A little work in progress

[kitnut617]

Should have had Griffons...? 

Would have been way under-powered, at least a 1000 hp less on each engine.  Now Sabre VII's maybe -----

[Martin H]

Heres the 3rd and last 1/72nd scale AEW builds for this years Project canceled SIG theme

The Lockheed EC-130K Herculese AEW Mk-2K. Based on the real Lockheed FASS project






With the entry into service of the Nimrod AEW 3, the RAF decided it also needed a cheaper home grown AEW platform for use in the south atlantic. Lockheed and Marconi's put in a joint bid offering to mount the Nimrods radar system onto a number of existing RAF C-130's. The RAF/MOD gladly took up the offer, as it ment no new aircrew training or new maintenance facilities. eight airframes were selected and converted by Marshalls with a joint Marshalls, Lockheed and Marconi team.
This is XV179 in the markings of C flight, of 8 squadron based at RAF mount Pleasant around 1988. It was decided to fit the eight airframes out as duel role AEW/Tankers. Carrying the same wing mounted IFR pods used by the USMC KC-130's. This freed up the RAF's VC-10s to remain in europe for NATO work.
There were no more than 4 aircraft in the Falklands at any one time, the remaining 4 were in the UK either under deport level maintenance at Lynham or training with the rest of 8 squadron at Lossimouth and later Waddington.

The model is the Italeri kit with clones of the Cammet Nimrod AEW conversion modded to fit. There is a lot of putty on this beast as would be expected when adding such large lumps of resin.The IFR pods are from the ESCI C-130 kit. The decals are a mix of real C-130 and Airfix Sentry decals for the squadron markings. the Falklands coat of arms under the cockpit is from a Matchbox Phantom kit. The paint job used is mainly Gunze/mr color rather than my usual Lifecolor/Xrtacylics.

[PR19_Kit]

AWESOME! 

[Weaver]

Heh - I remember seeing that in Marconi ads from the early 1980s - nice one Martin! 

[Martin H]

Heh - I remember seeing that in Marconi ads from the early 1980s - nice one Martin! 

Believe it or not that advert helped to spark my interest in whiffery. This has been one of those builds ive been wanting to do for years, just not had the ability or assets (ie resin conversion set) to achive it. Untill now.

[kitbasher]

Top banana, OGL!

And 3rd AEW build this year?  That's just showing off, Martin. 

[buzzbomb]

Brilliant.. look forward to seeing this at the Show

[kerick]

Excellent work. Strangest looking C-130 I've ever seen.

[andrewj]

Love that Hercules , Martin , definately a "should have been ", great build.

Andrew

[Thorvic]

Excellent work Martin, the herc strangley looks rather good in the Hemp and LAG scheme 

And thats another one to the Project Cancelled AEW display, TSRJoe and me really need to get our skates on and get build completed 

[Mossie]

Very much looks the part Martin, quite smart in hemp!

[NARSES2]

Excellent work Martin, the herc strangley looks rather good in the Hemp and LAG scheme 

My thoughts exactly - nice build Martin 

[Old Wombat]

Excellent work Martin, the Herc strangley looks rather good in the Hemp and LAG scheme 

My thoughts exactly - nice build Martin 

Add my agreement to these. Also, looks strangely natural with those whopping great domes, too. Weird!



Guy

[TallEng]

Surely you mean "naturally strange"? 

Regards
Keith

[kitnut617]

Heh - I remember seeing that in Marconi ads from the early 1980s - nice one Martin! 

Believe it or not that advert helped to spark my interest in whiffery. This has been one of those builds ive been wanting to do for years, just not had the ability or assets (ie resin conversion set) to achive it. Untill now.

You and me both Martin ----  I've been looking at my 1/72 Airbus A310 and giving it the treatment, seen something about it in Battle Flight (or was it Vulcan's Hammer)

Very nicely done too