Completed Italeri UH-34A

It seems to me you made this in a month, and at 1/72 yet. Very nice, sir!

My only comment would be to wash some black into the vent ribs on the rear of the transmission. Really wonderful. Did you like Virginia? Horrible in the Summer.

Where's the "A" on the right side? Must be a story there.

bondoman,

I'll wager the "A" is behind the open door.  When door is fully closed it would show "ARMY".

Beautiful H-34! I really like this kit and am looking forward to building it.  thanks for the tips.  Here's what I think I'm going to do with mine.  Again, really nice build!

   Ray

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Very nice UH-34, any plans to have a CH-37 join it?

I've gotten hooked Italeri's various S-55 and S-58 kits and so its nice to see one getting built.

A very nicely done H-34. I have a 1/48th scale I plan on building and can't wait to get at it. I love the droop you got in the blades, not overly done. Again, very nice.

Charlie

I've built both, the Hobby Boss kit is ok, but the Italeri kit is nicer. It has better detail, better fit and offers more building options. The seperate nose also lends itself to modification or detailing. Combining the UH-34 kit with either of the Wessex kits (for the landing gear) allows you to build pretty much any model of the S-58.

Cobra Company has an interior detail set for the UH-34 and Wessex kits. He also has a turbine nose for an S-58T.

Hobby Boss might be great at some things, but US helos ain't one of em. Both their Huey and Cobra kits are lacking based on the sprue shots I have seen.  In fact, they have an armed medivac as the boxart on their UH-1B kit!  Gonna have to build me one of those for sure!  Unfortunately, it's not just the artwork though, the kits just ain't right.  Guess the UH-34 had the same designers.

    Ray

Very nice build John .

I recently finished airbrushing a third 1/72 Italeri H-34D kit , Number 3 is finished in an overall Semi-gloss Fluorescent red/orange scheme . I masked and airbrushed the engine inlet screens flat black but after looking at your H-34 bird , a more subtle black wash like you did john certainly looks better . There's a pic in Squadrons H-34 in action book , on page 37 is what I'm trying to copy , I've had to scrounge around the decal spares box for NAVY markings and numbers , I probably should of done this before I settled on the paint finish . Making my own decals like you did John seems like something I should look into . I'm sure I saw clear decal film at the hobby store last week , Ill have to go back and check it out. I have another 3 H-34's in my stash , I was thinking of building a Navy SH-34J version . There is a really good article in FSM April 2005 issue .

I really like the overall finish on your ARMY H-34

                                        Kind regards John

Thanks, John.  Yes, it is nice to be able to make your own decals.  A fellow in NZ is selling new ALPS MD-5500's, which might work well for you, since you can avoid the shipping, which makes them about $1,000.00 in the US.  http://www.alps-supplies.com/  However, the black markings on that UH-34D should be doable with an inkjet.  Just put on about 4 passes of ink if you can.  Depends on how well the printer registers.  One pass may be good enough for black,  The tail rotor caution warning looks odd on that one, too. 

The engine bay screens are a matter of trial and error, I guess.  Interestingly in the photo of the bird you are doing you can see right through to the sky on the other side.  The color depends on your point of view, but either way lower contrast is probably best.  I started out with a pretty thin wash and added to it til it looked about right with the gloss OD.  I have a Special Hobby CH-37 to do, and I'll probably darken them a bit more, there isn't any light from the other side on them, though what they would have to be right is an engine inside and wire screen.  Unlikely in 1/72.

Good luck with it, and thanks again.