Imex/Kangnam Apaches

Hey, Jon. Here is the Eduard Apache "A" interior set.
http://www.eduard.com/./products/card.php?id_product=2749&name=ah-64a+apache&catalogue_nb=&type=&pgroup=&scale=&product_month=&product_year=&page_start=5
And here is the instruction sheet for the IP. Thought it might help you to tell if it is accurate.
http://www.eduard.com/products/pdf/n32/32097_2.pdf
Hope it helps.

Dana,

No problem! Lemme know if you need any references.

OK OK It is my fault. I started all this IMEX talk. But I do appreciate the input.
I will say that my IMEX kit is for an A model and I intend to build it as such. I am not too concerned as I intend to stretch my horizons and test my skills and abilities (been doing that lately).
But that is still a project in the queue. first I gotta do my M1026 from OIF.

Dana B. Woodley
SSG, USA

Avus,

Already in the works! Will keep you posted on progress!

Thank you for the clear and detailed answer Cobrahistorian.
Maybe one day I'll make a Longbow with Eduard's PE kits and correct the remaining flaws with scratchbuilding.
I like the gray apache you got in your signature ... any chance to get detailed pictures in order to see the stenciling and make a decal sheet?

Avus,

I've looked over the Eduard PE sets on the Verlinden site. From what I can tell, the Longbow interior set #32094 does have the correct aircraft commander control panel. However, I wasn't able to make out whether or not the correct front panel is included or not. It doesn't look like it, but I can't be sure.

It looks like the AH-64A photoetch set makes the necessary improvements in the "office", but again, I'm just looking at an online image.

Knowing Eduard's usual reputation for quality, I'm not surprised that the PE sets would bring the cockpits up to standard. The exterior sets also seem to enhance the model as well. Problem is, neither corrects the flaws with the PNVS turret nor the main gear. If those two issues could be fixed, and for an additional $60, on top of the $40 kit price already, you can have a decent AH-64A or AH-64D. That's a tad much in my book.

Plus, with the Longbow kit you still have the avionics bay issues that will take either scratchbuilding or a resin update (Chief Snake, you out there??!!) to correct. The access steps, panel outlines and aft end ECU vents are either completely wrong or omitted altogether.

Here's the link to the VLS website. Watch out, the Apache stuff is under 32nd, not 35th scale!
http://modelmecca.com/cgi-bin/shop.pl?category=all&inactive=all&location=all&price=all&scale=all&manufacturer=all&type=all&description=AH-64&partnumber=&go=Search

How about adding Eduard's PE kits (interior, exterior and armament), would that correct the flaws of the model?

Rob,

They're raised, as is all of the rivet detail. While the panels themselves, of course, are recessed on the real thing, the rivets are a hair short of golf-ball sized. The Revell kit does a REALLY good job reproducing the rivet patterns.

I'm doing a writeup now on accurizing the Revell kit. Should have it done fairly soon.

Hey Cobra
As long as this thread was resurrected, does the 1/32 Apache have raised panel lines or engraved?
Thanks again
Rob

Alright, thank You cobrahistorian!

Maybe the pic I have is just shot from a weird angle...

Have a nice weekend over there!

Theoden

Theoden,

Well, I'm looking at one of my photos of the M230. While the ammo feed chute is miserably molded at best (what I wouldn't do for some photoetch here) it is fairly accurate. Of course it could be spruced up a lot, but the general shape is ok from what I can tell on my reference shots.

yeah yeah, the neverending discussion abou the imex Apache

Cobrahistorian, I think I found another inaccuricy, but I´m not quite sure about it:

The linkage assembly around the M230 cannon seems different to what I can see on the walk-around photos. Is this so or am I at fault here?

Greetings,

Fellow-Imex-victim Theoden

Rob,

If you're wanting an accurate AH-64, go with the Revell 32nd scale kit. There are still plenty of A model Apaches in service, and with considerably less effort than the Imex kit, you can build one heck of an Apache Or, drop to 48th and build the Hasegawa Longbow kit. That's one impressive model.

I've spent as much time correcting the inaccuracies on my 35th Longbow as I have converting a Revell A model to D standard. That's a bit much!

Thanks for the info Hawk. I appreciate it.
Rob

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cobrahistorian The most glaring inaccuracies are the aft ends of the avionics bays where the ECU vents are. On the prototype, the bays just tapered down aerodynamically, but the production machines have a much more rectangular end on both bays. If you look at Albymoore's 1/48th Longbow photos, you can clearly see them (the Hasegawa kit got them right).

I just realized the inaccuracy today while studying some photos of the Longbow's exhaust.

Rob, ultimatily it comes down to how accurate you want the kit to be. If you're not too terribly interested in making the model appear exactly as productions models are, than this kit might be alright. On the other hand, if you want something that is 100% accurate, like Cobra said, you're going to have to put a lot of work into it. Another point to consider is that the instructions are basically worthless.... they vaguely point to where parts should be placed and there are next to no painting reccomendations.

Ouch. Sounds like more work than I want to do. That's what I was afraid of, and part of the reason I haven't bought one yet. Why doesn't Academy/MRC, Trumpter or Italeri release a 1/35 Apache?? are there any aftermarket sets to upgrade the kit? Thanks for the info Cobrahistorian. I'd like to see pictures of yours when you complete it.

By the way, I am primarily a figure modeler, but also have built a number of helicopters, and am just starting on the MRC Cobra AH-1W kit.
Rob

Heh heh heh...


Firstly, welcome Rob!

The IMEX/Kangnam kit is an ok representation of the prototype Longbow Apache. If you want to build the prototype, you'll just have to deal with the fit issues, which are pretty easily corrected. However, if you want to build a current machine, there are a LOT of mods needed to make it accurate. I've spent a few months on mine and most of that time has been in correcting the flaws.

The most glaring inaccuracies are the aft ends of the avionics bays where the ECU vents are. On the prototype, the bays just tapered down aerodynamically, but the production machines have a much more rectangular end on both bays. If you look at Albymoore's 1/48th Longbow photos, you can clearly see them (the Hasegawa kit got them right).

Also, the low-airspeed sensor booms extending from each engine nacelle are omitted in the kit. Not too hard to scratchbuild, but a kit part would have been nice! The cockpit is still the AH-64A cockpit, so either they got lazy and didn't research the new cockpit configuration or they didn't have access to a D model Apache.

Finally, and most frustrating, is the main gear assembly. The instructions are really poor and don't show you exactly how they should be attached. If you follow what seems to be correct, the gear are on the complete wrong angle and make the bird stand up about 2" taller than it should. Correcting that problem entails trimming the shock absorbers on the struts, which is a royal pain in the @$$.

Oh, also, the detail on the radome sucks.

If you're willing to work with the inaccuracies and add detail yourself, you can get a nice kit. I just wonder if Hasegawa will read my mind and scale their 48th kit up to 35th....

Hope that helps!