C-17

Michael Phillips
Count me in... This is an awesome project!

Donald Dickson II
I was loadmaster on C-141s. I never got to fly on these. They are incredible planes! Its in the que a couple projects out.

Bryn Crandell
Watching this one with interest.

Donald Dickson II
I think somehow I managed to create two albums. I will just keep with comments on this one. LOL

So, I decided to do this closed up. The cargo area has OK detail, but if I had it open I would want to do a lot more with it. A LOT. And really, I am just not in the mood for that. So she stays closed. The detail in the cockpit is simply just seats. And not great ones. So I sprayed it black.

The landing gear attach to the outside of the inner tube. The look the part, but the attachments...I am going to have to be VERY VERY careful with it. I am not overly confident in their ability to handle ANY undue stress at all. Just about ready to do up the fuselage. Likely tomorrow.

Greg Baker
I feel the urge to poke you about the closed cargo area... mostly for selfish voyeuristic reasons.... but still...

Donald Dickson II
LOL Greg. I DO have plans for one in the future. We will see how it goes.

Greg Baker
Yes. Yes we shall...

Donald Dickson II
OK, so got the fuselage together. Fit was great except the front bottom. Considering everywhere else it went together fine, I am gonna say I managed to screw it up somehow. The gap is filled with this super glue. I will sand it and go back over it with Mr surfacer and sand that. Love it when I make work for myself.

While trying to get the front to fit right, I managed to knock out the windows in the nose. *sigh* So Micro Krystal Klear to the rescue.

Donald Dickson II
OK, mostly all together and first coat of primer. Now to go over it and see what more needs doing.

Greg Baker
Did you recover the windows? It looks pretty tight to me... no gaps or flaws visible.

Donald Dickson II
There are a couple you cant see in that one pic, but nothing major. The windows came out so so making them with krystal klear. Couldnt snag the plastic ones.

Greg Baker
Does that mean there's something rattling around inside... I hate that...

Donald Dickson II
No, they seem to have wedged somewhere thankfully. I have a couple where weights have come loose and those drive me nuts when I have to move them.

Donald Dickson II
OK, I set aside the fire truck and worked on this one for a bit. Its gray. LOL Need to fix a couple things and I will move on to the decals. While I was letting the gloss dry, I started on the engines. I built the internal part, then dry fit the assembly. Wont require a lot of fiddling it seems. Then I painted the parts. Final engine assembly later today.

Greg, I have a plan for doing another open. It involves lights and stuff, which should make you happy.😉

Greg Baker
Whoooooo... I can't wait!

Donald Dickson II
LOL That wont be for a while though. I have other things loosely scheduled.

Greg Baker
No one likes a tease...

Donald Dickson II
You just dont know the right people.😉

Germen V
good progress

Donald Dickson II
Germen, thank you. 🙂

It now has engines. And I need to do some work on where they attach to the wings. Too gappy for me.

Martin Oostrom
She looks great! For reasons I don't understand, I like this plane. Keep at it Donald

Donald Dickson II
Martin, IKR? She doesnt have the sleeker look of my old girl the 141. This broad is fat and kinda ugly, but appealing none the less. LOL

Greg Baker
She has a great personality... besides, I only read Scalemates for the articles...😉

Donald Dickson II
*snort*

Bob Hall
I hated riding in those things ! Air Force Pilot- "Prepare for Tactical Decent" Army Staff Sargent Bob - "What the Hell?" **** Assault Pack,M4 and anything else unsecured, Flatten on the roof ! Until ya hit the ground, and lets just say "Hope your Kevlar was on ! DAMN Jet Jocks ! LOL !

Donald Dickson II
That must be new. We NEVER did anything like that with the 141s. Our pilots and the rest of us were the epitome of professionalism.

I typed that without choking on my soda...

Bob Hall
-Best Dr Evil Impression- Riiiiiiiiiiight ! LOL

Donald Dickson II
Decaling has begun!

Treehugger
Looks like a nice 1:144 kit that isn't too large on the table. 🙂

Donald Dickson II
Treehugger, it is a bit over a foot wide and about 14" or so long. Not huge, but not small.

So, while perusing pics to check a few things, I came across two potential versions for the next one I do. Whenever I get around to that. I am leaning heavily to the camo test bird, but the primered one IS kinda neat.

Donald Dickson II
Decals done. Main landing gear wheels on. Some other final parts then I will future it and weather it. Then dull coat it and it will be pretty much done.

Donald Dickson II
OK, so finished this one up.

Greg, I do indeed have ideas about another one. This one let me find out the quirks of the kit before I started investing that kind of time and effort.

The landing gears are awful. Though I am not sure how they could have done it any different. The fit in general was not bad. A little more care on my part would likely help with that. I dirtied her up. Likely too much, but I am happy with it.

The last pic is the cargo plane shelf in one of my cases. Had to do some re arranging, but its cool because they are all 1/144. So you can see the size differences.

Greg Baker
Ok... I take it back... that's some good work right there and didn't need any open cargo bay doors... but the next one does.😉

Bryn Crandell
Looks great. I have one as well and want to buy the aftermarket slats and flaps to have them all deployed. Looks good sitting next to the C-141.

Donald Dickson II
Greg, thank you sir! That one will be a tad more challenging. LOL I just wish they did some interior stuff for it. Its got good detail, but it does still need some help. Especially seat belts. LOL

Bryn, I want to get the C-5, but I am NOT paying over 100 bucks for it. NOT worth that.

Martin Oostrom
I think you did a marvellous job. I like these unflashy workingman's planes. There is an air of We'll-get-the-job-done mentality surrounding them, unlike most jet fighters. I love the collection 👍

Martin Oostrom
I can't find an album on the C-97. Do you have pictures? Please?

Bryn Crandell
If I see a C-5 for a decent price I'll let you know. I have the Yodel kit which is in a long line of same molds. scalemates.com/kits/170522-yodel-ysp-2-lockheed-c-5a-galaxy

Jozef Goos
good job wel done

Stephan Ryll
Very nice build Donald 👍

Greg Baker
Martin - I was wondering about that C-97 as well, so I second the request for pictures. I've got one in the stash that I don't really know what I want to do with it.

Donald Dickson II
Martin, thank you sir. 🙂 I like them as well. I was a Load Master on C-141s, so I have a special place in my heart for cargo planes. Without them, EVERY service would suffer. Thats why I always snicker when they sat Chair Force. My response has always been, Want your mail???? Want parts for your little Cobra or Hornet there??? Hmmmmm???? Want a free ride home from Rota???? (THAT one usually gets them. LOL)

Bryn, I would snag the Roden kit, BUT, it is no different than the 141 kit, and with the horrid decals they have, and the issues a brand new mold should NOT have, NO WAY I pay the 100.00+ price tag they put on it. You automatically have to add the cost of a set of the Caracal decals, or there is just no sense building it.

Jozef, Stephen, Greg thanks!

And I will have an album up momentarily for the C-97...

Donald Dickson II
And here it is gents. 🙂 C-97 | Album by smokeriderdon (1:144)

Donald Dickson II
For some reason the images got broken. Had to re upload them.

Finn
Nice build!

Donald Dickson II
Thank you sir. 🙂

CaptGPF
Beautiful! Quick Question for you - I noticed you black based this kit before applying the gray color - does this produce a better result for you? time savings? I black-based a kit once, and realized that I should have applied a lighter shade of gray to bring it back down to the intended color.