Dragon 1/35 OH-6 "Egg" WIP, 03/22/09, "FINISHED"

Before I begin, I beg forgiveness to all of the helicopter regulars as an armor modeler drops in.

After years of service in Air Assault and Artillery, I thought my first try at a heilo would be the OH-6 or Loach or Egg, whatever you prefer.

I will finish the OH-6 in a mid 80s look on an aerial artillery observation mission. Besides the kit itself I will be working with the Eduard PE set and some resin cast extras for the cockpit, plus the usual sods & ends scratch details.

Here is the cockpit generally assembled from the first two steps of the instructions along with Eduard PE added.  In general the fit was good but had to fill some part holes in the rear cabin as I will not be using the mini gun. After assembly, the cockpit was given a primer of Tamiya Black and then a coat of Tamiya Gull Grey (XF54). The control stick was painted with Tamiya Black and the document holder with Vallejo Dark Green.

I have begun the assembly of the figures. The kit only included the pilot and gunner and had to swap the gunner with the co-pilot/observer from the Dragon figure kit. I have worked the figures from the bottom up and the uniforms will be the BDU style using Shinsengumi decals. The figures were first painted with Vallejo Dark Green, except the boots, which were painted Black. They were then coated with future to allow the decals to set down. The picture shows the pants completed with the decals.

While waiting for some parts to set I have added the PH parts to upgrade the control panel

That's where I am at for now. All comments are welcome, thanks for looking.

Rounds Complete!!

Redleg,

  Gino's a pretty darn good helo modeler so I don't judge folks by their avatars.  Your Loach is looking mighty fine.  I have seen several of these started lately.  Can't wait to see what you do with her.  Would you happen to have a pic of the bird yo are building since it's not going to be Miss Clawd IV?  I always like to see the real machines.

     Thanks,

             Ray
 

Rotowash - Thanks for looking in and the vote of confidence. My younger "redleg" brother Gino can turn out one hell of a heilo. With this being my first venture into the roto world....I trying not to auto rotate!!

Sadly, the bird I am thinking of, I can't find any of my pictures . If I find them....they will be up here.

Thanks again, look forward to some new friends on this side of the forums and some good comments.

Rounds Complete!!

Cool, Mike!

It's god to get your head clear of road wheels and tracks once in a while! I may be headd for foreign territory soon myslef!

Are you doing this as a Viet Nam era chopper? I didn't know they wore camo outfits in the Nam?

A very nice start. I just got my hands on the same kit and hope to build it soon. Of all the aircraft I've flown the OH-6 has always been a favorite. It was the corvette of the helicopter fleet. Look forward to following your build.

Charlie

Karl - "And now for something different"....Nope not VN. I will be doing circa mid 80s. I flew in these to do aerial artillery obervation. Trying to re-create my past in 1/35/

Thanks for traveling overhere and thanks for your comments

Retired Gunpilot - Like a car that feels the road the Loach could feel the sky. It was always a blast to fly in the Egg.

Thanks for looking and for your comments

Rounds Complete!!

 Looking forward to it, Redleg!

                            60

the doog wrote:

I didn't know they wore camo outfits in the Nam?

 Early on in the war the guys (before tigerstripes) would wad up their issue fatigues and spray black paint on them to create makeshift camo.

  The pattern you see here (later in the war) was "Vietnam Leaf". Special ops would wear "Tigerstripes" (although it wasn't officially sanction by the US military).

Looking good Mike.  The Edauard PE spruces it up nicely.  I'm waiting to see how it comes out.

Thanks for the compliments on my helos too guys.

M60 - Thanks for stopping in.

Disastermaster - The pattern on the figs is BDU camo from the 1980s. It is different than either of the VN camo patterns. Thanks for stopping by!

Heavy - Thanks, the PE is great on this kit, especially for the controls which are very plain on the kit.

Rounds Complete!!

As I said else where: Looks good so far!

What is it that artillery guys start building helos?
(I was artillery, too)

redleg12 wrote:

M60 - Thanks for stopping in. Disastermaster - The pattern on the figs is BDU camo from the 1980s. It is different than either of the VN camo patterns. Thanks for stopping by! Heavy - Thanks, the PE is great on this kit, especially for the controls which are very plain on the kit. Rounds Complete!!

 My pleasure, KOB!!!!! Awaiting more...

                              60

It has been a few weeks since my last update and with the combination of short bench time and working on the figures, it has taken a while to give you some news.

Figures were done with Shinsengumi BDU decals, Vallejo Dark Green for the vests, boots were painted Tamiya Black, the helmet uses Model Master OD for the helmet and Tamiya IJA Green for the visor section. The knob on the visor and slide section in the center of the visor cover, were coated using a graphite pencil to give that dull worn metal look.

The boom microphone was made from 28 gauge stainless wire and a small piece of painters tape for the microphone. Then it was painted Tamiya Flat Black. Also coming off the helmet is the connection wire which was also made from 28 gauge Stainless wire.

The face, arms and hands were done with Vallejo Flesh tones and then washed with a mixture of flesh and burnt sienna oils.

The entire figure was coated with clear flat to give the final finish. The binoculars used Tamiya Flat Black and the strap is painters tape coated with Model Masters OD. The binoculars are worn using a graphite pencil.

Seat belts were painted with Model Master OD on the belt, Tamiya Flat Black on the buckles and clips which were worn using a graphite pencil/ After all that....here are the figures in their seats

The observer was missing one thing....a map....so I scanned and scaled one of my military maps, folded it and my observer was complete.

After the figures I weathered the cockpit with MIG City Dust and a graphite pencil for wear on the ribs.

Before gluing the cockpit into the body halves, I mounded some 26 gauge stainless wire to create the grab handles on either side of the front door.

After gluing the cockpit in and the two body halves together I had to do some serious seam filling as the kit has a poor lineup and really no lineup pins this leaves a huge seam all around

I then applied details to the hatches and access ports using Archer Transfers . I assembled the engine covers and exhaust port which fit fairly well but will need some filling. And lastly, the tail boon was assembled and mounted.

That's it for this installment. Next is the control panel and wiring details along with the canopy and details.

That's where I am at for now. All comments are welcome, thanks for looking.

Rounds Complete!!

Wow! Nice progress. Keep up the great work.  I can't wait to see the next installment.

     Ray
 

redleg12 wrote:

It has been a few weeks since my last update and with the combination of short bench time and working on the figures, it has taken a while to give you some news. Figures were done with Shinsengumi BDU decals, Vallejo Dark Green for the vests, boots were painted Tamiya Black, the helmet uses Model Master OD for the helmet and Tamiya IJA Green for the visor section. The knob on the visor and slide section in the center of the visor cover, were coated using a graphite pencil to give that dull worn metal look. The boom microphone was made from 28 gauge stainless wire and a small piece of painters tape for the microphone. Then it was painted Tamiya Flat Black. Also coming off the helmet is the connection wire which was also made from 28 gauge Stainless wire. The face, arms and hands were done with Vallejo Flesh tones and then washed with a mixture of flesh and burnt sienna oils. The entire figure was coated with clear flat to give the final finish. The binoculars used Tamiya Flat Black and the strap is painters tape coated with Model Masters OD. The binoculars are worn using a graphite pencil. Seat belts were painted with Model Master OD on the belt, Tamiya Flat Black on the buckles and clips which were worn using a graphite pencil/ After all that....here are the figures in their seats The observer was missing one thing....a map....so I scanned and scaled one of my military maps, folded it and my observer was complete.   After the figures I weathered the cockpit with MIG City Dust and a graphite pencil for wear on the ribs. Before gluing the cockpit into the body halves, I mounded some 26 gauge stainless wire to create the grab handles on either side of the front door. After gluing the cockpit in and the two body halves together I had to do some serious seam filling as the kit has a poor lineup and really no lineup pins this leaves a huge seam all around I then applied details to the hatches and access ports using Archer Transfers . I assembled the engine covers and exhaust port which fit fairly well but will need some filling. And lastly, the tail boon was assembled and mounted. That's it for this installment. Next is the control panel and wiring details along with the canopy and details. That's where I am at for now. All comments are welcome, thanks for looking. Rounds Complete!!

Well hopefully your going to paint the observers gloves since flesh color flight gloves don't suit him.