C-130J Hercules

Italeri, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

Italeri's 1/48 scale C-130J Hercules will be available online from Squadron.com

Italeri has updated their 1/72 scale C-130E and H kits with a few new sprues for this new release as the short-fuselage version of the C-130J. Please note that this is not the stretched version.

There are 189 light grey injection moulded plastic parts and 21 clear parts in the kit, a large decal sheet covering 3 different schemes, and an information book.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

When this kit was first released many years ago it was a vast improvement over the old Airfix kit, but the Italeri moulds are now starting to show their age.  The surface detail is raised and quite sparse by today’s standard.  But with this in mind the kit does contain all of the parts to make a non stretched C-130J. 

The original Allison T-56A engines are replaced with the later Allison AE2100D3 Turboprop engines as a direct replacement.  Dowty 6 blade composite propellers replace the old Hamilton Standard 4 blade propellers.  For this kit some minor surgery is required to cut off the old beaver tail and replace it with the newer version.  To complete the upgrade a new instrument panel is provided as well as the many different antennas and air scoops.  There are a few more let downs though some of the chaff and flare dispensers and missile warning system antennas are not provided.

Accuracy is not bad when compared to the Warpaint plans that I have.  The fuselage is about 3.5mm short in 1/72 scale, while the wings and overall shape is quite accurate.  A fairly basic interior floor is provided but as any person who has spent some time in the rear of a Herc the cargo bay is a very busy area, so there is plenty of scope for extra detail.

The transparencies are moulded crystal clear.  A nice addition is a colour information book with some very nice photographs and a short history of the Hercules through its development is provided.

Italeri includes a useful reference book with the kit. This book advises that all you can build the stretched version of the Hercules by purchasing a vacuum formed conversion kit or a second Italeri C130 kit, and sacrifice the kit for the centre fuselage section to act as a plug for the extension.  The fit of the C-130H kit from memory presented no problems at all, but some filler was required on the fuselage seams and wing to fuselage joins.

Decals are provided for three aircraft as follows

1. C-130J Hercules of the US Maryland National Guard.  This aircraft was finished in overall Air Mobility Com Grey FS 36173

2. C-130J Hercules of the Italian Air Force-46 Brigata Aerea.  This aircraft was finished in overall Air Mobility Com Grey FS 36173

3. Hercules Mk.5 of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Lyneham.  This aircraft was finished in overall Air Mobility Com Grey FS 36173.

The decals are crisp, accurate in colour and in register.  My previous experience with Italeri decals has been that they have been a bit stiff and have not conformed well to the surface detail, but these look very good. 

Recommended for all modellers of average skill and experience.

Thanks to Italeri for the review sample