1:72 C-130J Engine set

C-130J engine set in 1:72 scale (Brengun)

This resin set from the Czech maker Brengun is intended for converting a model of the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport aircraft in 1:72 scale to the C-130J version. It replaces the engines, that is the most conspicuous external difference between the older Hercules aircraft and the modernized J variant. The model, glue and paints are not part of the package.

How the J version differs

Compared with the older machines, the C-130J received different turboprop engines and above all six-blade propellers with wide blades curved at the tips. It is the propellers that identify the version even from a distance: the older Hercules aircraft carried four-blade propellers with straight blades. The shape of the nacelles and the engine cowlings changed too. Anyone who wants to build a C-130J and has a kit of an older Hercules cannot do without replacing the engines; otherwise the model stays inaccurate in the most visible place.

Tips for working resin

Wash the castings in warm soapy water so that no mold release agent is left on them. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw, not with nippers, as resin cracks. Sand the contact faces of the nacelles wet on abrasive paper laid on glass and test the fit dry until it sits with no gap. On the propellers, check that all the blades have the same angle; resin can be slightly adjusted after warming in hot water and holds its shape once it cools. It is bonded with super glue. Apply a primer before painting, as paint comes away from smooth resin without a base coat.

Who the set is for

• Builders of transport aircraft in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who want to turn an older Hercules into the J version
• More experienced builders used to working with resin

This is an accessory set in resin, not a kit. The model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.