C-133 Cargomaster D.E.W. strip alert support *finished*

[The Rat]

Not just underwhiffed, but under-represented in modeling form for far too long. The size may have put off some manufacturers, but surely they've heard of the concept of 'scale.' Fie on them if they have not!

[PR19_Kit]

The B-36 and XC-99 had the same wing with the massive center spar going THROUGH the fuselage (like most large aircraft). The wings were not bolted to the sides of the fuselage, so they had the same wing span. The same wing with but with the different fuselages built around the main spar/wing. Remember the B-36 fuselage was really a square lattice frame with round outer skin riveted to it.  The XC-99 was an entirely different fuselage, and made mostly of aluminum to save time and cost, but was only 2 feet wider that the round B-36 fuselage at is widest point (12'6" for the B-36, 14'3" for the XC-99).
 

So they either made the innermost panels of the wing surface shorter to meet the fuselage sides or those panels actually went right through the fuselage skin some distance inboard.

[sandiego89]

Finally commenced work, primer on the C-133.  Will be using "Remembering an Unsung Giant" by Cal Taylor, for paint reference, which must be the THE C-133 reference out there at 420 pages.  Picked it up at the gift shop at the excellent Air Mobility Command museum at Dover, Delaware, which was the home of the East Coast C-133 squadrons and has the last C-133 built which is usually open for guests to climb inside. If its not open, just ask a docent.  Fascinating inside.  The trained eye will spot the doubling plates installed to arrest the fuselage cracks which were found to be the cause of at least the final catastrophic loss, and possibly others.   

Primer on



Lets take a loom at the Otaki Voodoo while the primer dries.  1/72 A-4 for scale.

Pretty basic.  I don't think I will be using the decals.......or the glue! 





 

[Captain Canada]

Nice to see the work starting !

[sandiego89]

Primer and first coat of aluminum on.

Dry fitting, you can really appreciate how the wing was on top of the fuselage, not really though it like many transports.

disregard the custom mounting stand

 

[kitnut617]

That book on the C-133 is really good isn't it?  I bought my copy as soon as my kit arrived so I could get the details as close as possible as the kit is a rather basic vacuform.

[sandiego89]

That book on the C-133 is really good isn't it?  I bought my copy as soon as my kit arrived so I could get the details as close as possible as the kit is a rather basic vacuform.

It really is a great book, gets the operational and technical stuff which I really enjoy, but also the crew stories/life on a squadron as well.  Have only skimmed it.  As the title says a largely forgotten type, but I have a real soft spot for it. 

[zenrat]

I used to drink your paint stand back when I was a student.  we had a pyramid of empties in the corner of the lounge room which reached the ceiling.

[Captain Canada]

While you're up, I'll take 2 custom plane stands, please. Thanks.

[sandiego89]

Armrests!  You gotta be kidding me!?  Kit comes with armrests for the crews seat for our heroic 1/144 crew.  I left them off.  Was surprised to find the flight deck of the last C-133 at Dover was a largely in a very attractive light blue.  Doubt I will see much through the canopy. 







 

[sandiego89]

Work on the D.E.W. alert site aircraft has been very slow due to the low bid contractor repeatedly missing target deadlines, but finally some progress.

Voodoo assembly line up and running.  Extremely brittle Otkai plastic. Had several fuselage cracks with just light knife and sanding work.





C-133



High Viz Arctic markings

[mexchiwa]

Always wondered about an AC-133 whiff

[scooter]

Always wondered about an AC-133 whiff

Lotsa dakka

[Captain Canada]

Very nice ! Love the markings. Those Voodoos are going to be sweet as well.

[sandiego89]

Decal disaster. Most of the C-133 decals disintegrated or broke up coming off the decal paper, was able to save most but much of the wing walks and MATS lettering could not be saved.  Don't think the decals were of the best quality. 

Used some Testors decal paper via my inkjet printer to print up some new decals for the lettering on the fuselage.  Calbri bold seems close enough. 

Also scanned the F-101 decals.  They were toast.