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.
