C-141A Starlifter DML 1/200

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Just received my DML C-141A last Friday. Kind of an older kit but not much flash.
I'll be building this in honor of my father who flew the Starlifter during and after Vietnam.

The kit:


Inside:


What I'll be modeling it after:


And some info:
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), its successor organization the Military Airlift Command (MAC), and finally the Air Mobility Command (AMC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). The aircraft also served with MAC-cum-AMC-gained airlift wings and air mobility wings of the Air Force Reserve (AFRES), later renamed Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), the Air National Guard (ANG) and, in later years, one air mobility wing of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) dedicated to C-141, C-5, C-17 and KC-135 training.

Introduced to replace slower piston-engined cargo planes such as the C-124 Globemaster II, the C-141 was designed to requirements set in 1960 and first flew in 1963. Production deliveries of an eventual 285 planes began in 1965: 284 for the Air Force, and one for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for use as an airborne observatory. The aircraft remained in service for over 40 years until the USAF withdrew the last C-141s from service in 2006, after replacing the airlifter with the C-17 Globemaster III.

General characteristics

* Crew: 5–7: 2 pilots, 2 flight engineers, 1 navigator, 1 loadmaster (a second loadmaster routinely used, in later years navigators were only carried on airdrop missions); 5 medical crew (2 nurse, 3 medical technician) on medevac flights
* Length: 168 ft 4 in (51.3 m)
* Wingspan: 160 ft 0 in (48.8 m)
* Height: 39 ft 3 in (12 m)
* Wing area: 3,228 ft² (300 m²)
* Empty weight: 144,492 lb (65,542 kg)
* Max. takeoff weight: 342,100 lb (147,000 kg)
* Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-7 turbofans, 20,250 lbf (90.1 kN each) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 567 mph (493 kn, 912 km/h)
* Range: 2,935 mi (2,550 nmi, 4,723 km)
* Ferry range: 6,140 mi (5,330 nmi, 9,880 km)
* Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,500 m)
* Rate of climb: 2,600 ft/min (13.2 m/s)
* Wing loading: 100.1 lb/ft² (490 kg/m²)
* Thrust/weight: 0.25

[Yevgeny]

Quite elegant looking plane.

[UKguyInUSA]

Nice commemoration build for your Father....look forward to seeing your build come together!

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Thanks guys! I can ask him just about anything about the plane and he has specs for it off the top of his head.

I hope to get started tonight on the kit. Not sure if I will do any videos of the build or not. I'll definitely have pics though.

[AlkaSeltzer]

A great build for your Pop! I can't wait to see more pictures during the build and painting.

[rwsmith14]

Great subject !!!

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Finally got started on the kit. Not much detail to the kit but I guess it's ok for such a fine scale. The fit is pretty good. Hope to have the fuselage together tonight.



Interesting fact, the C-141 had a quicker decent rate than most fighters of its time.

[snappercity]

Good start? Is that going to be enough nose weight?

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Well the pva took too long to dry so I pulled it out. I'll add some weight later with a bit of hot glue.

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Well no update pics yet. I hope to get some more done this evening.
I did get the fuselage halves together. No really bad seams to fix, just a bit of rescribing.

Does anyone know which Vallejo color would be closest to the grey on the underside of the plane? Might just have to buy a handful and match one up.

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Got most of the kit done. Just two more engines and the gear and cargo doors.

[UKguyInUSA]

She came together fast! Looking great so far mate, can't wait to see some paint and decals on her now!

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Yeah there are only 55 or so parts in the kit.
Im thinking I should have painted the cargo area since I plan on drilling out the side windows and filling them with Krystal Clear.

Interesting Fact #2: A C-141 once towed an F-106 Delta Dart in flight to test a reusable tow-launch concept.

[Tiger131]

she is a beast but so small real nice work youre doing

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Thanks!

Paint should be interesting. Seems pretty basic white/grey scheme but there is a black stripe that runs between the
grey and white. I'm going between hand painting, masking and airbrushing, or even small black pinstriping.

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Well since I havent been able to find any decent grey primer locally I ordered some Badger Stynylrez primer.
A 3 pack of 4 oz bottles for $34 black/white/grey

From what ive read its great stuff, hopefully it will spray neat.

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Well the wings needed some filler bad. I used a bit of Vallejo plastic putty. I'll have some pics in the morning.
I still need to make/buy a base for this thing. After its done it will be going to Colorado as a Christmas present for my dad.

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Well I got some primer on tonight. The wings aren't perfect at the seams so ill be adding some more putty in a few days. Also there are some pretty bad seams around the cockpit glass piece... Im not sure how I can fill those easily.





Good news is the Badger Stynlrez sprays awesome.

[UKguyInUSA]

Sweet

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

So I broke out the putty. This primer sands great only an hour after spraying.
I'll probably end up just painting the windows black now.

[SyntaxModels]

Looks like a good build there mate! Awesome idea commemerating your dad with it, come to think of it, I really now want to find out what planes my grand dad flew on in Vietnam as an RAAF doctor...
Good luck with it and you seem to be having fun!

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. My family has been visiting. I still need to finish sanding the filler, then ill touch up the primer and start base coating.

Hopefully the white will go down well. Ive had problems spraying white in the past, it comes out grainy.