AC-10D Jetstorm

[MerlinJones]

Sorry.
Got a little...erm....distracted of late.

Anyway...I scanned the relevant part of the instruction sheet and made some measurements.
Probably too late now, but what the heck...

[MerlinJones]

Background...

Following the purchase of the HP C-10A Jetstream by the US Air Force, the aircraft was quickly accepted as a more than capable liason and casevac aircraft.

Units shipped to SE Asia were quickly appreciated for their relative turn of speed and manouvrability and were able to access rough-field airstrips, thanks to their wide-track undercarriage and larger, softer tyres. The airframe proved robust and systems adaptable to the rapidly changing environment of the Viet Nam conflict.

Already in action were the AC-47 Gunship versions of the venerable Dakota and these were proving very successful in their role of enemy suppression. Unfortunately, the age of the airframes and their increasing vulnerability to the latest SAM's and North Vietnamese fighters meant that an alternative to Puff the Magic Dragon was sought.

Following a series of escapes from enemy fighters and SAMs by C-10's, the Jetstreams underwent a series of field modifications to become the AC-10A.
A heavy machine gun had already been installed to fire from the cargo door, which had been permanently removed, but the addition of added communications, anti-SAM flares and rudimentary underwing rockets gave the USAF a basic, armed liason aircraft.

The B version quickly followed and was a disaster. Three miniguns were fitted, two to fire from the open cargo door and another from a cabin window. Unfortunately, the latter gun had a habit of blowing away the inner port wing. Sighting was inaccurate and conditions inside the cabin were appallingly uncomfortable for even the hardest of crew. The added weight of the guns reduced flight performance significantly and the loss of 6 Jetstorms over one weekend nearly ended the fighting role of the aircraft.

However, field mods demonstrated that the removal of all cabin glass greatly improved crew comfort and removal of all superfluous fittings reduced airframe weight, without compromising strength. The inner port wing received an armour plate, to deflect any mis-aimed shells and the guns themselves were lighter and generally more advanced and equipped with a basic cut-off, to prevent any self-injury.
The AC-10B1, as it became known, quickly became the AC-10C, with the addition of a dedicated sighting system, manned by a crewman operating a console inside the now ventilated cabin. Improved engines increased performance and had heat dissapating exhausts, to confuse SAMs. Underwing hardpoints now carried extra fuel, which enhanced endurance, range and general loitering abilities and a powerful searchlight, fitted to the starboard wing, improved night ops.
Final mod was the addition of a centreline Vulcan gun pod, initially 'borrowed' from a visiting F-4 and then specifically tailored to the Jetstorm.

[MerlinJones]

Basic internals...lots of H-section strip on the roof and sides...some tankage from an old ...er...tank kit.
We have cockpit, Targeting Officers Station and bunks, for those long hauls and Three kick-donkey Miniguns

[MerlinJones]

Close up, forward...drilled out instrument panel, which is actually invisible, once the fuselage halves are put together and the windscreen inserted, and the Targeting Officers console. The chair is from the kit, placed on the two nose wheels, and the console itself is two bits of plasticard.

[MerlinJones]

Stuck a piece of greeblie on the cockpit bulkhead and cut a door in it, covered by mesh from an old Tamiya motorbike kit.
Fire extinguishers are pieces of plastic tube, with a piece of plastic rod inserted and a sliver of plasticard stuck on top...all held to the walls with masking tape.

[MerlinJones]

Assorted straps and webbing made of of Tamiya masking tape strips.
Because of the large opening of the cargo door, I knew that all of my detail would be visible. I also sussed out that I had to build under the floor, as this would also be visible.

[MerlinJones]

Lit by flashlight...

The crew in place...an original Airfix gunner, as supplied with the AC-47 Miniguns, albeit, cut to stoop, 'cos it's cramped in there...and a PJ Productions WWII pilot.

[MerlinJones]

Cockpit close-up...

[MerlinJones]

I decided that stooping and shooting would be pretty uncomfortable, so I reasoned the erks would've had support straps fitted, to take the weight. Here we see the near gunner leaning back into his harness.

[MerlinJones]

Crew close-up...I made a cut between arm and body, so as to bend the arm and animate the crewman, otherwise, he's a kit-supplied Johnny.

[MerlinJones]

Time to close up...

[K5054NZ]

Good to see the tradition of scratchbuilding fire extinguishers is still alive and well!

Great stuff Mr Jones, sometimes we all have a bit of trouble trying to keep up with you! I'm loving your work on this, she really looks to be another masterpiece. Nifty backstory too.  B)    

[The Rat]

Coming along well Bruce, can't wait to see the finished article!

Confused by this bit though:

Unfortunately, the latter gun had a habit of blowing away the inner port wing.

Why not just restrict the travel of the gun? I believe this was done on some upper turrets to prevent shooting off the vertical fin.

[cthulhu77]

Wonderfulness!  excellent modeling.

[MerlinJones]

Why not just restrict the travel of the gun? I believe this was done on some upper turrets to prevent shooting off the vertical fin.

Obviously ( ) because we're talking about field mods...probably under herbal influences and too much of that "smell of napalm in the morning!"

Thanks for trhe positive vibes, guys!