Rareplanes 1/72 KC-97 Stratocruiser vac form

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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Next up,The old Rareplanes KC97 vac form.What is unusual is that it is molded in black plastic which is a new one on me as all the vac forms I have encounterd to this point have been molded in white styrene.Cut out the engines and they are pretty rough.Cuting out the chin scoops was a chalenge and body work will be necessary.

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This will be an interesting build, I’ll be following!

Toshi

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Thanks Tosh!it should be fun!

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Cool, Philo but why not build the Academy one? It’s a nice kit.

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Well I got this one on trade and decided to build it! Fuselage halves broken out

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Here’s a couple inspirational shots to keep you going:

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Hello!

Say, ikar01, where were those photos shot?

Philo, good luck with your build, be sure to pack some reinforcements inside your model! Have a nice day

Paweł

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I’ll be following this one. I’m plucking up the courage to get back into vac kits.

Incidentally I had a vacform Nimrod in 1/72 that was in dark grey plastic. not sure who the manufacturere was though.

All the best.

Greg

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I took tose while on patrol at Dover A.F.B. in 1973.

Here’s one I took at a air show at Cleveland’s Burke Lafe Front Airport:

I was on a security team with a C-5 we brought up from Dover.

With the damage we caused when we left, I’m sure they remembered us for some time.

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Thanks guys!The kit seems to have pretty thick plastic and internal bulkheads are included.

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Wow. I saw those pictures, and immediately thought you had one from a photo shoot with my Dad and his brother. My uncle was a test pilot for Republic, before going on to Lear Jet, and we have pictures of them posing together. My uncle was flight-testing/acceptance testing the F-105, and my Dad was the pilot of the KB-50 they were using to test refueling procedures.

My Dad had flown KC-97s, but in this instance, it was a KB-50. It was a few years before 1973, though.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

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Cool photos!I elected to use the included vac form canopy section.I taped it off to ensure an accurate kit.This may complicate assembly as I do not want the canopy section fogged when I join the fuselage halves.I will Future and mask off the windows before I install it into the fuselage.

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This is fascinating. I used the RarePlanes Y1B-17 fuselage and clear parts many years ago as a basis for the prototype Boeing 299, and I think they are great kits. That said, I’ve never seen a black one either. How odd.

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Yes it was kind of a shock when I opened the box!

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I used to have a vacuum model of a T-39 and it came molded in green. Sure woiuld like to find another one. Not the best quality, but the only one ever produced.

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Joined up the fuselage halves and like all of the vacs I have ever built there are gaps to be dealt with.The Bondo spot putty is up to the task!

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Hi guys!

As to color of plastic…I have some kits in green…some clear…mostly white.

I always spray the parts sheet with black or grey before cutting out parts…makes it easier for me.

Have fun,

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Mounted up the tail.any misalignments or gaps will be dealt with after the glue sets.

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I’ve never picked up a vac kit before. They’ve always intimidated me for some reason. But watching your progress makes me think I should give it a try the next time I see something interesting.

I’ll keep watching this for further inspiration :slight_smile:

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Yes you have to adjust your mindset when building a vac form.There will be problems,and you must be prepared to deal with them.Ok because they are not jigsaw puzzles.