I built a small
CC-137 a while back, but 1/144 is not a good scale for me – way too small.
So
I picked up this big Heller kit, and mated it with a very old set of Leading
Edge decals and resin air refuelling pods. This is not quite up to the standard
set by the Phantom with his big white cow, but I like it anyway.
Click on
images below to see larger images
Dave Koss from Leading Edge
was very nice – he took the time to dig up these old decals, even though
they were listed as out of stock. He even sent multiples of some like the
window stripes, because they were so old and likely to flake to pieces.
I
found it quite challenging to affix some of these, and the decaling is not
perfect if you look closely.
I painted the white
using Canadian Tire white primer – very hard to be patient and make several
very light coats. I used a grey spray can for the bottom. I think the engines
turned out pretty well, with the different shades of metal and the grey doors
around the intakes. In pic 04, you can see the real thing, refuelling a couple
old Canadian jets. My favourite story about this refueling aircraft is when two
USN F-14s were out of gas and ideas egressing from Iraq during the first Gulf
War. They asked for a bailout vector, or a vector to a tanker. When they caught
sight of the tanker, they told the controller that it wasn’t a tanker – it
was an airliner. As they moved closer, they saw the hoses trailing, and promptly
plugged in, one on each wingtip. Canada hadn’t authorised refuelling on any
aircraft other than F-18s for our CC-137s at that point. When these big Tomcats
plugged in, the pilots asked what had plugged so hard. The operator of the
refuelling system told him they were two Tomcats, and asked “what do I do –
we’re not supposed to refuel these guys according to orders”. The pilot
probably said something like “well, it’s a little late now... give them
gas!” Our tanker crew received thanks from the USN for being able to
give them fuel when they were running on fumes. Shortly after that, National
Defence HQ authorised refuelling of F-14s...
Dan McWilliams
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images below to see larger images
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