Its about time....

Good to hear.  Good luck with it Jon.  Can't wait to see it.

That's very cool to hear.  I hope you get some good $ for your efforts. 

Chris

Eh, Chris, its more a labor of love than a way to make a living. Still, the extra pocket money is nice to have (especially right around my wife's birthday!)

 

Jon 

A labour of love can never be a bourdon, right Cobra

Can I ask you a question about the Apache ? For the "In my Stash GB" I have been assigned to build my AH-64A (MSIP) and I was wondering if OD is the only color they come in, or do you know about a different scheme for one (maybe from another nationality or so) ?  I really can't wait till your book gets published to start this kit so that's why ask you now. 

Not Jon, but this may help.... 

The color for US Apaches is actually Helo Drab Green (available from Testors in their Model Master lines), not OD Green.  There were a few US AH-64A'a in USMC-style light/dark gray from the SC NG in Iraq a year or so ago.  Check Jon's signature line to see a pic of one, also look here for more.  I believe this is one of the helos Jon has profiled in his book.

Israel also uses AH-64A Peten's in a sand/green camo too.  .

I don't know of any other non-standard color schemes on Apaches.

Good luck.

Dan, Unfortunately, the US Army has remained unimaginitive when it comes to Apache paint jobs. The best we get is a sharkmouth or a name on a Helo Drab aircraft. As Gino mentioned, the 151st Avn, South Carolina National Guard broke with tradition and painted their AH-64A's a mix of light and dark Ghost Gray when they went overseas in 2004/5. They continue to carry those colors today and there are rumors that their Longbows (when they get them) will be gray as well. I'm not so certain about that, but we'll see. Decals for gray Apaches are scarce and those that are available are incorrect. IsraDecal came out with a set of Apache decals for US and Israeli Longbows and included a special bonus of markings for 94-0332 (the aircraft in my sig and profiled in my book). Unfortunately, all of the US paint schemes were poorly researched and use the wrong font for tail numbers and national insignia. They also exclude the eye for the South Carolina shark mouth. Still, the decals do look good on a model and I used them on my Academy Alpha. The Israelis have more interesting schemes on their AH-64A "Petens" but building an accurate one requires a lot of additional sensors and "lumps 'n bumps", best found in the IsraCast conversion kit. I'm building an Alpha right now and will be putting it in markings for the Idaho National Guard, since they are the only unit currently flying what I've termed the AH-64A+. They are currently deployed to Afghanistan with the most advanced A models in existence. They have some of the latest equipment that makes them more akin to a Block 2 Longbow than an Alpha! Its gonna take a bit of scratchbuilding, but should be a pretty easy conversion to do! Jon

I look forward to it.  Hopefully you'll get to finish more of the projects you have in mind before too long....good luck with them!!!

Will watch Squadron's listing for your book

          congrads on the wedding thing by the way..... Is there a 53 D or E book in your future.

 We need one  for sure now.Sikorsky is busting out with a new updated 53. Bigger engines,Adding a blade, Some major changes I'm hearing. Have you herd anything about the up dates.   Thanks for your time,All the best to you and your's Thanks for your books and input

on Heli stuff Jon.                 The best

                                 Davey5

Wow that's quite an accomplishment.  I'll have to look for it. I've got Mirage's 1/72 IFOR-Bosnia Apache in the stash.  There are no such thing as too many references.

Dave,

 No plans on doing any 53 stuff at this time.  I'm pretty much an Army Aviation guy.  That being said, I do have a couple buddies who fly 53Ms for the Air Force, but that wouldn't happen for a while.  I've got too many projects lined up before I get to that.

Jon
 

Thanks for the info, guys, that israeli Apache looks awesome, any idea what colors that are ?  I think I'll try that one, with homemade decals (that's gonna be a firsttimer if it works ), any idea if the cockpit interior is black like the american and dutch apaches ?

 

The cockpit is still overall black.  The exterior colors look like Medium Green and Sand to me.  I don't know the exact colors though.