AC-130 in 1/48 and the Big Guns

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Does anyone make a 40mm Bofors and/or a 105mm howitzer (preferably in plastic) which I can use on my 1/48 AC-130E/H. The ones in the kit just don’t have the level of detail approprite for a kit this huge.

I can scratch-build the safety cage for the breech end of the 105 but I really don’t want to tackle the howitzer if I can avoid it.

An added problem for the AC-130A model is that the 40mm guns were “handed” with the controls on the left or right side. The forward gun was a right side gun and the aft gun was a lefty, IIRC, presumably so the crew can get to the appropriate controls, levers, etc. (I guess the Air Force got them off some old ships.)

Any info will be helpful.

2

Revell had one in their CH-53 kit in 1/48th, as for a Bofors, never saw one, maybe someone else has

3

Hello,

I’m looking forward to seeing your Spectre, Ed! [tup] Which ship are you building?

You may already have this URL, but incase you don’t, it’s a pretty in depth build review of the Italeri AC-130, with good coverage & pictures, and reference links on his main page… you may just get a lead to what you’re looking for. [;)]

http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/mod/marshallac130.htm

It’s an interesting site, and recommend it to all who read this.

You also may spawn some leads over in the Ships Forum?

Good luck,

Frank

4

Hey Ed. I’ll PM you Jerry’s email address.

About the 130, Waltman built one in the early 90’s, and I recall the 105 that came with the Revell CH-53 kit was way too basic and he had to scratch build his own. They didn’t have a H model out just the A model at the time. Not sure what he did for the 40, maybe used the kits. With the increasingly popularity of 1/48 scale armor there may be one out there, but it would have to modified for the gunship.

Now I’m on my to freeze at the airshow, Later.

5

Unfortunately, that review is only slightly applicable to current versions of the kit. I built the reviewed version back in the late 80’s but bought the current version last year and all the interior detail has been eliminated. All the guns are just barrels slapped on the outside of the fuse so I can understand where where you are coming from wanting some detail sets. I will be delighted when someone creates some resin to dress up this kit.

6

I agree about the lack of resin. It’s kind of funny about those guns. They were some of the most widely manufactured and used artillery around but you don’t see any injection molded or resin kits of them AFAIK.

If Dave Klaus of Meteor Productions reads this forum, THIS IS A HINT.

Now that I think about it, why aren’t there any detail sets for B-24’s? There were more B-24’s build during WW2 than any other bomber but there are ZERO detail sets for it. No to mention some very interesting modifications of the 24 as well.