Italeri – 1310 – AC-130H SPECTRE

Description:

AC-130H SPECTRE

The Lockheed AC-130 Spectre is an armed tactical support variant of the C-130 Hercules. It initially replaced the AC-47 and AC-119 in a supporting role during the Vietnam War. The U.S. Air Force utilized the AC-130 for close air support, area interdiction, and force protection. In close air support, the AC-130 assisted ground troops, escorted convoys, and conducted urban operations. Air interdiction missions targeted planned objectives and targets of opportunity, while force protection missions involved defending air bases and other facilities. The AC-130 Gunship arrived in South Vietnam on September 21, 1967, and commenced combat operations that year. Following the Vietnam conflict, the U.S. Air Force developed a new series of these aircraft based on the C-130H model, featuring more powerful engines with four-blade propellers and enhanced navigation and night vision systems. The AC-130H, known as “Spectre,” has been deployed in all U.S. military conflicts over the past decade and continues to be used, with further upgrades, in the conflict in Afghanistan.

This kit, released in 2011, is a reissue of the older ESCI kit (1990 release) for the same topic. The ESCI kit has several errors that are still reproduced here but Italeri reworked the clear main part of the canopy, correcting panels positions and sizes to a better shape. Only with this change this is a better model than what the original ESCI was, but it still present problems on nose shape, fuselage and engines size, and Italeri added some problem with decals. It’s a workable kit but our recommendation is for skilled and advanced modelers.