|
LC-130R
Ski Hercules, 1/72 Italeri Hercules kit (Fat Albert KC-130), Flight Path LC-130F
Hercules Ski and Fitting Set, Superscale 72-195 LC-130R Hercules VXE-6 NAS Point
Mugu
Intro
The
ski-equipped Hercules are something really special in the large family of Hercs.
To support the arctic and antarctic research laboratories and military outposts
some Hercs where modified in this special way. They where flown by the US Air
Force and US Navy and are the only Hercs that make Jato-starts regular . I
decided to build a Navy Aircraft, because I really like the paint scheme of the
Navy “Ice-Hercs”.
The
Kit
The
basic kit is the standard Italerie Hercules kit. There is not much to say about
it, it fits together without major problems and builds a nice Hercules. There
are several variants available (and I plan to build them all J),
but for this project the “Fat Albert” is perfect. You can take others, of
course, but don’t take a “J” with six-blade prop or a Gunship with all
this bulbs and holes in the fuselage.
The
next thing is the conversion kit. It is the Flight Path LC-130F Hercules Ski and
Fitting Set. In the kit are the most parts included to make a ski Hercules, the
only thing missing are Jato-bottles and the fittings for them. But that’s not
a real problem and everything else you need is included: Three skies (resin),
two main landing gear covers (resin), the front fairing (white metal) and a
photo etch sheet with the upper surfaces of the skies and some antennas.
And
Flight Path has a great service. In my kit the front fairing was missing. I
bought the conversion kit in the USA, I am living in Germany and Flight Path is
in Great Britain. This sounds like a problem, but – no – after I send an
email to Flight Path and told them about the missing part they send it to me the
next day – and free. This is service!
At
last we need the decals for this aircraft, and this is the most difficult task:
find the superscale decal sheet72-195. Unfortunately the most superscale decal
sheets are not available, so it can take a while to find it.
But
if everything is together we have what we need for a great model.
Building,
Painting and Decaling
Building
the Italerie Hercules is without any problems and there are no traps you have to
watch for. The kit is made “out of the box”, but without the gear doors.
Next the Flight path parts are attached, they are fitting perfect to the kit,
without any bigger gaps. Only at the front fairing some putty was necessary. I
added the wire antenna, made from thin fishing line and the Jato-fittings, made
from thin metal (unfortunately they are not visible on the pictures, the camera
is without macro).
The
next thing is the painting. I used Gunze colours with my airbrush and it was
really fun to spray the bright red arctic scheme. I started with the light grey
over the whole aircraft, second a yellow layer “under” the red surfaces to
make the red shiny, third the red over the yellow, than the dark grey and last
the black. And I really like this paint scheme, but I think, I mentioned this
before.
On
a layer clear paint I applied the decals and fixed them with another clear layer
and – finished. A great aircraft for the showcase.
Conclusion
This
aircraft is something really special. An unusual paint scheme and the skies. No
doubt, it is really an eyecatcher in the showcase. And it was fun to build it,
no problem with the basic kit, perfect fitting with the conversion kit and of
course no problem with the decals (if you can get them).
Thomas
Any
comments – just email me at Thomas
Neuss
|
