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Little Bird Progress (Pics)

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Modeling anything with "MARINES" on the side.
Little Bird Progress (Pics)
Posted by AH1Wsnake on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 12:58 AM

Hey all, just wanted to post an update and show what is occupying what little free time I have left lately:.....(this is the 1/35th Dragon kit, by the way)

I scratchbuilt most of the instruments on the instrument panel from round stock. Some of the control panels are from a hacked up Apache console and the MFD is from a Tomcat. Too much sanding wore away the fine detail of Dragon's instruments, so I had to go about making my own. Some instrument faces were cut from the 1/35 Panda Huey decal IP, and a drop of Future was applied on top of each to simulate glass.

The fuselage is still without most of its antennae until final assembly. I trimmed the skids to match references, added wiring to the radio stack, and scratchbuilt the housings and antennas for the APR-39 RWR.


The miniguns are out of the box, airbrushed with Model Master titanium metallizer. I just had the color laying around, decided to try it, and really like the convincing color it produced, with just enough metallic sheen. Otherwise, the guns are nothing special. I apologize for the poor photo.

I scrapped the impossible kit feed chutes and will be using a rubber set from the MRC Heavy Hog. Finally, you see the (first ever) photoetch set I will be using for the seat harnesses. I decided that the interior was just to open to avoid detailing it.

Comments welcome. Hoping I can finish it before the new year!

 

 

"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Caput Mundi
Posted by Avus on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 1:52 AM

Well, what to say looks great so far!

Maybe the guns are a little too shiny (looks like polished steel while it should be more like burnt iron), but that could be the picture (flash?).

Keep us posted on your progress.

Klaus

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  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Seattle, WA
Posted by RonUSMC on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 2:37 AM
Now thats a nice one.
http://finescalegallery.com Active Kits: 1/48 AM Avenger 1/35 Sd.Kfz 251 Ausf C
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Southport, North West UK
Posted by richgb on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 3:35 AM

Hi,

Looks prety darn good to me. Excellent detailing. Let me know how you get on trying to put in the canopy. I built a loach a couple of years ago and that canopy was an absolute ********. I made a real pigs ear of it.

Keep us all posted.

Rich

...this is it folks...over the top!
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Oklahoma
Posted by chopperfan on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 10:43 AM
What an inspiration!!  Makes me wanna dig out my OH-6A and get on it!!! Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]
Randie [C):-)]Agape Models Without them? The men on the ground would have to work a lot harder. You can help. Please keep 'em flying! http://www.airtanker.com/
  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Boyertown, PA, USA
Posted by Dubau on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 11:00 AM

Now that's looking Good!

Bud

" You've experienced a set back, and without set backs and learning how to fix them you'll never make the leap from kit builder to modeler "
  • Member since
    August 2006
Posted by RobBrown on Thursday, December 14, 2006 10:25 AM
looks good.  final produst should be nice
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Peru, IN
Posted by leadsled on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 2:42 PM
That looks awesome! Keep up the good work.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Modeling anything with "MARINES" on the side.
Posted by AH1Wsnake on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 11:15 PM

Thanks for all the comments, guys. I am excited to get this one done. When school lets up for winter break, I'll finish her off, and post some completed pics. I love the kit so far. We'll see if I still think that when I get around to attaching the canopy!

 

 

"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Baton Rouge, Snake Central
Posted by PatlaborUnit1 on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 5:59 AM

Snake

Nice one! Looks darned near like mine, even the way you have wired it in the radio rack in the back.  I agree on the antennas, I made the fastrope rig for mine , just the fueselage mount clips, and they keep getting knocked off.

On the canopies, I have built a bunch of these easter eggs over the years:

you will need to dry fit the canopy repeatedly; one end, i dont remember if it is top or bottom, will need some shimming while the other end will need some sanding to fit right. 

I nail one end down first, then when that is dry, nail down the other end. I use 5 minute epoxy to get the sides of the window locked in, arguably the most difficult part of the windsheild, and this will most likely take a bit of Mr. Surfacer 1000 in the end.

HTH you can check mine out with some in progress pics at http:www.angelfire.com/ca4/hlmp/melbarticle.html .

This is a great kit and looks fantastic when its done. Your doing great, please post more! :)

David

 

Build to please yourself, and don't worry about what others think! TI 4019 Jolly Roger Squadron, 501st Legion
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