Model Review - USAF Lockheed C-5A Galaxy by Gemini Jets

[YesterAirlines]

I've been getting a lot of military models in the past year and Gemini's MACs series has recently been producing some cool examples. This one uses the excellent C-5 mould, but it would be hepful if GJ put a bit more effort into getting the details correct - such as what type of aircraft it even is

I jest as it is still a nice release.

US Air Force | Lockheed C-5A Galaxy | 68-0226 | Gemini Jets

In the past year I've been getting into military models in a big way. This has meant picking up a lot of older Dragon Wings releases, but also a fair number of Gemini MACs. Nowadays Gemini have a near monopoly on military types, which is both good and bad

www.yesterdaysairlines.com

 

[LeoMuse747]

I've been getting a lot of military models in the past year and Gemini's MACs series has recently been producing some cool examples. This one uses the excellent C-5 mould, but it would be hepful if GJ put a bit more effort into getting the details correct - such as what type of aircraft it even is

I jest as it is still a nice release.

US Air Force | Lockheed C-5A Galaxy | 68-0226 | Gemini Jets

In the past year I've been getting into military models in a big way. This has meant picking up a lot of older Dragon Wings releases, but also a fair number of Gemini MACs. Nowadays Gemini have a near monopoly on military types, which is both good and bad

www.yesterdaysairlines.com

View attachment 57188

Such an awesome model. Hopefully I'll pick a C-5 one day. I'd love to see Gemini Macs doing a C-141 aswell

 

[DTcustoms]

I got it as well, as my first 1:400 C-5 model actually. A nice model indeed

 

[YesterAirlines]

I got it as well, as my first 1:400 C-5 model actually. A nice model indeed

Shame the camo pattern is so inaccurate

 

[JJ Skippy]

Very lovely model and an unexpected comeback for the original A model. Really hope the Starlifter gets done too, if they’re willing to invest in that…

 

[DTcustoms]

Shame the camo pattern is so inaccurate

also mine sometimes the nose wheels aren't touching the ground completely

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

Shame the camo pattern is so inaccurate

Is it just me or is the green much to bright compared to the real color tone of the camo? I have never seen such a bright green military aircraft in the USAF Lol. Looking at photos, the aircraft has more of an olive army green drab in real life.

 

[YesterAirlines]

Is it just me or is the green much to bright compared to the real color tone of the camo? I have never seen such a bright green military aircraft in the USAF Lol. Looking at photos, the aircraft has more of an olive army green drab in real life.

Yeah I think you're right. I was so focused on the position of the camo I didn't notice the colour! It does seem quite variable in different C-5 photos but even so I think you're right

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

Yeah I think you're right. I was so focused on the position of the camo I didn't notice the colour! It does seem quite variable in different C-5 photos but even so I think you're right

The more I looked at it the more I am confident in saying it's far too green... This was my biggest issue when I saw the photos but have only now gotten to cross referencing the real thing.

 

[YesterAirlines]

The more I looked at it the more I am confident in saying it's far too green... This was my biggest issue when I saw the photos but have only now gotten to cross referencing the real thing.

Far be it from me to stick up too much for Gemini, but compared to my other camo USAF aircraft from Dragon the greens are quite dark:

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

Far be it from me to stick up too much for Gemini, but compared to my other camo USAF aircraft from Dragon the greens are quite dark:

View attachment 57212

If we’re comparing the color of limes to olives I’m l going to choose the olive. The green on that model looks like a Christmas Tree. The B1 in your photo I would say is the most accurate color out of your bunch.

 

[JJ Skippy]

Honestly the color isn’t a dealbreaker for me. I’m just happy we got a camo USAF model for the first time in seemingly forever

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

Honestly the color isn’t a dealbreaker for me. I’m just happy we got a camo USAF model for the first time in seemingly forever

To each their own.. for me it was for sure.

 

[Phantom]

Shame the camo pattern is so inaccurate

I think getting an individual camo 100% accurate is near impossible.
Airliners are painted using precise masking (or simply foiling) so they all look the same.
A camo is applied "freehand" and the painters try to work along given painting orders (standards) - more or less accurate. So each airframe's camo is absolutely unique, like a human's fingerprint so to speak.
What I could imagine is GJ trying to paint along such given standard (the internet calls this "European I" I think) instead of replicating an actual airframe's camo. The colours used? I don't know. As much as I love camo, in smaller scales they absolutely don't work for me. Not just because of the scale effect, but also the real thing fades quicker than you could pull the airframe out of the paintshop and because a military airframe rarely ever looks this clean.

On a side note, there were two very distinct camo versions on 1980's C-5s. The one as shown on GJ's airframe and the other camo with a much darker green. The latter being aplied to factory fresh C-5Bs by Lockheed.
This shot of such C-5B shows both greens around the nose:
C-5B 87-0045 by Scott Rathbone, auf Flickr

The flyteam image you linked to is interesting as it also shows the darker green on the wing upperside. This is the replacement wingbox as painted and installed by Lockheed.

Edit: Just for the fun of it, another C-5B with a pretty worn out (Lockheed) camo patched up with the green used by the flying units' paint shops:
C-5B 87-0043, 436th Military Airlift Wing / 9th Airlift Squadron - Dover AFB, Delaware by TAIRNGREACHT_BAS, auf Flickr