Anigrand 1:72 Lockheed C-5A Galaxy
The heavy kit, a lot of resin at first look
The poor detailed ‘manual’ of this kit...
..more an impression of how the finished kit will look.
But no problem, the parts and were they fit speak for themselves. I used it only for the flap hinges, as they differ in size.
But no problem, the parts and were they fit speak for themselves. I used it only for the flap hinges, as they differ in size.
Crisp and smooth panel lines. Well done Anigrand!
Nylon, brass and stainless steel gear parts
Bags with engine parts and a lot of undercarriage wheels
Nicely detailed wheels and fanblades and flap hinges
This will be the version I’m going to build..
The ‘European One’ camouflage scheme.
The nickname for the camo scheme Galaxy was ‘Flying Pickle’.
No single camo scheme was the same, so that’s an advantage when the airbrush job begins 😉
The first thing to do was strengthening the upper deck (2 large flat parts) and the large wing halves with spare aluminium rod and aluminium strips
Strengthening the upper deck with bolted aluminium strip
Test fitting the upper deck placement in the fuselage
Only the resin stabilo weighs about 168 grams! And the size of an average 1/72 scale fighter jet
Strengthening the edges of the upper deck to the fuselage with little screws (used for N rails)
Strengthening lower deck with styrene strips
Scale comparison of the stabilo size to a Piper Cub..
Preparing to balance and weigh the monster for adding noseweight
Weighing the beast; 2.4 kilograms!! That’s a lot of resin...
Putting more and more weight in the front of the fuselage. I used M10 bolts and nuts. This monster is a real tail-sitter!
Using my normal tools for constructing weight.. really..
Measuring and drilling holes for better and sturdier fit of the wings to the fuselage. Only glue is not enough and not reliable.. after all it’s only resin. With a dry fuselage-wing fit I heared all kind of sounds like crackling etc. So I decided to give that construction more strength.
The holes are for little bolts and nuts that will connect the wings trough the aluminium strips on the upper deck.
The holes are for little bolts and nuts that will connect the wings trough the aluminium strips on the upper deck.
Glued washers on the underside of the wing holes positions, so the nuts and bolts have better grip
Drilling the same holes in the upper deck on the same position as the holes in the wings.
Constructing bolts and nuts trough the upper deck, upside down so the remaining part of the bolts can be used for the nuts from the wings
The advantage of this construction is that I can adjust the height of wing position by fastening or loosening the nuts.
Heavy duty glueing of the fuselage, part 1
Heavy duty glueing of the fuselage, part 2
Heavy duty glueing of the underside of the fuselage, part 3
Heavy duty glueing of the fuselage, part 4
Sanding and sanding and sanding...
Filling and sanding 1 meter upper fuselage
Until it’s smooth!
Filling the lower fuselage, ready for sanding another meter of resin
I secured the tail to the fuselage by using fine steel rods as split pens. Now the tail can’t come loose anymore.
Filling and sanding the tail section to the fuselage
The 1/72 figure is standing next to a hatch. I read somewhere that there’s a ladder in the tail to this hatch, for maintenance. C-5 crews sometimes sit on top of the tail during airshows to have ‘a nice view’. Well I believe they have some view up there!
The construction I made for glueing the wings to the fuselage to keep everything level
After attachment of the wings to the fuselage there were some gaps between the joints. So I used pieces of plasticard to fill it up, after that cutting to size and sanding and filling the joints smooth.
The last corrections of wing height; at each side tightening and loosening bolts until everything was level
Securing the bolt positions by sealing them wit Loc-tite
Dryfitting the part that will cover the construction of the wings
Filling and sanding the upper plate
Preparing to spray the landing gear by attaching parts to sprues with a tiny droplet of superglue. The wheels are on fabricated axes
Spraying the gear
Constructing the gear parts together
Well done Anigrand! Really sturdy and nicely detailed landing gear.
Well, after all it has to carry 2,4 kilograms of resin..
Well, after all it has to carry 2,4 kilograms of resin..
Test fitting the gear.
As you can see, the pile of M10 bolts and nuts as nose weight in the nose section prevent it successfully from tailsitting!
As you can see, the pile of M10 bolts and nuts as nose weight in the nose section prevent it successfully from tailsitting!
Attaching the cockpit windows to the fuselage and filling and sanding again
I used Tamiya surface Primer (2 cans) to prepare the monster for the camo paintjob.
Ready for a camo ‘jacket’!
The sheer size of it.. unbelievable
Only the gear of a C-5 weighs about 25000 kilograms in total..
I think tail height is compatible to a 4 story building?
Watch out for the Cub! Where?
I think the Cub can use it’s wings as a landing strip
Underside airbrushing
Did the camo paint job with a friend of mine at his house. It was real teamwork; constantly refilling and diluting paint for the airbrush while the other one was paintbrushing, one holding the beast in certain positions so paint could be applied at more difficult places, holding a lamp for extra lighting etc.
It was a bit like old school drawing and coloring
A short break, cleaning the airbrush
Paintjob ready!
Impressive camo scheme
Applying Gloss varnish for the decals
Let dry overnight
An evening applying decals. Not easy I can tell you, carefully manoeuvring a 1x1meter model in different positions while trying to apply thin decals!
I bought an aftermarket set from Draw Decal for 1/72 Air Guard Galaxies.
There was 1 version with a stunning nose art, but unfortunately that was a dull grey painted Galaxy...
Also this version was not possible, as it was only for a grey Galaxy. This was a commemorative nose art of a WWII B-17F.
All the European One-scheme Galaxies were very low-viz so almost no stenciling or nose art.
All the European One-scheme Galaxies were very low-viz so almost no stenciling or nose art.
Preparing the decals.
DrawDecal prints its sheets in 1 piece, so you have to cut out every single decal.
DrawDecal prints its sheets in 1 piece, so you have to cut out every single decal.
The in-air refueling signal lines
This one is from Altus AFB, 97th OG.
The only Galaxies which flew with the camo scheme and later the grey scheme on this decal sheet.
The only Galaxies which flew with the camo scheme and later the grey scheme on this decal sheet.
Finally, after 2 months struggling and scratchbuilding with resin, aluminium and a lot of superglue, may I present:
A 1/72 scale totally resin Lockheed C-5A Galaxy!
A 1/72 scale totally resin Lockheed C-5A Galaxy!
Never thought I would actually manage to finish this kit.
A final coat of matte varnish to seal the decals and give it the dull look
I’m satisfied with the overall camo paintjob
Ready for joining the Scale Modelling Challenge 2019 here in Veldhoven, the Netherlands.
For transport to the SMC location I fabricated a protective box, made of sturdy isolation foam.
It was a one hour drive, so I wanted to get it over there in 1 piece
It was a one hour drive, so I wanted to get it over there in 1 piece
Locked in it’s protective box, ready for travel!
At the SMC 2019. Didn’t win a prize, but I didn’t expect that either.. the models at that show were outstanding quality, from international professional modelbuilders.
But joining was fun enough 🙂
But joining was fun enough 🙂
All the superglue I’ve used for this kit!
My workspace.
Hozzászólások
44 2 May 2020, 21:53
Eric JuvynsThat's really impressive. I didn't even know that a kit existed in 1/72 of this behemoth. Yours turned out great. Job well done.
3 May 2020, 05:49
DickThanks Warren!
I also have the Anigrand 1/72 C-141B kit, bad quality but I will give the kit a chance because 'the C-5A is the box the C-141 came in'😉
But I sold my Anigrand 1/72 C-17 Globemaster kit last year due to the very bad contours of the nose and the horrible quality of resin.. air bubbles yes, and warping of parts and different thicknesses in 1 part.
So I was very surprised to see the excellent quality of the C-5 kit! No single bubble, only a slight warp in the upper left wing, high quality landing gear made of nylon, brass, stainless steel and resin and high level of detailed panel lines.
So yes, an 8 out of 10 for Anigrand.
But as you see.. the kit is on it's own too big and heavy to build it without supporting structures in wings and fuselage.
So a daring project!
3 May 2020, 17:54
Łukasz Gliński"This is uuuuge"😉 Outstanding job, must have been a lot of hard work to build that resin monster 🙂
3 May 2020, 20:19
Dick@Andy: it was really too much work and poor fit of the cargo bay to make that look realistic.
The lower cargo deck has some printing on it, no details same as for the ceiling. I would have had to add another 4 months of scratchbuilding interior.
The nose cone is hollow, while in reality that is a masterpiece of engineering with hinges, wiring and piping. As for the fuselage walls: no detail, only some 'rib-structure-like' detail.
So..
I had big plans for detailing the cargo bay at first, I even bought 6 1/72 Humvees and a LAV vehicle for it, but allready from start I saw this would be a never ending scratchbuilt story.
So I glued the nose and cargo doors closed forever😉
3 May 2020, 21:34
Dick@Lukasz: thanks 🙂 !
Yeah, this was a unique project.
Waited for several years, simply because I saw too much problems ahead during construction.
But only looking at a kit, and almost no ready built 1/72 C-5 Galaxy on the internet, I finally gave it a go last year.
And with the promise to myself: 'you're going to finish it in 1 run, no matter what!'
So I did..
3 May 2020, 21:43
Andy BallYou're a brave man, have you replenished your stock of glue too?, must've been quite a lot used!!
3 May 2020, 21:45
Ray SeppalaJust found my way to your builds here Dick, You have done a great job on this beast!
16 June 2020, 01:03
Dick@ Andy: Yes, I've replenished my stock of glue! I have an Antonov to build..????
19 June 2020, 16:50
Zbynek HonzikWow, very impressive result, Dick! Where is your giant exposed? Will it fit in a display case?
20 June 2020, 06:12
Dick@Andy: No, I tried to use an emoticon but it showed up in my text as '?????' ..😉
20 June 2020, 14:04
Dick@Zbynek: Thanks 🙂 !
I have a modeling room in my house, with only airplane stuff in it, like these big models and a big functional B737-800 Flight Simulator 🙂
20 June 2020, 14:07
Donald Dickson III was a Loadmaster on C-141s. We called the 5s FRED: F%^&ing Ridiculous Economic Disaster. LOL
You did a fantastic job with this! I need to get one of the 1/144 kits for my cargo plane collection.
20 June 2020, 20:38
Dick@Zbynek: yes🙂 , my girlfriend and I bought a new house with garage.. I only asked for the garage😉
20 June 2020, 22:20
Dick@Donald: Wow, I envy you😉
Lol 🙂 !!
They call the C-5 'the box the C-141 came in😉 ..
I still have a 1:72 Anigrand C-141 to build. Any info or details is always welcome😉 ...
20 June 2020, 22:24
Donald Dickson IIWhat scheme do you plan on doing it in? When I was on them they didnt have the gray scheme. Just the old gray/white and the euro camo. And as you mentioned, to do the interior justice you would have to do a crap ton of scratching.
As for the general shape on it, from what I understand, its pretty good. I have not seen one of the kits in person, so cant say. It certainly is not as screwed up as the 17 is.
20 June 2020, 23:28
Dick@Donald: I always saw the European One / Lizard scheme versions. I will make that version as my C-5 is also that scheme.
The Anigrand C-17 is really the worst kit I've ever had. I will never buy it again, hopefully there will be a decent 1:72 C-17 kit available in the future.
Here are some pics of my Anigrand C-141B kit, I just made a new album for it on Scalemates:
1:72 Anigrand Lockheed C-141B Starlifter | Album by Wolfhound32
It's not that worse, but just as my C-5 kit there will be no interior detailing!
The big manual/drawing is from an old Combat Models 1:72 C-141 vacform kit I once had.. that was so bad quality that I literally threw it away. I think the fuselage was only 1mm thick plastic, there were holes in it and missing parts etc. So I only kept the drawing and the white metal landing gear parts, maybe I can use them for my Anigrand kit..
21 June 2020, 21:03
CaptGPFI'm with everyone here - amazing job! Only question is how many of these -lanes can you fit in your modeling room?!
13 February, 14:44
DickThanks mates!
@CaptGPF: I added a picture of my workspace + shelves. At this moment enough space, but I still have about 5 big kits to build...
13 February, 19:18
CaptGPFGorgeous workspace!
..but you may need new digs if you have 5 more behemoths in the queue! 😬
16 February, 05:31
Michael KohlMassive. I remember them flying low level over my parents house near Rhein-Main Airbase. A very effective machine to turn tons of chemical energy into noise and dirt.
16 February, 07:53
Warren InmanI walked through one at an airshow back in 1988. They had one of these and an An-124 lined up nose to nose and the An-124 was like a Lancaster bomber technology wise compared to the C-5.
28 February, 03:52
Jennifer FranklinThat is a gorgeous result. It's a very nice build, I love that each one has a unique camo pattern.
28 February, 04:22
DickThank you Jennifer!
@Warren Inman: Like the former An-225, the 124 flightdeck is mostly Cold War era.. still analog, a crew of 6 (captain, CO, 2 engineers and 2 navigators). But it keeps flying through the years!
28 February, 08:57
