KC-130J Harvest Hawk VMGR-252

Ray Seppala
Nice job Jacob, who's decals did you use?

Jacob Rittenhouse
Thanks Ray. I used a Warbird sheet, but printed my own for most of the markings. Only used the roundel and USMC marking from the sheet. The rest were mine. I was going for a specific aircraft. (#511 from VMGR-252 in the Harvest Hawk test config).

Ray Seppala
Thanks Jacob, I have the Warbirds sheet and think the colours are a bit off. So I am using the Wolfpak sheet (72-117) for mine, looks like it is for the same aircraft! Hope it turns out as good as yours, I just starting the paint stage and finding I have some filling to do.

Jacob Rittenhouse
Agreed on the colors being off on the warbird sheet. I wasn't very happy with them, but I didn't use too many so I just sucked it up.

I found the kit required quite a bit of filing, and I didn't do a great job with it. Wish I had spent more time on it after the primer went down.

Juergen Klinglhuber
nice Herc

Ray Seppala
I have been working on mine for a while and I know about the filling. I have used aftermarket on it to correct a few issues. Mine is mostly painted now. Just need to tend to the fiddley parts and finish painting the external tanks.

David W
Hi, I'm looking for the new props for the C130, I have the old Italeri kit. Any idea?

Jacob Rittenhouse
Not sure. When you say "new props" do you mean you have a 4 bladed prop and you want the 6 bladed prop? You may be able to find some aftermarket resin kits for new props.

David W
The 6 bladed one. I can't find it on e-bay or MBK.

Jacob Rittenhouse
That's a tough one. The C-130J uses the 6 blades, and I think the whole engine assembly is slightly different in addition to the blades. You may just have to grab a new kit for the C-130J. It sounds like you have a C-130H kit. I've never seen an H to J conversion set.

David W
Yes. Thought so too. I'm looking for a C 130 kit to try out IAF colours. Will need the detail/conversion kit for that.

Augie
David, You cant just bolt on 6 blade props to make a J, the whole Engine nacelle is different.

David W
Augie, wanted to try & scratch build since I already had a kit, but will will pick up a new J kit.

Augie
Most of it would work, but would need replacement donks, and nacelles. Other than that differences are minor

Ray Seppala
On my KC-130J build (album and project under my profile), I started with the base Italeri C-130E/H (KC-130F boxing which just has different decals) kit, I added J models engines, longer sponsons, modified exhausts and various J specific antennas and EWSP kit. @David W, if you want to build an Israeli C-130J you will also need to stretch it. Wingman and Multicast did the set which included fuselage plugs, engines & Props, antennas and decals for an Israeli version. @Augie, the main landing gear sponsons are also short and need modifying/extending, again see my album.

David W
@Ray.. Thanks for the info Ray. I was looking at the Indian Air Force C-130J. Much similar to the Israeli one with stretched fuselage & antenna arrays, but also with mid-air refueling probe. Much appreciated. Will follow your tips.

Casey Beckett
Lovely Hellfire Herk! Excellent work!

Ray Seppala
@David W, when I saw IAF for some reason I starlight away though Israeli Air Force! I don't think there is much difference between different Air Force C-130J-30s except for minor changes to antenna fit.

David W
Yup. I can't get a proper match on the grey shade though. It's called Tipnis Grey - a mix b/w Dove Grey & another shade of grey that's bluish or hazy depending on the light.