Zvezda 1/72 C-130H Hercules

[outrunner]

Lovely job Andy.

Andy.

[papa 695]

Great work so far Andy, looking very good.

[Guest]

Thanks all.

I've been putting the engines together today. After doing all the suggested internal painting I've realised you're going to see a big fat zero of any of it without an endoscope. Much like the interior now that I've closed it up.

Good job I enjoyed doing it anyway :smiling5:

[Guest]

You enjoying it is what counts, really. Of course, I find it helps with the enjoyment if something actually remains visible afterward …

[Guest]

Indeed Jakko :smiling5:

Well, it isn't getting any smaller! Wings are only dry fitted at the moment but it's overhanging my makeshift paint bench by a fair way.

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And there's a minor technical hitch with the nose weight. I weighed out the required amount of Zero Gravity, but can't get it all in! I've packed it as tightly as I can, even removing a bit here and there as the nosecone wouldn't fit.

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Luckily I've already added a bit of lead strip under the cockpit, and I think there's an area in the front gear bay that can be packed and hidden with a bit of plastic card.

I'll add the rest of the tailplane and do the see-saw test before panicking too much. If all else fails I'm going to pose it with the loading ramp down anyway, so that should prop it up nicely.

[Fernando N]

Looking very good Andy, neat interior hope the weights work out.

[Tim Marlow]

Liking this build. It’s a big lad isn’t it. How are you going to display it?

[Guest]

Thanks Fernando.

I've no idea Tim! I'm seriously running out of room already. Will probably end up junking some of my older stuff

[outrunner]

Coming along nicely Andy, I have used chopped up car balance weights mixed with epoxy in the past for balancing modelaircraft.

Andy.

[Guest]

Thanks Andy.

Yes, I have a collection of those too. Scrounged from the tyre fitting bays at work lol.

[rtfoe]

Andy, the dreaded see-saw test can be a little stressful so to avoid that I'd have stuffed the cheeks of the landing bay, the roof of the cockpit and front loading bay...areas that are not within eye-shot of any openings. Still your escape plan of the loading bay door will work nevertheless.

At this point it looks like a 'Herky' and neatly done. :thumb2:

Cheers,
Richard

[Guest]

Thanks Richard. I've actually been fixing the weight issue this morning.

I made a small compartment with card at the front of the landing gear bay. I added a few strips of lead (~7g) then the rest of the Zero Gravity I'd weighed out. Coupled to what's already under the cockpit I think that should be plenty.

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With the bay door in place (which is closed once the gear is down) no one would be any the wiser :smiling3:

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[Tim Marlow]

Nice hack on the weight there Andy.

[Guest]

Good fix

[rtfoe]

Well done on that Andy....test should be positive.

Cheers,
Richard