KC-135A Stratotanker in 1/72 scale by AMT/Ertl

[rwsmith14]

She's looking good !!

[DBMiller]

The wings are moving along! This was what I did a few days ago.
I used the little ruler to keep the clamps from caving in the wing airfoil shape. That's also why I used so much tape. Clamps would have mashed the wing out of shape.


And this is what it looked like taped up and waiting for the next step!


Today I started on the seams. The upper side wing to fuselage was pretty good so I just reinforced them with some super glue run into them. The underside is a different story! There is a substantial gap and step between the lower inner and outer wing sections. I had to clamp it just enough to get them to match then super glue it up. One side even needed some strip to fill the gap. The rubber bands are there to keep the pressure on the leading and trailing edges of the wings so they keep their shape while curing.

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[DBMiller]

The instruction sheet is not too good for this kit. I missed a few parts because of the jumble of images and arrows all over! So, the wind screen is masked, the light bars are installed on the underside behind the nose gear, most of the main gear is in, and I've started on the engines. Also, I've been testing metalic paints on an unfinished kit. There really isn't much building left, so I should still make the deadline!

[qeialto]

Great stuff, really looking forward to the end of it!

[DBMiller]

Ugh! The fit of the engine nacelles is crazy! The inner line up, the outer don't. It's from that 2 part underside. I never really got the warp out of it so they didn't line up right and now it shows up on the engines!
Here it is with all 4 engines in place.


Here are the issues.




Oh, well, that is what filler is for, right!

Managed to get the wheels and fuel probe primed.
..

And, got some silver started on the gear doors, since they will go on last. I used Floquil Old Silver to start.
I will tone it up after the first coat is sealed.
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Either this kit is really bad or I just suck so much that I can't help but muck it up. I'm going with a bit of both here. Some day I will work on a kit that just falls together. I've heard of them. Really.

[TheWeasel]

Keep your head up bud!
Looks like you're winning the fight against this kit that doesn't want to be built.

For your falls-together-rehab I'd suggest an eduard spitfire

[DBMiller]

Just a real quickie today! Thank goodness for Thinny Sticks!

Some work on the offset engines. Should work out ok.



Like how I worked in a plug (or a little brown nosing) for Ultimate?

[DBMiller]

It will be close but it looks like I will make it!

Main gear in:




Tail antenna glued up.


Fueling boom painted; (the fins have since been painted black).


First light coat of silver on!

[TheWeasel]

Oh it's gonna be a beaut'!

[jbellos1]

O.M.G. What an adventure you are having with this one. Making you jump through all kinds of different hoops - at least we get to learn from your trek through this kit. I like your idea/technique of using lacquer thinner to melt seam lines in hard to get at places. I cannot wait to see the end product!

[DBMiller]

A bit of touch up in progress on the boom.



Now it's starting to look like something! The metal color is a base of Floquil Old Silver with various Model Master Metalizer paints in parts. Then buffed with SnJ Polishing powder. Masking the engines for the white paint and the anti glare is done!

[MarkVerploeg]

Awesome work DB
It is really coming together now

[DBMiller]

I'm still plugging away! There is still a chance I will make the deadline! If I calculate correctly that would be 7pm Wednesday the 31st in Eastern Time.

Masked and painted the gear and gear wells.







Finally starting the decals!



I'd write a longer update but my cat just decided he was more important!

[TheWeasel]

The metal skin looks fantastic already!

[DBMiller]

Decals. Oh, yes, decals.

The top one is from the kit. It died. The lower one is from the spares, and is the only one I have. I sprayed the remaining kit decal with fixative, but now I'm scared to use it!
The spare went on ok but is not exactly the same as the kit decal. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about that this late in the game. Also, it went on cloudy at first but has cleared up a bit since these photos were taken. So far none of the other kit decals have died, whew!

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Here are some of the other decals going on. The insignias that go over the ribs were a bit of a pain. Microsol seemed to settle them down though. See the 'no walk' lines on the wings? They don't come with the kit. These are drawn on with a Sharpie marker. I tried to print decals but that was a disaster!



Nose wheels on!



I'm glad I only build for glory and the prizes. I'd hate to go through all this just for fun!

[MarkVerploeg]

Keep going mate
You CAN make it

[DBMiller]

Getting close! This will be my last post until the finish.

The main crew hatch has to be closed. I find this out after it's all painted and ready for decals. There are 2 decals that have to go over the hatch. I thought I could temporarily set it in place then cut the decals after. No. The Yellow stripe is just a bit too small to go over the opening, just like the yellow outlines of the other doors. So, fixed it is. Also, you can see that the last remaining kit decal 'U.S.Air Force' went on with out a hitch! SAC stripes went on fine as well! It was just too bad that NONE of the panel lines on the instructions matched the kit. It was often a guess as to where the decals went! The green tape is holding the gear in place while the glue sets. Did I mention I broke off the gear? No? I broke off the gear.



The main gear doors can't possibly fit the way they are shown in the instructions. This is the first time gear doors won't fit when open! And, after all that masking to paint the interior, the doors are shut unless undergoing maintenance! Also, you can see how much these instructions suck! It's one big picture with arrows going every which way!



The door is a flat piece that is too tall for the space it is supposed to go! Also, it fits so close that it won't even clear the wheels. So, I cut along the panel lines on the inside where it looks like they should fold and bent them. Now they sort of fit and actually look a bit better.

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Here is the boom in place. No issue here. Also, the belly shot! The yellow stripe with the white bar was one long decal! I cut it in half since I knew what would happen if I tried it in one go!

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[TheWeasel]

I envy your patience and resilience with this kit. It keeps fighting back and you keep finding ways to make it look stunning! Can't wait for the reveal