KC-135R Stratotanker (USAF)
Photo of the subject aircraft
Photo of the subject aircraft
Photo of the subject aircraft. This is the look I am going for my finished model.
The KC-135R APU vents from the rear left fuselage. I will need to scratch build these.
CFM-56 engines and pylons. Adapting the Heller E-3F parts to the AMT/Ertl kit will be a challenge, but doesn't look terrible.
Painting the intakes are going to be a challenge!
Prepared the CFM-56 engines from my Heller E-3B/F kit for modification and painting.
Assembled the cockpit and recruited a crew from the parts box. I know it isn't common for a KC-135 crew to wear helmets, but not unprecedented. The only figures I had without helmets wear WWII era uniforms, so this will be closer.
Boomer cabin, APU, and oxygen tanks. I know this APU isn't exactly for a KC-135R, but honestly, I doubt anyone will ever see this area through the tiny windows!
Main gear box built, also to never be seen again... but the wing spar part is necessary for construction.
The cargo door closed up nicely, but the crew access door is not a great fit. This will require some filling after the glue cures.
This kit was clearly designed to be gear down. The main doors aren't a fantastic fit, but not bad. The other doors are unusable for a gear up configuration, they are fused together. I will need to use plastic card to correct this.
Made the gear doors, puttied the gaps, sanded and hit with some primer. Not quite as good as I'd like, now I just need to try not to fix it until it's broke.
Two of the CFM-56 engine pylons for the Heller E-3F were not the right shape for a KC-135R. I am attempting to get them to bend to my will with glue and clamps!
Applied the base coat for the cockpit and boomer pit.
Applied some green putty to the modified engine pylons
Front office is ready enough to be viewed through a tiny windscreen!
Cleaned up the re-worked pylons and seams for the engine fairings. Unfortunately there were some substantial gaps in the engine interiors, so I filled them with white putty.
Installed the cabin floor
Comments
24 8 July 2023, 22:29
Dean HarpsterThanks guys! This should be a fun build, my plan is to make this KC-135R a flying aircraft... partly so I can display it with the boom extended, and partly to conserve shelf space!
9 July 2023, 22:01
Sergej IYou could then add the full 18th Alaskan Wing waiting in the line for juice, make use of the entire room ceiling 🙂
10 July 2023, 20:32
Patrick HagelsteinCool to see one of those being built, I'll chime in for sure! Enjoy the build! 👍
19 July 2023, 17:48
Dean HarpsterSergej - that would be an amazing idea! I thought about attaching a plane to the boom, but couldn't decide which one, so I'm going to leave it to imagination. Someday I do plan to build several aggressor F-16s, beautiful planes!
Patrick - nice to meet you! The build has been fun so far!
19 July 2023, 20:03
Album info
This model represents a KC-135R of the 909th ARS Young Tigers, one if the tanker units I worked most closely with during my Air Force service. During Operation Southern Watch, I delivered weather forecasts to Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia mission planners. Tankers were deployed to Al Dhafra Airbase, United Arab Emirates. If the tankers were not on schedule, it would cause cascading cancellations of all types throughout the theater. Unfortunately, Al Dhafra frequently experienced morning fog causing visibility lower than limits for KC-135 aircrews. This created a high pressure situation for me whenever the tanker crews were counting on my forecast to correctly predict when the fog would disperse!
