1/72 Zvezda C-130J-30 Hercules 37th Airlift Squadron

[keyda81]

A slightly different W7 project.



Whiskey 7 flew with a Herc from the 37th Airlift squadron in Germany back in 2014 when the flew her back to Normandy for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. The Hercs were plain back then. It wasn't until 2019 that the invasion stripes and W7 squadron code were added for the 75th Anniversary.



My intention is to loosely recreate that picture. It will be one of the 37th Airlift Squadrons current Hercs, 78609, as it looks in the first pic. I'll then build a 1/72 D-Day Whiskey 7 using Italeri's kit.



So far with this kit I'm not a fan of the colors they call for. They are no where near right. So I've had to try and look up as many photos as I can find, and guess at some things. They call for gunship gray for the all over exterior color, and I know that is too dark. I'll have to figure it out.

Cockpit done. I did very minimal weathering. All the pics I've seen of this particular aircraft are very clean. It was built in 2007, so it's a fairly new Herc.





The cargo floor, that I spent entirely too much time on. The instructions called for it to be painted all over steel. Uh, no I don't think so. So a lot of masking, painting, re-masking, and more painting later I'm finally pleased with how it looks, and will never see it again after I close up the fuselage.



The bonus with this kit is it comes with the W7 decal. I don't have to make any paint masks.

[BlackSheep214]

Looks like I gotta find that kit and add it to the stash...


Looking at the instruction guide in scalemates, the call out for overall fuselage color is Tamiya XF-53 Neutral Grey. Neutral Grey sound about the right shade - not Gunship Grey.

[keyda81]

My hobby color converter app must be off then, lol. Neutral gray does sound about right. I'm no where near painting the outside anyway, so I've got time to figure it out. There is a section on the top of the fuselage that is a slightly different shade of gray, I'll have to figure that one out too.

[BlackSheep214]

XF-80 British Navy Grey

I use paint4models website....

https://www.paint4models.com/Paint%20Co ... 0-2021.pdf

[keavdog]

In flight? Where will you put that display? Following along. How are you liking that Zvezda kit? I have a couple in the stash but yet to build one.

[Stikpusher]

The color used on the C-130 is AMC Gray, FS 36173.Tamiya’s Neutral Gray is a good approximation.

[BlackSheep214]

The question begs why paint an area when you're not gonna see it once the fuselage is buttoned up. Makes more sense if you're going to have cargo hold rear doors in open position.

As a rule, I often avoid painting areas I'm not gonna see. Saves paint and time....

[keyda81]

In flight? Where will you put that display? Following along. How are you liking that Zvezda kit? I have a couple in the stash but yet to build one.

Yep, in flight. I have a corner in my living room I plan on hanging them from. Hubby could care less what I do in my living room, he's got the addition on the back of the house, and I have the living room, lol. I'm not a typical women with pointless decorations, my living room is decorated with model airplanes, and Whiskey 7 stuff, there are some pictures of my daughter on the walls as well.

Stik, that is what I was thinking to begin with. I'll be using Model Master paints until I run out. That color converter I have must be off. Fortunately I typically do quite a bit of research, and never just follow kit instructions anymore. They have the interior as Zinc Chromate Green. I know that isn't right, lol.

BlackSheep, I know it doesn't seem to make sense to paint that area. I could leave the rear door open, since they do fly like that all the time, but I was planning on closing it. Typically when it comes to doing anything W7 I don't skimp. Now I could of bought PE for it, but I didn't. So I figured I would just paint it. I suppose I'm looking at the project as paying homage to the people who have served, and are still currently serving. Since the 37th Airlift squadron shares its lineage with Whiskey 7's 37th Troop Carrier Squadron.

[keyda81]

Keavdog, So far the kit is great. I haven't gotten too much together yet, but the parts look really nice, and there is no flash to speak of. I'll keep you posted as I move along with it. I've heard good things about it.

[Stikpusher]

Stik, that is what I was thinking to begin with. I'll be using Model Master paints until I run out. That color converter I have must be off. Fortunately I typically do quite a bit of research, and never just follow kit instructions anymore. They have the interior as Zinc Chromate Green. I know that isn't right, lol.

Well… Model Master did make AMC gray… but since they have been discontinued… But if you do happen to have that color in your paint locker currently, you’re all set. Funny thing is, that color is a near perfect match for early war Neutral Gray 43.
And I’m sure you most likely know it, but dark gull gray for the C-130 interior. Zinc Chromate…