Zvezda 1/72 C-130H Hercules

[Jakko]

Good call to not bother with the warning lines. They’ll add interest to the model, but getting them on straight sounds like a very difficult job that’s all too easy to mess up.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looking great Andy. Love it when the decals go on, it brings the bird to life.....

 

[outrunner]

Superb job Andy.

Andy.

 

[stillp]

Andy, I'd have thought a chap with your experience would mask and paint the walkway lines.
Pete

 

[Deleted member 7181]

Thank you chaps. I did at least have a go, but it looked like it was going to be more trouble than it was worth. I get easily knocked off course by minor issues so thought I'd better avoid this one

I have thought about it Pete, but again felt like I'd be leaving myself open to failure. I still haven't ruled it out completely, hence not flat coating the model today, but the margin for error is so fine I'll need another nights sleep on it

 

[JR]

Great with those front end decals on Andy, brings it to life.

 

[Deleted member 7181]

Thanks John. All of the fluff adds a bit extra too I think

 

[Jim R]

Hi Andy
Great stuff. Very nice paint job and the decals seem to have gone on nicely. I think I would also have given up with the lines.
Jim

 

[Deleted member 7181]

Thanks Jim. Yes, I think I can live without the bit of extra detail for the stress it might have caused lol.

After a flat coat on everything but the nose it was time for final assembly. I'm really liking the new AK flat varnish now I've had a few goes with it. An extra coat would have made it even more flat, but I settled on a very slight sheen that would reflect light back here & there.

First off were the wheels, which have very flat bottoms OOB so I wanted to make sure they were all straight, true, and touching the ground. After much head scratching I found a thin glass plate from a picture frame I'd repurposed for a diorama. It worked great as I could check their alignment whilst making sure they were all touching it.



Then the props and extra tanks went on. I think I've got plenty of noseweight given that I had to add a big chunk in the back to balance it while fitting these.



Rear loading ramp. Now this is either excellent engineering, or just plain great luck, but all 6 wheels and the ramp touch the glass perfectly! I was expecting to have to play around with the hydraulic stays that hold the ramp in place, to get the height right, but it all just slotted together



And a couple of shots of it on the base. I'm going to attempt some EZ line antenna wires, which I've had mixed success with in the past, so either there'll be a completed topic with more pictures, or this will be the last you see of it

 

[Steven000]

Mighty model Andy! Love the camo and details
Steven

 

[therapy]

Looking superb!

Nick

 

[stillp]

That looks great Andy!
Pete

 

[Archetype]

That is very good. Well done.

 

[outrunner]

Fantastic, well done that man.

Andy.

 

[Deleted member 7181]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the feedback and am very chuffed with it myself.

Oh, and the EZ line went well, so there'll be more pictures to follow when I can find some room to take them!

 

[scottie3158]

Andy,
That is a cracking result mate, the paintwork is the dogs.

 

[Deleted member 7181]

Thanks Paul, everything just seemed to go right for me with this one.

 

[yak face]

Beautiful job andy , the paint job is superb , cheers tony

 

[Deleted member 7181]

Thanks Tony.

More pictures in the completed section