Boeing E-8C 93-0597 (Ex B707 VH-EBU)

[RayS]

I got this 1/72 Airfix (E-3) B707 kit a couple of years ago from Bruce Anders part started, well actually almost finished, as he did not want to finish it up.

As I had already built a good old RAAF Seven Oh I pondered what I would use it for.



Along came the Recce GB over on ARC and I decided I would use the Flightpath JSTARS conversion to bring it back to life.



Wolfpak decals released a sheet with markings for 93-0597 which was originally delivered to QANTAS as a B707-338 VH-EBU. Double win!



Unfortunately, the aircraft suffered major damage during mid-air refueling when a tank in the wing over pressurised and ruptured (due to a test plug being left in the fuel vent system after maintenance) back in 2009. In 2012 the aircraft was reported to have broken up and parted out in Al Udeid, Qatar.

[RayS]

So on with some progress, I started on the E-8C today. Mostly scribing and drilling/filing out cabin windows and doors.

I started with the engines, some disassembly so I could fill the huge holes where the turbo compressor are attached on 3 of the engines.



The Flightpath conversion comes with a number of scribing templates.







I had to carve out some of the fuselage for a missing cabin door



Also had to fill some poorly rescribed panel lines and fill some for the new rear cabin doors at the trailing edge of the wing root.



Finally, I glued the missing etch door to the fuselage.

[Graeme H]

A real win win there Ray, nice way to help mark where the windows go, and get the size right
so have slid the chair back, and got the chips out

[RayS]

Cheers Graeme.

The templates are keepers and will be good for some of my AIM vacs when I need to add a door or window here or there.

[hrtpaul]

Looking good there mate. You're a machine

[RayS]

CHeers PAul,

I realised after installing the etch door that I have the template flipped!. SO I have removed it and will have some rescribing, chiselling and filling to do to progress

[Graeme H]

What a bugger

Not sure what was flipped, but I assume the door bottom should be quite a bit lower and on the faintly visible crease line which is the floor on Boeings

[RayS]

Yep,

Top of the door should have been in line with the panel line that runs above the window line.

All fixed now...




Also fitted the canoe radar


...and have been filling and reassembling the engines

[RayS]

After gazing at a few pictures I realised I need the make some minor mods.

All E-8s look like they had a cargo door mod carried out on them either in airline service or during the JSTAR conversion process.

So I scribed a cargo door in



I also noted a couple of issues with the engine pylons, firstly that the No 1 engine had the Turbo Compressor (TC) hood fitted (production 707s did not have a TC fitted to No 1 engine), and secondly that the TC inlet had been reshaped and blanked off.

So out with the card stock, putty files and sand paper.



Top pylon is unmodified, center TC hood modified and bottom pylon has scratch built (still in progress) TC hood installed

[tor lives]

I am really enjoying this build Ray, (looked like a big job relocating that R1 galley door ). Love what you have done so far. Just FYI, if I recall, all E-8s were 707-320Cs, which means they would have all had the main deck cargo doors fitted during initial production.
TOR