hard to take the Testors kit and use ESCI’s part to update it. Leave of the two extra cannons mid fusealage, use the four turbofan props instead of the three bladed props of the A version and use the 105mm Howitzer in the rear instead of the two 4omm BOFORS, some sensors added… You’d really have to do alot of research to make it accurate but the main body of the Testors bird is much better. Airfix also has an H version on the market but believe it or not I like the ESCI version better even with the fit problems and bad instructions. Would you believe theres better detail on the ESCI version? plus I really like the nose art on the ESCI bird. If you want to see the airfix one check out this one http://forum.alanger.us.alanger.us/album_page.php?pic_id=105&sid=31ceefa0f6ca060064f3465bf6286823
I had a horrible time trying to close the landing gear on that one and didnt even try to fill the gaps arounf the engine housing but the over all fit is better and the windscreen if a little trickier to install looks better in the end.
There will definetly be some more AC-130’s in my future as I become a better modeler (I love this bird) but Im pretty happy with the last ESCI kit and it gave me ideas on what to improve on. Good luck on yours and if you have any questions Id be more than happy to awnser them. I also have a handfull of pics saved to my hard drive so if you want I can email them to you.
Dragonfire,
After I came back from the pub, I logged on and found your post[:D][:D][:D]!
Great minds think alike! Cheers![;)]
Awood,
Yes, I’ll post pics when it’s done(I might need a hand with that as I can never seem to get it right[:o)]) I like the look of your Airfix bird, I see what you mean about the windows-very neat job BTW. I think my kit must be a different issue to yours as mine has different decals and inst’s/box art depict a low-vis grey version. I like the look of the scheme so I’m going to go with it[^].
Just had a thought: My inst.'s tell me to paint the light-coloured area of the prop-blades silver, in most photo’s I’ve seen they look white to me. Could it specific to the colour scheme I’m using?
As before, many thanks for your help. It’s very much appreciated[;)]
I remembering doing a few pub crawls in England (Essex actually) when I was single.[:D] My wife and I took our honeymoon in England and Paris. Great time.[:)]
The rest of the C-130 fleet was upgraded with these new engines and even a different prop to become the C-130J version I believe. (not a 100% sure about that)
As for the different decals, are you sure you have the AC-130H and not the AC-130U?
I have 2 more of the H’s and all have the same “Angel of Death with the Mini Gun”
Very intrested to see what yours came with.
this link shows the boxing of the ESCI kit I used http://forum.alanger.us.alanger.us/album_page.php?pic_id=140
many thanks for the photo! It’s the same scheme as my model, and thanks for the heads up on the blades. As for the decals and box, I’ll take a photo and post it. My thinking is that I might have a “european” issue of the kit. Sometimes, different versions get issued in different countries?
It says on the box that it’s the “H” version, but knowing how these instructions are with this kit…