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​MINICRAFT MODELS HAS THREE KIT LINES (C-130, B-52, KC-135) IN THEIR VAST 1/144 SCALE MILITARY CATALOG THAT HAVE THE DISTINCTION OF PORTRAYING AIRCRAFT THAT HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY.  EACH  OF THESE SIGNIFICANT AIRCRAFT TYPES HAS BEEN GIVEN FIRST-CLASS TREATMENT BY MINICRAFT WITH MULTIPLE VARIANTS AVAILABLE, GIVING MODELERS THE OPTION OF PORTRAYING THE AIRCRAFT IN EARLY OR LATE VERSIONS.  JOIN US AS WE EXAMINE MINICRAFT'S KC-135 KITS IN-DEPTH.

By Bill Engar

IN-A-NUTSHELL:  Minicraft uses state-of-the-art technology to execute a first class kit of an iconic aircraft.  All the boxes are checked for the important things such as accuracy, ease-of-construction, details, and decals.  This is simply a drop-dead gorgeous kit!  You'll want to collect each of the variants!

In this review, we'll take a look at all four Minicraft KC-135 variants.

The KC-135 has been in service with the USAF since 1957.  Revell released a model of the aircraft that same year.  For many years, Revell's KC-135 was the model you bought if you wanted to build one of these aircraft in 1/144 scale (or more accurately, near 1/144 scale!!).  The last Revell KC-135 release was in 1982, however, and the model was getting hard to find since then.  Welsh Models made a vacuum-form version, but this one could be tricky to find as well.

MINICRAFT KC-135A

The open-box portion of our review will focus on the KC-135A.  It is not the first kit in the series to be released, but the "A" is the initial variant of the KC-135 to fly.  J-57 turbojet engines distinguish this version.

I wondered how interested I’d be in a new, injection-molded KC-135 once Minicraft announced that they were planning to release one.  After all, I already had a stash of the Revell kits.
 
Once the Minicraft KC-135 was released and its details were divulged, I was excited to get one.  Minicraft took serious measures to be sure that modelers would want the new KC-135!  For starters, the model was extensively researched.  Simply putting a refueling boom on a 707 and calling it a KC-135 did not fly here.  The KC-135 has a narrower fuselage than the 707.  

Your choice of two aircraft can be depicted with the decals included in the kit.

The prototype 707/KC-135, known as the 367-80, or "Dash-80," had a 132-inch fuselage width suitable for five-abreast seating in passenger-form.  Boeing decided that six-abreast seating was a better choice, and the fuselage for both KC-135 and 707 changed to 144 inches.  Tooling was cut, but in order to guarantee passenger version sales to American Airlines, the fuselage width on the 707 was changed to 148 inches in order to provide more shoulder room than the competing DC-8.  Width for the KC-135 was left at 144 inches.

Every aspect of a Minicraft kit is first-rate quality.  Kit contents are always protected in a sturdy box.  Each sprue is bagged.  You can be assured that all parts will be in factory-fresh condition when you start building.

The Minicraft KC-135 has accurate detailing such as the stiffening bands around the rear fuselage.  The under-fuselage “bubble” representing the refueling station is correctly proportioned.  Engraved detailing is extensive and includes many features unique to the KC-135.  Minicraft Models released their own Intercontinental 707 some years ago, and the new KC-135 kit shares no relation to that effort.

The fuselage appears to be spot-on in detailing and proportions.  We like the PDL light bars depicted on the lower forward fuselage.

A cockpit cap provides the option of clear windows.  You could scratchbuild cockpit details such as seats and instruments in there if you want, or simplify construction with decal windows instead--Minicraft gives you the option.

There is no interior, although Minicraft includes a clear cockpit  “canopy” piece.  The cargo door is molded-in, but includes detailing on the inside giving a scratchbuilder opportunities to cut the door open and add an interior.  Doing so anywhere except in the proximity of the door will make it difficult to see any of that detail, however.  If you feel the need to build the internals of a KC-135, like my Brudder Dick, AMT’s KC-135 kit has a fully detailed cockpit right out of the box in 1/72 scale.  Most of that won’t be seen when the fuselage is glued shut, either.

Front wheels, refueling boom, and HF probe antenna are nicely executed.

Instead of inaccurate, ridiculously shallow wheel wells like most other 1/144 kits, Minicraft went to extra effort to portray realistic depth here.  Those struts have detail you don't even see on many 1/72 scale kits.

I found a few subtle sink marks that might not bother anyone except the persnickety contest modeler.  Filling these should not hurt any detail.  The engines on my “E” version have rather thick edges at the exhausts, but this was easily fixed with a few shaves with the hobby knife and sandpaper.  The “A” version has nicely executed exhaust cones so no extra work will be needed there.

Minicraft's forward landing gear strut is at left.  It has been painted and weathered slightly to enhance the details.  Compare it to the Revell version on the right.  That's what 50 years of technology and a lot of passion to produce an exceptional model kit will get you.

Fit of the wings is excellent although I’d recommend not getting any paint on the wing root attachment area.  Wing fit is so tight, a layer of paint might make the wing not seat fully.  Scraping it down to fit is easy, regardless, or just mask the wing if you’re doing any painting or priming before gluing on the wings.
 
Revell’s old KC-135 kit came only as an “A” model with J57 engines.  You could borrow a set of TF33’s out of a Revell 707 kit to build a KC-135E, but Minicraft has produced their KC-135 in both of these versions.  In fact, Minicraft released a KC-135R version with CFM56 engines (high-bypass, large diameter fans) and additional variants are in the pipeline.  So, it’s pretty easy to build a KC-135 from any era!

Minicraft’s decals are made by Cartograf.  This means high-quality all the way.  You’ll need a magnifier to see the fine details, and they’ll go on easily.
 

The wings were well-executed.  We like how Minicraft captured the raindrop-like landing gear pivot fairing near the wing root.  It's missing completely on the Revell kit.

The decal sheet to the KC-135A.  Cartograf.  Nice.  That's all you need to know!

Other reviewers have commented on the heavy sprue attachment points on some parts.  You do need to take some extra care while removing the parts.  Note, however, that the ejector pin locations are on the sprues with fewer on the parts themselves.  It's much better to have these sometimes pesky critters on the sprues instead of on the parts themselves, isn't it!  Who fills ejector pin marks on the sprues anyway?

The instructions include a short history, and a parts locator map, which make it very easy to identify parts even if you've already removed them from the sprue.  Assembly steps are straightforward.  Don't forget to put weight in the nose to avoid a tail-sitter.

Brudder Dick's Minicraft KC-135A finished in silver guise.

One of Minicraft's innovations that comes from their airliner line is a one-piece engine intake that avoids that horrible seam ahead of the fan that is practically impossible to fill.  Those intakes are here in the KC-135A.

If the engines look a little close to the "ground" in some of these photos, it's because Dick's white photo background-drape had an upward bow in it where it drooped over the table he used to photograph these models.  Don't worry; the stance and engine height on the Minicraft KC-135's is spot-on.  Great efforts were expended by Minicraft to get everything right on this kit!

A lot has changed in the modeling world in fifty years.  Minicraft took full advantage of the technological advancements during that time to create a KC-135 kit that is worlds better than the old Revell standby.  The KC-135 is an important aircraft to the U.S. Air Force, still in service since 1957.  This kit is a great tribute to this plane and may well be one of the best 1/144-scale kits out there.  Dem Brudders endorse and recommend these kits with four thumbs up!

MINICRAFT'S KC-135E

Minicraft's KC-135 kit first showed up in 2013 as the "E" variant.  a striking Tigermeet decal spices up the standard AMC-gray decor.  If you're feeling less adventurous, a standard Kansas National Guard circa 2004 is included.

P&W TF-33 engines distinguished the KC-135E from its older "A" version.  The TF-33's increased power and efficiency over the original J-57's that originally came with the KC-135A's.  We knew that Minicraft was planning additional variants of the kit when the KC-135E came with the engines on their own dedicated sprue.

Minicraft's KC-135E was the first version of this kit.

Intakes for the TF-33 engines on the "E."  Note the sprue attachmment points.  They're thick, but with the smallest amount of care, the parts clean up nicely.

The exhaust lip is a tad thick for my liking, but it was very easy to trim it open just a tad (right).  A simpler fix would be to paint it flat black.  The exhaust cone on the J57's that come with the "A" variant are perfect.

These minor sinkholes resided around the forward gear well.  Most modelers might not care about them; they're just not that noticeable.

​The KC-135E looks great in its AMC-Gray finish.  Wing-walk stripes are included on the decal sheet.

Dick's KC-135E in a Tiger Meet guise.

MINICRAFT'S KC-135R

The KC-135 was known for being underpowered in its early incarnations.  Adding high-bypass turbofans to the KC-135 in the form of the CFM56 engine nearly doubled engine power compared to the early versions and some pilots referred to the KC-135 as a "hotrod" after this.  Once the retrofit was completed, the KC-135's became known as KC-135R's.

Minicraft's KC-135R adds a set of CFM56 engines to the kit line.

Adding the big turbofans could create some dicey handling characteristics in certain scenarios, however.  Thanks to the large frontal area, engine-out events, particularly on the outboard units, can make a pilot sweat thanks to a huge amount of drag caused by a dead engine.  They also enhance the effects of crosswinds on the aircraft.  An outboard engine failure combined with a crosswind landing will test a pilot's skill.  Fortunately, such events are rare thanks to the exceptional reliability of the CFM56 engine--but pilots train for it anyway!

In 2005, Minicraft came out with an exceptional DC-8 kit, which included CFM56 engines (to make a DC-8 Series 71 aircraft).  They actually sell the engines from this kit in a separate bag!  So you could assume that the same engine sprue would be included to make a KC-135R, right?  Nope!  The engines to the KC-135R were newly-tooled for the "R" variant, and they are absolutely gorgeous!

At left, the Heller/AMT hot sections.  Minicraft at right.  The Minicraft kit is just as detailed as the 1/72 kit.

The Minicraft engine prior to adding the nacelle half.

The intake is one piece without the split inside, just like the other KC-135 kits.

Dick uses Parafilm to mask the intake lip.

The APU on the "R" is a little different than on the A/E variants.

Here's the finished version.

Compare Dick's 1/144-scale Minicraft KC-135R to his Heller (AMT) C-135 FR, in 1/72 scale.

Here's a closeup of the engines of Dick's Minicraft KC-135R.

MINICRAFT'S EC-135C
The KC-135 was designed as an air-to-air refueling aircraft with cargo hauling a secondary role.  The airframe proved effective and reliable and was soon adapted by the USAF for reconnaissance and command-and-control missions.  Minicraft's latest member of their KC-135 family is the EC-135C.  This aircraft has been called the "Doomsday Plane." 

Minicraft's "Looking Glass" EC-135C kit has new parts to depict its Cold War "Doomsday" mission.

During its Looking Glass role, at least one EC-135 aircraft was airborne 24 hours a day, from February 3, 1961 until July 24, 1990, an astounding 29 years.  Minicraft Models has created new parts to depict the plane in its ominous role.  If needed, the EC-135C was capable of relaying launch commands for the USAF's ground-based ICBM force if the normal launch control centers were disabled during an attack.  While the continuously-airborne Looking Glass missions quit in 1990, the EC-135's stayed on constant alert whether on the ground or in the air.  In 1998, the US Navy's E-6 Mercury, based on the 707, took over the mission.  As stated earlier, the 707 is a close cousin of the KC-135 via its Dash-80 roots.

An "outrigger" on the "E" engine sprue has the new plastic for the EC-135.  Those TF-33 engines, appropriate for the EC-135C, came with the original Minicraft KC-135E.

A closeup shot of the new antenna parts for the EC-135C.  The TWA housing and drogue are there!

The EC-135C has some small "stick" antennas not portrayed in the kit.  If a modeler wishes to depict these, the best way is to get some thin nails that are the right diameter.  Notches can be cut in the kit centerline on both fuselage halves at the right locations, and the nails can be cut to the correct length (factoring for the thickness of the fuselage) and glued into one half with epoxy glue with the nail head even with the inside of the fuselage.  When gluing the fuselage together, a dab of epoxy on the exposed half of the nail head will provide additional reinforcement.  This method will make for very durable antenna that will not break off during finishing of the model.

Similar schemes for two Offut-based aircraft are included.  Stay tuned for more from Offut AFB later in this article.

A large Cartograf decal sheet includes all markings needed to depict a historic Cold War "Looking Glass" aircraft in Minicraft's EC-135C kit.

One of the very cool components included with the new parts is the trailing-wire antenna housing and the funnel drogue for the antenna end.  This system would unfurl a very long wire (2.5 mi/4 km) running a very low frequency signal capable of communication with submerged fleet ballistic missile submarines.  The small cone piece is the funnel drogue; you can thin the trailing edge of this part from the inside of the cone to increase realism.  Awesome!

DEM BRUDDERS WHAT-DOES-IT-HAVE-TO-DO-WITH-MODELING TECH-NERD TRIVIA:  VLF (Very Low Frequency) communications work in the 3-30 kHz range.  Higher frequencies generally are shielded by seawater.  A submarine at a safe depth could raise an antenna on a tether to receive transmissions from an aircraft using this system.  One of the downsides in the lower frequency range in particular is that the bandwidth to provide information in quantity is very limited due to the length of time it takes to send data packets via the long, slow wavelength.

The cabin of an EC-135 during a Looking Glass mission.

So there you have it; Minicraft racks up another winner with a historically significant entry in their KC-135 family of model kits.  Dem Brudders give this kit and the rest of the kits in the series an enthusiastic four thumbs up!

I asked Lewis Nace, president of Minicraft Models, if there are plans in the works to add additional variants of the KC-135 family.  He said that for now at least, the series will stand at these four variants as he focuses on bringing you some other exciting new model kits.  Of course, we know that plans could always change in the future, and there is nothing to stop the modeler from modifying Minicraft's kit into the version of their choice!​

​We've got some amazing "Bonus Material" coming up for this article!  Stay tuned!  Dem Brudders were fortunate to get ramp access for a closeup look at a current Rivet Joint mission aircraft, the RC-135V, at Offutt Air Force Base!  We'll provide enough photos for you to build your own model of this cool C-135 variant!  Other great conversion ideas for the Minicraft kit include NASA 931, the zero-gravity "Vomit Comet" trainer aircraft, and the "Dash-80" 707/KC-135 prototype!  We'll post photos of those, too!