E-3B Sentry (USAF)
Photo of the subject aircraft
Photo of the subject aircraft
Photo of the subject aircraft
Photo of the subject aircraft
Photo of the subject aircraft
Cockpit pieces sanded and ejection pin marks removed
Assembled the cockpit and put aside to set. I'm not going crazy detailing the interior of this kit never to be seen again!
Vertical stabilizer assembled
Horizontal stabilizer assembed
Horizontal stabilizer assembed
Main gear wheels assembled
Main gear assembled and ejector pin marks removed
Nose gear assembled and ejector pin marks removed
I will be using the kit TF-33 engines for the E-3B variant. They are not exactly right... but close enough.
Engines partly assembled and ready for paint
The cabin is not close to being as detailed as the AMT/Ertl C-135 models. But that should be fine... not much chance of seeing much through the windscreen!
Sanded off the seams and ejection pin marks from the gear and wheels, and prepared for painting
I usually just glue down moving parts on model kits, but the radome for this kit is very well done!
A couple of the engine intakes needed some coaxing to be round. There were some very large gaps inside the intakes extending up into the pylons. I filled those with white glue, and will finish off with non-shrinking putty later.
Gear painted. The nose wheels for the Heller kit were a real basket case - the hubs were off center and recessed unevenly.
Fortunately I'm not using the gear for my KC-135 build, so I will substitute the AMT/ERTL nose wheels.
Assembled the front gear bay
Painted the rear gear doors. No option on the Heller kit to open the main doors. I'm not going to mess with that!
Assembled the fuselage. I'm gonna need a bigger workbench!
Started painting the radome
Sanded the engines and discovered a bit more work on the interiors was needed. Attached one of the upper wings... looks like getting the dihedral right is going to be a challenge
Opmerkingen
17 8 July 2023, 19:44
Dean HarpsterI've been in a slump, so I decided to try something new. I'm putting all my partially finished things to the side and starting out on an ambitious project to complete my big E-3, RC-135, and KC-135 kits. These are big but relatively simple kits, without lots of fiddly bits and multi-color camouflage schemes. Bonus, it gets three large boxes out of my stash to make my wife happy!
8 July 2023, 19:55
David CulpI'm going to follow your build. I have this kit but haven't built it since I have nowhere to put it.
8 July 2023, 21:00
Dean HarpsterGents, thanks for your interest! I hope I can do these kits justice.
9 July 2023, 21:59
Album info
E-3B Sentry
Operator: US Air Force 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron
Location: Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
Timeframe: 1993-1994
Personal Interest:
This model represents a E-3B of the 3rd Wing, 962d Airborne Air Control squadron circa 1994. These aircraft flew out of Elmendorf AFB near Anchorage, Alaska. They regularly were on patrol to search for aircraft approaching the border and to provide air control for interceptors flying out of King Salmon and Galena. I often provided weather support to E-3B crews via radio while I was stationed at King Salmon airport.
