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Heller 1/72 C-121A Constellation "Berlin"


stefanwest

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Bought this from a vendor at our last IPMS show. Only piece missing was the control panel so I decided to just paint over the cockpit windows. Besides, they are so small you cannot see any detail inside. Here is my progress so far.

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Panel lines all replaced and now painting the windows to be masked later.

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Add some plastic stock for tabs to prevent the wing from sinking in too far when it is finally attached.

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Here I am testing fitting the wing.

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More test fitting. Going to be a big plane.

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Test fitting a completed engine.

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That is a cool airplane, with so many markings possibilities, civilian and military! Nice progress so far. What NMF are you using, and whose markings will you do?

 

GIL :smiley16:

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It is called Silouette SD. It is a hobby version of a vinyl cutter. Bought it from USCutter.com. Difference is the software will allow you to use any kind of picture, clip art or computer font for use in cutting. I use it for creating masks buy cutting blue tape. You can also use software to create design and print that to decal paper using regular printer then send the design to the cutter and cut the design out from the paper. Have done that with label paper for another hobby. This is different from the Cricket cutter you see in Walmart. That system only cuts images stored on cartridges.

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The cutter looks like a ink jet printer. Instead of ink cartridges it has a knife blade. Never tried this but you create you own nose art for aircraft and then let the cutter cut it out with no extra decal film showing up on models. Especially planes with metal finish. Bought the cutter as a starter kit. Think I paid around $250.00 for the whole setup.

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Thanks! Not to highjack your build thread, but it sounds like it would work great to cut a white backing for decals that are too transparent. Plus cutting shapes for masks.

 

Anyway, please proceed with the buildup of the C-121. :smiley20:

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Landing gear ready for paint.

 

 

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Wings attached and gaps filled in. Just need to replace panel lines and then ready for paint.

 

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Test fitting all four engines. Starting to look good.

 

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Just a quick note on the cutter. Creating your own decals using blank decal paper and then have the cutter cut them out will work because the software will print guidelines (basically some black lines) along with the images it prints when it uses the ink jet printer. The cutter has a sensor that will look for these guidelines so it knows exactly where to start cutting. The software handles this. So cutting new decals on white decal paper and have it trimmed should work. I have a few projects I would like to try. Below is my Airfix Chipmunk with recreated decals. I had to hand trim the decals created on white decal paper so this would have been a good project to try that.

 

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I found an easy way to get the wings and tail in alignment when I built one of the other Heller versions. Glue the main wings on first. The top tips of the three rudders should be at the same level. Turn the model over and support each wingtip equally with the tip of the central rudder on the table. Add each side rudder and stabilizer assembly with the tips also touching the table. Thus, the horizontal stabilizers are level across and in line with the wings. This works on the Revell and Minicraft 1/144 Connie kits, too.

 

I agree about the visibility of the cockpit details through the tiny windows. I added the flight engineer's station behind the copilot and the radio/instrument rack, behind the pilot, added a cockpit door to the rear bulkhead, and scribed in the exit door outline on the inside of the cockpit wall. None of this is visible without a strong penlight bulb shining through windows as you squint with a magnifier through different windows. And, the cockpit "detail" as provided is not all that hot, either.

 

Without a lot of weight added to the nose, this model is a tail-sitter. I hope you balance tested this thing before closing up the fuselage because adding weights is a real challenge otherwise. My weights broke loose, and I had to cut a hole in the bottom to fish them out and build a new retaining structure for them. Then, of course, you have to patch up the hole you cut.

 

Ed

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  • 2 weeks later...

Bravo! Great model! I've always had the desire to do a MATS transport. Did you use the kit decals or aftermarket? They look excellent for Heller decals, especially given their age. What shades of Alclad did you apply over the base coat? It doesn't have the bright chrome look that would appear only on a purposely-polished aircraft. You have given me hope for completing the USAF EC-121D "Triple Nickel" conversion at the USAF Museum (using IPMS National Convention decals from 1985(?)) based on the USN EC-121 Warning Star kit.

 

Ed

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I used the normal Aluminum. I also used Alclad clear gloss before applying decals and after. I was worried because the decals were original and in excellent shape but very thin. I trimmed them but they tended to curly up on me. The black letter decals left a haze on the finish but once I applied the Alclad clear gloss over them, they blended into the finish really nice. Speaking of EC-121 Warning Star. I have the Heller/Humbrol kit of that plane. I plan on painting it OOB which will be white and Dark Sea Blue which is the Navy version of the Warning Star.

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