Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon)

Last edited by TheOriginalMonty on 2009-09-17, 11:08; edited 3 times in total

After getting that AC-130 at the hall, I decided it would be a great aircraft to do a model of. Sods law said that all the kits of it are no longer in production, but I did manage to get hold of a 1/48 Italeri copy. nasty raised panel lines, no detail inside, innacurate AC-130 mission kit etc etc. Going to be a challenge. I will be using the WolfPak decals to finish the kit as they are the only set in existence that has the current AC-130U markings on.

Box shot (More of a crate than a box!)

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3078

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3078

Everything in said box:

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3080

And to try and give you a feel for the size of the thing:

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3081

With 1/48 Tiffie:

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3082

The kit decals - rather poor and depicting a very old machine. I'll be using the WolfPak decals that Davidm found me (lifesaver!):

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3083

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3083

The hardest thing is going to be making a start. I want to do this kit very accurately and have a list about a page long of alterations that need to be done. The first thing might well be the panel line rescribing "gulp". Just a tad nervous about doing that!

Ben

FIrst update! Worked all day on the panel lines, because I think they are the biggest downside to the kit, and something I really wanted to get right.

Very simple process once I got the hang of it. Trace along the raised line with the scalpel, then flip it over onto its back, and use the back of the blade to score along the thin groove guideline. Increase the pressure on each pass (I did about 9 per line) to get a nice deep panel line. Then use very fine grade sandpaper (I used 1200 grade) to sand off the onld surface detail (once you have done ALL the lines). Use the scalpel again to get rid of sandpapered plastic "dust" that has gone into the panel lines. Give it a wash under running water and rub with a cloth, and done!

Done both forward fuselage pieces, both tail sides and the rear fuselage gun side. Hopefully get more done tomorrow evening!

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3088

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3088

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3089

And the rather lovely WolfPak decal sheet:

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3092

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_3090

C & C welcomed!

Ben

NOTE: Because we have just started up this subforum, Im posting all my progress up till now, I didnt just do the panel lines in 30 seconds!

Another update, no shots yet though. Completely finished the panel lines on the fuselage, and have stuck the weapons side together. Also started to get some of the AC-130 specific pieces on (weapon wind shields, FLIR turrets etc).

Location : stoke on trent Spotter Watch Member : no

well done. will look good when its painted, i think you have more patience than me, Big Grin

. I built a gunship years ago. i think that was 1/48. It got shot down with a airgun pellet Roll Eyes

Moderator Location : UK Spotter Watch Member : No

Go for it Ben. Did a 1/72 scale Herc back in my teens. That seemed like a monster, but 1/48 - huge!!!! Cheers

Location : Geilenkirchen, Germany Spotter Watch Member : No

GOOSE wrote:: Go for it Ben. Did a 1/72 scale Herc back in my teens. That seemed like a monster, but 1/48 - huge!!!!

I did a 1/72 Gunship back as a teen and had a hard time finding a place for it... but 1/48... wow... keep the updates coming. Although I no longer actively build models (damm degrading eyesight when you get older) I always enjoy a good model build.

Cheers guys! Yeah, this certainly is huge. Luckily I have a shelf that will just fit Smile

Todays update - got the weapon side fuselage built, and have spent most of the day playing with Milliput epoxy putty and Plasticard. Building aerodynamic fairings around the forward FLIR turret and using the card to make structural braces on the fuselage (actually there on the real aircraft).

Here she is at the moment, still trying to get the forward part of the fairing to look right Glare

:

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) Ac2

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) Ac3

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) Ac1

Turret putty looks a little rough because I havn't finished sanding yet Smile

Ben

Admin Location : Abu Dhabi

I really dont know how you guys have the patience for this!

Everytime ive tried to make a model, I try to through it together in under 10 mins, glue everywhere and then paints it with a 3" brush, to get it done quick!

Not sure where im going wrong lol!!

Good luck Ben, certainly looks like a huge mission, im sure it will look sweet once its finished.

Dunk

Location : ely Spotter Watch Member : nope

Nice spectre, im glad that there is a model building section on here as thats my thing. Ive just bought the monogram 1/72 RB-36H Peacemaker along with the italeri 1/72 XB-70, I dont normaly do 1/72 only 48th or 32nd but I couldnt turn these down.
What sort of thing can we put on here. Ive always wanted to do either reviews or builds.

Moderator Location : UK Spotter Watch Member : No

Any update Ben? Smile

Sure is! I've been working on the cockpit insides for a while, and progress has been slow. Been umming and aahing about the £30 Flightpath 1/48 C-130 upgrade set. Gives you lots of nice photo etch for improving the inside, dropping flaps etc. In the end I've decided to save the money and do it myself, so I'll have another good blast tomorrow, with some pics tomorrow evening.

Ben

Should be an update later, Im just about to start milliputing some DIRCM turrets, no idea how it will turn out Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 727888

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 727888

Should be very messy though, knowing me Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 333264

As promised, the update! (Im sure you are all ecstatic! Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 333264

)

Using the templates from Dez over on Aircraft Resource Center, I cut some thin Plasticard to shape:

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 1-7

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 1-7

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 2-9

This was then stuck onto the side of the fuselage as a baseplate:

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 3-8

And the Milliput was added on top. I also resculpted the shield for the 105mm cannon, as Italeri have produced it as a blocky box shape instead of the sleeker shape of the actual shield. Whilst I was at it, I filled the gaps of the shield with Milliput, as well as the gap underneath the main FLIR turret (It probably isnt a FLIR turret but that's what I'll call it!). I've also stuck the other side of the fuselage together, and built the DIRCM on that side too whilst I was at it.

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 4-8

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 4-8

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 5-8

And the progress so far on the cockpit (this is going to have to be pretty inaccurate, as there are almost no shots out there of the inside of an AC-130 cockpit, apart from shots of the main instrument panel.):

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 6-8

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 6-8

And thats it up till this evening! Putty should dry fully overnight, so tomorrow I can sand it all down. Next thing to do are the final few lumps and bumps on the fuselage, and the cockpit seats (making belts and buckles etc for those).

Ben

Hi.

It's looking good keep up good work and keep the updates comming.

Regards.

Mark.

I really wish I could be as bothered as you are Ben on your models. I just bodge mine together, wouldn't have the patience to spend six days doing the cockpit. If it was me doing this build, I probably have finished in 12 hours!

Admin Location : Abu Dhabi

looking good Monty.

I dont have any pics of an AC-130 cockpit, but I have a few of the MC-130 that attended the RIAT Media day in 2007 if its any use?:

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_6259copy

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_6259copy

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) Mc-130-2

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) Mc-130-1

Dunk

Admin Location : Birmingham B17

You are doing a very good job here,with the Spooky.Just a thought,but i would have gone down the route of molding the FLIR turrets in fibre glass resin.If you are not aware how to do it i will show you.

1.You will need to make a mould say out of play -doo(I think thats how you spell it lol).And a master out of balsa wood or some such like material.

2.Purchase a tin of Fast Glass resin and a tube of hardener.

3.Once you are happy with your mould.Mix the fast glass and a small amount of hardener,say a pea size piece.Take care at this point as the mixture gets vey hot.Pour in and ensure your mould is upright and level.

4.Then relax have a Bud and wait for the mould to harden.

5.And thats it in a nut shell.You may need to do Three or Four to get it right,but it does work,with items that have detail on one side.

Jim.

Cheers for that one Jim, it's what my Dad suggested too! I think I may well give it a go, perhaps not for the turrets as I've already done them, but there are hundreds of inside bits and bobs that it would work for! Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 698488

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 698488

Dunk - Thats perfect! From what little I can find of the inside, the AC-130 and MC-130 cockpits appear to be exactly the same. Going to have to go out and buy some more wires and stuff now, somehow I dont think I have enough Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 333264

. You're a lifesaver!

Don't think there will be another update today, very busy.

Ben

Another update of the days work. Work only started this evening again, been busy out and about today. I've been building the "pattern" behind the canopy glazing. I assume it is some kind of structural reinforcement that just happens to look very cool? It is there on the actual aircraft, honest! Some AC-130s have it painted in a light colour, and some don't.

The pattern does match precisely with the other side (I built both sides at the same time, and checked the matching as I was going).

I also tried out a paint colour for the nose cone, which is not quite right.

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_6413

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) IMG_6413

Also been working on the cockpit some more this evening (Dunk, those photos were a lifesaver, I've been able to do so much more inside detail now!). Seatbelts, maps, wires and Oxygen tubes have all been added today.

More tomorrow I suspect!

Ben

Hey Ben,

Great building, found a few links to AC-130 shots for information

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/ac-130-pics.htm

http://military-photo.blogspot.com/2008/12/ac130-air-gunship-pictures.html

Looking forward to reading the updates, keep up the good work,

Steve

Steve,

That second link is brilliant - I've already got a link to most of the shots but that one of the new AC-130 with the double Bushmaster is fantastic. Some nice open panels there that I think I might have to build!

In terms of progress, not much to report. I've started work scratchbuilding the computer consoles (I have just butchered an old Hasegawa 1/48 F-14D for the control panels) but work is slow as scratchbuilding is very new to me!

Hopefully some shots soon - although tomorrow is Battle of Britain parade with ATC so no time for modelling then!

Ben

Another quick update - I spent last night drilling holes into the side of my kit, which was horrible to do! I'm removing a "panel" so that you can see the wires and bits and bobs inside it - found a good reference pic on the internet which inspired me. Hopefully I'll put some pics up later.

Also currently waiting to see if my university will allow me to do modelling in my room, if I promise to be very careful and not airbrush! Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 333264

Ben

STOP PRESS( Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 333264

): My university have said it is no problem for me to do modelling in my room! Hooray! So there should be no massive shortage of updates from me. I dont think I will be taking my airbrush with me though, so there will be no painting updates.

In fact, I should really be updating this thread now as there has been A LOT more work done:

Portside DIRCM complete.
"Interior" of panel scratchbuild complete.
Skeletal inside section assembled.
Started work on the 40mm Bofors inside section, which currently looks like a Ray gun/Death ray.
Started building/nearly finished main computer panel.
Assembled the external portions of the 25mm and 105mm cannons.

Ben

Location : Oxfordshire Spotter Watch Member : no

Sounds fantastic mate do you have any pics to go with it, i really do wish i had you talent. P.S I have an F14 if you want less of a challenge (wife keeps pointing out why buy it if you are not going to build it). Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 711487

Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 711487

Oooh you dont wan't to give me an F-14 - I just ripped one to shreds for the control panels. I'm dangerous to Tomcats Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon) 333264

Photos are being loaded to Photobucket as I type.

Subject: Re: Monty builds an AC-130U - Updated 17/09/09 (40mm Cannon)