AC-130 Spectre

[Airborne82]

Greetings
I have started work on a new AC-130 model to share with ya'll upon its completion. ITs not really new... its more of a rebuild of the HC-130 model thats floating around out there with many many upgrades and added details. The repainting is about 80% complete, then I get to get into the modification. I plan on offering several versions: an AC-130A "The First Lady" and "Azreal the Angel Of Death", an AC-130H "Grave Digger", and an AC-130U whose tail number I haven't decided on yet. Pretty much the only differnce is going to be the weapon set up, how many and what types of antenna are on board, and a few other things here and there. I've also scaled it up 180% from the original 1:100 scale. As to what that equates to, I couldn't tell you... I was never very good at math. Things are going well, and as I start the test build and modifications I'll post some pictures. Hope ya'll are interested cause I'm quickly discovering how time-intensive this buisness is. I don't know how you designers do it! Hope you enjoy when its done!

 

[Airborne82]

Today has shown some progress and I have high hopes of this thing being pretty freekin cool. The wingspan is going to be roughly 28 inches so, its a big boy! I've test built an engine and need to do a bit of modification to it and I put the front half of the cabin together to aid in the contruction of the cannons. Gotta get it right for you guys Heres a small picture of the layout, its not much, but I'll get ya'll some good pictures soon.

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[-Jim G]

I am certainly looking forward to see progress on this model!

 

[Airborne82]

Glad to see some interest in this project Once I can figure out how to post pictures that work, it'll be better! hahaha. I may not get to work on it tonight, but in the next few days I'm going to start working on the cannons... and the 600 millionty antenna all over this beast... Good times!

 

[Retired_for_now]

If you need specific airplane pix, let me know. There's an AC-130A (along with an AC-47 and AC-119) in Hurlburt's airpark and I think the first lady is in retirement at the Eglin Armament Museum. I'll give a pass on the AC-H (moved cross country now) and the AC-U (not going to drag a camera out on the flightline - bad for my health).
Yogi

 

[Airborne82]

Well thank you for the offer Yogi!
I've found a load of great pics on the internet thanks to google, but I am having a difficult time finding a good shot of the inside of the wheel wells... if you think you could get one, that would be incredibly helpful. Also a clear shot of the underside of the horizontal stabilizers. I would really appreciate it! Enjoy "the first lady", she has an incredible story, and has lived quite a life.
-Chris

 

[Airborne82]

I've started to design the guns for the side of the AC-130, but I need some advise from you seasoned veterns. What is a good way to go about making the barrels? They're pretty small and cleanly rolling paper that tiny is rather challenging, but I dont want this thing to look dumb with the barrels printed on the side of a single cylinder.. Any ideas? Here are some pictures so you can see what I mean.

 

[pepelu]

Very, and long awaited, model, friend.

 

[Airborne82]

I'll try not to dissapoint

 

[Ron Hall]

For gun barrels I use the small plastic stir straws you get with
coffee at say Starbucks or any coffee shop. For larger scale
I use the spray nozzle extension that you get with canned air
for cleaning dust from computers or they also come with WD 40
spray cans. The are usually red in color on the aerosol type
spray cans and need to be painted flat black. Ron

 

[Airborne82]

Thats a good idea Ron, I might try that. I was also thinkin of using toothpicks, or at least wrapping paper around a toothpick. Not sure my course of action yet, but I'll find a way that looks legit. BTW, I spent 20 years living in Kent, WA, so it's nice to see a fellow Washingtonian. Thanks for the input!
-Chris

 

[peter taft]

Excellent choice of aircraft to model

This i am really going to enjoy watching - excellent start to a SUPERB aircraft :thumb: I sometimes use the tubes on cotton buds, these are generally paper tubes and work well, but failing that, a sewing needle and thin paper rolled tubes really do look the business :twisted: hard to do, but worth while.

 

[Airborne82]

I'll try to actually construct something here in the next few days so that ya'll can see that I'm doing more than just photoshop I've been working 12 hour days and taking 3 college classes while deployed, so I've been a little busy, then I go on R&R in a week, but after that, its on... and this thing'll start taking shape pretty quick. Keep checkin in, and I'll keep posting. Thanks for the responces regarding the barrels.. I think I'm going to try the coffee stirrers if the chow hall has them, if not, then I'll try rolling some paper around a toothpick or something. Time'll tell.

 

[Airborne82]

I think I've finished the engine so far. I think.... I'll try to build it tonight if there isn't much going on at work, and with this weather I dont think there will be. If it turns out well, I'll take a picture and post it. Actually, I'm not done... I just remembered one thing... sh**. Whatever, I'm going to bed, I'll fix it later.

 

[Retired_for_now]

Cranking along, I see. I'll take some photos of the AC next time I pass Herbie - it may be an A but the jackscrews and struts haven't changed much over the years.
Yogi

 

[edward smith]

I see Puff the Magic Dragon is still an object of interest... I found a free amazingly detailed C-130 card model on the web a couple of days ago sporting Vietman era camouflage and wondered how it to look as Spooky... with mabye the additon of small black coffee stiring straws as the gatling guns.

 

[Airborne82]

I've seen two kits out there thus far for the C-130. There is the one I'm working with which is the HC-130H from Paper-Replika.com, and then there is another from Thai Paperworks, which is more detailed. I haven't seen one in jungle camo... except another version of Julias Perdana's HC-130H which is the Indonesian Air Force one, same kit, different scheme.

I finished building the engine today, and it looks alright. Turns out a lot of the detail I've been puttin on it you can't even see when it's printed. A lot of wasted effort. Anyhow... Its a pretty big engine, it has rotating propellers, and I added an inlet vent, and two side vents. There is also an additional antenna on the bottom of the engine (not pictured). I need to add one air scoop and a vent to the bottom, but other than that, the engine is done. If anyone would like to build it and offer thier input or suggestions, PM me and I'll send you the file. Well, back to work.

 

[Ron Hall]

Airborne82,
I have a Fly Model #70 C-130 Hercules that has a detailed
interior and a lot of movable parts such as the aft cargo
door operation and struts. I always wanted to make the model
but have never got around to it. As amatter of fact I have
two of the model kits. This has sparked my interest and may
end up building it after I complete my B-17 design. What scale
is the one you are building? The Fly Model kit is 1:33 .. Ron

 

[nh3ave2006]

Go spooky!!!

 

[Airborne82]

I believe its close to 1:60ish... I say that cause I don't really know... all I did was take the origial model and blow it up to 180%. The wingspan is roughly 23 inches, and the actual aircraft is 132 feet, so roughly 1:60. I saw a picture of that fly model on after a quick google search, that thing's a beast! Looks like fun though, for sure.

I was looking online last night for pictures of the GAU-12 so I could start working on it, and I fell asleep at my computer. Didn't get very far. 'Bout to start on it again, we'll see how it goes tonight. I also discovered that our chow hall doesn't have coffee stirrers (they have the stupid flat plastic things). So much for that idea. Oh well, adapt and overcome. Time to do work!
-Chris