Chronic's Research and Aeronautics Project (C.R.A.P.)

[TheChronicOne]

I must be losing my mind but I've been gathering my thoughts about doing a 1/72 scale eiter C-137 or CC-137. I've even found decals for the CC-137. I'm going to chat with ol' boy at some point and see if he would be willing to re-kajigger the mojo and turn them into a USAF C-137 sheet. Should be relatively simple to do ... BUT, barring that, I'm pretty happy just doing a CC-137. In 1/72 scale, this thing is massive!!!!! 

Not sure what is going on today. I should be back home pretty early so I'll have a good amount of time to work on stuff while I watch hand-egg. Getting close to being done with the detail painting on the F-52 which is nice. I still need to mask and paint silver along the leading edges of the wings. This will eat up a fair chunk of time but other than that I'm close to finally glossing it for decals. I'll try to find some stuff that will work on here. I want to use some grey stuff but some "grey stuff" isn't light enough and doesn't show up well on black paint so this could be a larger PITA than meets the eye.

Might work some on the glider. This thing has a fitment problem. Port wing fits great, stbd. wing fits like garbage.

Ordered some sheet styrene so I can continue the work on the 737. I'm also going to pick up an old copy of "Airliner Modeller" or whatever it's called... one that specifically speaks about doing things to mod 737-200's into advanced models. I may need this more than I'm thinking because I'm STILL having problems locating proper engines. I don't want to scratch build the stupid things but if I HAVE to I guess I have no option.

I'd like to start on the Nomad but that's only going to happen if I run out of other things to do but It could happen! If anything, I might open it finally and take a look at the wares inside the box. 

[PR19_Kit]

one that specifically speaks about doing things to mod 737-200's into advanced models. I may need this more than I'm thinking because I'm STILL having problems locating proper engines. I don't want to scratch build the stupid things but if I HAVE to I guess I have no option.

IIRC the only game in town currently are the BRAZ resin ones.

There used to be a US firm who did them too, but a) I can't remember who it was and b) I've not see any others for ages. 

[kitnut617]

I must be losing my mind but I've been gathering my thoughts about doing a 1/72 scale eiter C-137 or CC-137. I've even found decals for the CC-137. I'm going to chat with ol' boy at some point and see if he would be willing to re-kajigger the mojo and turn them into a USAF C-137 sheet. Should be relatively simple to do ... BUT, barring that, I'm pretty happy just doing a CC-137. In 1/72 scale, this thing is massive!!!!! 

You need to find either an Airfix E-3D or the Heller AWAC version. But, as it just happens I was going through some of my stash boxes yesterday writing up new lists of what's in them (because my Excel spread sheet has got all mixed up somehow) and the box that I'm going through now has the E-3D I'm making into a CC-137. That's because the Airfix kit comes with both engine types, the CFM56 and the earlier JT3D.

The CC-137 were converted 707-347C's, not from the C-135. JBot does/did a sheet and so did CanMilAir but Bill isn't printing water slide decals anymore according to his website.

[TheChronicOne]

one that specifically speaks about doing things to mod 737-200's into advanced models. I may need this more than I'm thinking because I'm STILL having problems locating proper engines. I don't want to scratch build the stupid things but if I HAVE to I guess I have no option.

IIRC the only game in town currently are the BRAZ resin ones.

There used to be a US firm who did them too, but a) I can't remember who it was and b) I've not see any others for ages. 

I would jump all over the BRAZ, but apparently they're mishapen and non-too accurate. The other guys are Authentic Airliners... I've been trying to find a set of them but no dice do far. I might have to re-assess the BRAZ ones to see just how far out of whack they are. They've been described as downright terrible but perhaps there's some way to make them work anyway. It's that or do my own and I don't really care for all that. 

[TheChronicOne]

I was going to say... their definitely are C-137 or I wouldn't have even brought them up.     They're called "Stratoliner" and what I would need to build, Not a 135, as I have a stock 707 kit.  B707 =/= C-135, otherwise, I'd just make a 135. Besides, the 137's are cooler anyway.  The whole plan here is to find something to do with this 1/72 707 kit w/out having to mod it. That means I either make it an airliner (don't want to do that, wrong scale) or make it a 137 of some sort.


I'd be willing to bet I could get Jim at JBot to hook me up. They had a recent kerfluffle with Star Trek related stuff that wiped out UGH! and sent other people like JBot scrambling to keep from getting sued for making things too much like the protected material but having a bit of inside track to the source I know that he still does work for people. Good things for me is what I'm wanting to do has nothing to do with Star Trek!

Not familiar with the other operations, I'm going to exhaust known leads and sources and take advantage of other means later if I have to.

My whole thing about this project is that it's BIG and I won't even be able to work much on it here at my computer desk. That, and I had almost convinced myself to get rid of the kit.   


OK, I just send JBot a message, I'm trying to see if I can get a sheet of the Husky decorations. Wish me luck. 

[kitnut617]

I was going to say... their definitely are C-137 or I wouldn't have even brought them up.     They're called "Stratoliner" and what I would need to build, Not a 135, as I have a stock 707 kit.  B707 =/= C-135, otherwise, I'd just make a 135.

Yep! but they're still 707-320's. And a C-135 is not a 707 I've been most emphatically told by people who worked at the Boeing factories. The fuselages have different cross-sections, the 707 being bigger in diameter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-137_Stratoliner

[kitnut617]

OK, I just send JBot a message, I'm trying to see if I can get a sheet of the Husky decorations. Wish me luck. 

Just be patient, he takes his time answering emails (from experience)

[TheChronicOne]

I was going to say... their definitely are C-137 or I wouldn't have even brought them up.     They're called "Stratoliner" and what I would need to build, Not a 135, as I have a stock 707 kit.  B707 =/= C-135, otherwise, I'd just make a 135.

Yep! but they're still 707-320's. And a C-135 is not a 707 I've been most emphatically told by people who worked at the Boeing factories. The fuselages have different cross-sections, the 707 being bigger in diameter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-137_Stratoliner

Exactly, and that's why I chose the 137. I have a Boeing 707 and want to make it into something military. It's far easier to make it into a C-137 than into a C-135, which is why I chose the 137. 



EDIT:  OK, I found the picture of my kit:




I'll explain my thought process....    I already have the kit....   So....  I'm thinking to myself, "What can I do with this blasted thing?!"  It's either "do something with it" or "get rid of it."  I don't want to modify it, and I also want it to be military. The answer is to make a C-137 (or CC-137).  None of this was a question, merely a statement of what I'm trying to accomplish. I already know that a C-135 won't work because it's an entirely different fuselage.

So, I know what I want to make (a C-137) I just need to figure out how to get transfers.

To that end, I went on a search for them. That's when I found the CC-137 ones. Knowing that Jim also does custom work, I was thinking I might convince him to use all the same common markings from the CC-137 sheet but replace the national marking with USAF ones. That's really the only question I have... everything else is already established.    Really, the only thing I'm waiting to figure out is if he would be willing to do the USAF sheet, if not, would he happen to have a Husky sheet still. If neither, then I'll have to come up with something else.

Basically I'm trying to find out a way not to get rid of my baby... 

[PR19_Kit]

IAI built an interesting 707 that had cheek radar sets, sideways looking, that look pretty cool, and are VERY military.

I think they're called Phalcon or something similar, and at some time someone did the radar bits as resin add-ons. They're pretty much the same as the ones on an RC-135 but on the prototype they were spaced clear of the fuselage by maybe 3". The only one known to be in service currently is flown by the Chilean Air Force and has a HUGE nose radome as well, but the prototype had only the cheek aerials.

I could tell you why I know this for sure, but I may have to kill everyone who read the post as a result................ 

[TheChronicOne]

I ain't asking a damn thing about that noise! 



I toyed with the idea of trying to making one of those at one point in time......  then dismissed that thought just as quickly.    So ridiculous looking... reminds me of a circus clown or some animal with a big snozz.




From this angle, the front nearly looks like a diesel electric with a giant beach ball stuck on the cattle pusher. 

[kitnut617]

So, I know what I want to make (a C-137) I just need to figure out how to get transfers.

Try here, over on your side of the continent too 

https://www.shopdrawdecal.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=72%2DKC135%2D1

[TheChronicOne]

Wow!  Thanks... that's a fair margin cheaper than the other ones.

I'm going to have to sleep on this... I just realized that I already have a presidential livery for this and the kit, too, in 1/144 so I was leaning on the Husky but I could save a decent chunk of money here.




But just look at it... it's so glorious.  I guess I'll wait to hear back from ol' boy whether or not these are even available any more then go from there.


OR, the "nuclear option" which is to send this entire kit on down the river.         (I don't really WANT to do that, but I refuse to turn this into something civil. 1/72 is for MILITARY in Chronic-Land)

[kitnut617]

The Draw sheet is really for a VIP Transport, not necessarily for the President.

Leading Edge Decals used to do a CC-137 sheet too, it came with some resin refueling pods that the RCAF used on it. I haven't seen one in ages though.

[TheChronicOne]

True, but it's the livery itself that I'm thinking of, not the role. I don't want one just like or very similar to one I already have. I do like this one, though and fits the "criteria."



I should be able to make that easily with the Draw decals.     

I'd LIKE to do the MATS version but that's wishful thinking at this point, I imagine.

I like the Forces Armees more than anything right now... well aside from price. The picture at the site shows another version but it also says it has 5 different schemes so it has to be one...    I like this better than the scheme they show on the site as it looks more like a regular airliner while this one is clearly military.    I guess I'll find out soon enough.

[TheChronicOne]

Clearly, I'm having much more research to do. I found a South African one I like, as well.

Roodecal actually made a sheet for that one, too... it's just a matter of finding one.   Thrill of the hunt!!!!

Oh well, I'm currently pestering Jim asking him the stupid question of whether or not he'd like to make an easy buck.   


Oh hey, I found some RAAF decals right on ebay that come with the conversion set to make the tanker pods and stuff.  HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM .......   This stuff is from "Hawkeye Models"  Anyone know anything about them and the quality of their wares?