Alenia C-27J Spartan by Italeri
1/72 scale
Kit No. 1450
Retail: $55.00
Decals: Five versions – Three Italian, one USAF, and one Royal Australian Air Force
Comments: Engraved panel lines, detailed cockpit, optional position cargo door, optional position access door for pilots
History
The Alenia (originally Aeritalia) C-27J Spartan is a tactical military transport aircraft that has been in service with various nations since 1997. It was designed and manufactured by Alenia Aermacchi, now part of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. It is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica’s earlier G.222, and has sometimes been called the “Baby Hercules” with good reason — it is equipped with the engines and various other systems also used on the larger Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. In addition to the standard transport configuration, specialized variants of the C-27J have been developed for maritime patrol, search and rescue, C3 ISR (command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), fire support/ground-attack and electronic warfare missions.
In 2007, the C-27J was selected as the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) for the United States military. In 2012, the United States Air Force (USAF) elected to retire the C-27J after only a short service life due to budget cuts; they were later reassigned to the U.S. Coast Guard and United States Special Operations Command. The C-27J has also been ordered by the military air units of Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, France, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,and Zambia.
The aircraft can carry up to 20 tons of cargo or 92 fully equipped troops. Since its entry into service in 2008, it has been used extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq by the U.S., NATO allies, and coalition partners, as well as a host of other nations for humanitarian missions after natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
The C-27J Spartan has the same logistical and maintenance characteristics of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules medium tactical airlifter, and features a similar cargo capacity, since it can accommodate Hercules cargo pallets. The primary roles of the C-27J are cargo transport, troop transport, and material and paratroop air drop. Other missions include maritime patrol, tactical operations, medical evacuation, ground refueling, fire-fighting and aerial spraying.
An upward-opening door is installed in the underside rear fuselage, which is used for air drops of pallets or CDS (container delivery systems) units. The air-drop speed is typically in the range 110kt to 140kt (126 t0 161 mph).The aircraft is pressurized and air conditioned in both the cockpit and cargo compartment. In the medical evacuation role, the C-27J can carry 24 casualties on litters (stretchers) and four medical attendants. The cargo compartment is equipped with a dedicated aero-medical oxygen supply and 12 power centers for medical or auxiliary equipment.
For the paratroop role, the aircraft is equipped with door-jump platforms and static lines, and can carry up to 24 fully equipped paratroops. Paratroop jumps can be carried out from the paratroop doors on both sides of the cargo compartment or from the cargo ramp and rear door.
The tactical nature of this versatile aircraft is underscored when it is compared with the aircraft from which it was derived, the Lockheed C-130. The C-27J Spartan has a maximum speed of 602 km/hour (374 mph), a range of 1852 km (1,150 miles), and a service ceiling of 9144 meters (30,000 ft.). The C-130 Super Hercules has a maximum speed of 670 km/hour (416 mph), a range of 3300 km (2,100 miles) with maximum payload, and a service ceiling of 8500 meters (28,000 ft.) with maximum payload.
The Kit
Italeri’s C-27J Spartan is injection molded in grey plastic and consists of 200 parts, including 19 clear parts for the windscreen, windows, and external navigation and running lights. The kit features an exquisitely detailed cockpit, including four-part seats with separately mounted armrests for the pilot and co-pilot, main instrument panel and center console bearing raised relief, separate control yokes, and raised details for the bulkhead mounted instrumentation.
The cargo compartment features raised detail on the floor and is to be encased in a large, separate tube-like shell within the fuselage. The large cargo door at the rear of this shell can be depicted open or closed, and features a separate loading ramp. The instructions recommend that 50 grams of weight be added to the nose before the fuselage is sealed up, and there are a variety of blade antennae, sensors and other small parts to be added to the external fuselage, depending on the version of the C-27J or the G.222 that modelers choose to build.
In addition, the engine nacelle assemblies feature alternate internal intake trunking which is unique to either the C-27J or the G.222, and feature options for the propellers (the curved six-bladed version borrowed from the C-130 airframe, or the squared off three-bladed version for the original G.222). The wings and elevators have detailed, separately mounted control surfaces.
Markings
The kit decals are manufactured by Cartograf and come on a large sheet measuring 9 x 12 inches and providing decals for five versions. They appear to be of excellent quality, consistent with the Cartograf standard, sharp, colorful and fully in register with a flawless semi-gloss finish.
The first version is for the U.S. Air Force, a C-27J with the 164th Airlift Squadron, 179th Air Wing, based at Mansfield Lahm Air Base, Ohio, circa 2010. It is painted in a scheme of overall Light Compass Ghost Grey (per the instructions; I have seen Compass Grey and Ghost Grey, but this is the first time I’ve seen the two used together to describe a single paint) and Black spinners. The paint scheme is unremarkable save for an orange horizontal band on the tail.
The second version is for a C-27J of the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare), the 46th Brigata Area, 98 Gruppo, displayed at the Farnborough International Air Exhibition, circa 2010, and features rather small roundels on the rear fuselage and under surfaces of the wings only. It is painted in a scheme of overall Light Grey with Black spinners.
The third version is for a C-27J of the 35th Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force, based at Amberley Air Base, circa 2018. It is painted in a scheme of Flat Gunship Grey over Flat Light Grey, and bears a white horizontal band with an orange border on the tail, overlaid by an image of an orange Kangaroo.
The fourth version is for a G.222 (C-27A) of the Aerobrigata Trasporti (Tranport Air Brigade) of the Aeronautica Militare, 98 Gruppo, which was shot down near Sarajevo, Bosnia on September 3, 1992. It features large Italian roundels in all six traditional positions of the airframe, which is painted in a scheme of Flat Ocean Grey and Flat Dark Green over Flat Steel under surfaces.
The fifth version is for a G.222 of the Aeronautica Militare, 14 Stormo, 71 Gruppo, circa May 2008. It is painted in a scheme of overall Light Grey and like the aircraft of the 46th Air Brigade (second version), it features rather small roundels on the rear fuselage and under surfaces of the wings only.
Conclusion
This is a highly detailed kit of a state-of the art tactical transport aircraft. Highly recommended.
References
https://aerocorner.com/
https://hangar.flights/
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/spartan/
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/c130.html