1/144 Minicraft HC-130J USCG

[Britwit]

This will be a long build mainly because I have to make most of the parts from scratch, IR dome, surface search radar dome, fuselage scoops and antenna, wing antenna. I have decals from Hawkeye Decals in Australia which are for a B-H model and may need slight modification as the windows are a bit different in the J model, I think. I think I will look at Draw Decals to see if they have window decals for the cockpit, I am not doing any internal detailing or painting, I am concentrating solely on the overall looks of the plane from the outside, no internal details whatsoever. Here is a very slow start, the kit seems to have a bit of warpage on the wings.

[Britwit]

Some rough notes on scratch built parts, dimensions are taken off photos so I am not 100% of the accuracy.

[JamesPerrin]

Sketches are so useful on a build like this

[Britwit]

I have a bit more progress on my J model. The wings, stabs and engines are on, puttied and sanded. I had a lot of "massaging" and bending to get them straight but they look decent now. Now to dig through my spares box to find something to make an IR seeker dome from. Still looking to find better pictures for the ground radar dome on the fuselage bottom.

[Britwit]

My attempt at IR nose seeker made from a Hasegawa 1/72 F/A-18A seeker and piece of sprue. May need to thin it down a bit.

[KellerModeller]

Just judging by the pictures for me the diameter is close to perfect, if anything you might shorten it a little (but this might be the perspective...)
Looking good so far

[Britwit]

Thanks, I thought it was a tad long also. It's not on permanent yet, still staring it down, LOL.

[RayS]

A good start, would not have thought to use a 1/72 bit for the turret. Shorten it and it will be good!

[Britwit]

Thanks Ray, how's this? I shortened the IR seeker and the base it mounts on. On to see what I can find on the ground radar dome for pictures.

[Britwit]

I found some good reference photos of the radar dome on the belly and got some dimensions. In 1/144 scale the dome is 14mm diameter, about 3 mm in height and 36mm from the rear cargo door to the edge of the 14mm radar diameter. I drew it in on the model to help me when I locate it. Hopefully these new images are more accurate than my first rough notes.

[RayS]

That looks good, I did not know about the dome under the fuselage. I will have do some research if I do one.

[Britwit]

Here is a "sideview" of it's depth off the belly and one showing the diameter.