Hey, guys:
Since getting back into the hobby a year ago, I can be usually found in the a/c forums over yonder. However, the Hasegawa Longbow in my stash is yelling at me something fierce, and I don't think I can resist this bad-a*s looking bird much longer. So after I finish a F-104G, the Apache will be my next build.
Because this will be my first helo, I'm hoping it wouldn't be too burdensome if I could use this thread to pester the resident helo experts here with questions as I progress. If Hasegawa's Longbow topics have been beat to death and I'm just wasting your time, please point me to some relevant links and I'll leave you guys alone.
In any event, the Starfighter is my third build since returning to the hobby, and at this point I'm at the intermediate skill level--I'm getting control of my airbrush, have used some photoetch, occasionally mix my own colors, and do minor weathering. I have yet to try advanced techniques like filters or hardcore weathering, scratchbuilding, or kit-bashing. My biggest concern with helo building in general, and the Longbow in particular, are all of the fiddly bits. The rotor assembly looks intimidating.
SO--here are my first few questions:
1) At a high level, does the helo construction process follow that of a/c, or is that up to the preference of the builder? My educated guess is that you paint and assemble the pit, attach to fuse, assemble fuse, paint, attach fiddly bits, then tackle the assembly and painting of the rotors, then do weathering of the whole bird. How do you guys do it?
2) The Hase instructions call for some kind of mix between black and olive drab for the body color. I typically use MM enamels. Does MM have an Apache specific color I can use? I prefer not to mix, if I can avoid it.
3) Are there any AM goodies one MUST have for this kit? :-)
Thanks so much for you help, if you can provide. Greatly appreciated!
Porbkits