AKA-BIG10,
Like you im pretty new to the whole scratch building issue and have two MRC UH-1Cs sitting here looking at me, begging to be built, but after seeing Andys build, ive held off untill i could do them atleast a little bit of justice.
Im in the middle of a building my first UH-1H and the quest for a "realistic build" has made it into the slowest most expensive model ive ever made lol.
I may be able to save you a little bit of time by sharing with you what ive learnt from the guys on here over the last 6 or 7 months.
Most importantly as mentioned by Mel and Andy is RESEARCH, look through as many pictures as you can. Originaly i was just going to build my MRC out of the box using the decals provided untill i did a bit of research, then i was left with the question of which unit's huey to build. A great site to start your research and find a huey to re-create is...
http://www.vhpamuseum.org/defaultmenu.shtml
The next step is to know your limits! as we are both fairly new to scratch building and dont want to ruin our models, the best option is to use parts built by someone else. Even the most experienced modelers on here will turn to the Photo-etched part companies, as some of the Tiny details are next to impossible to scratch build.
There is a site called eduard Model Accessories that provide very detailed interior, exterior and external weapons sets for the MRC UH-1C. If you see a very well detailed UH-1C Model,some of that detail usually comes from here...
http://www.eduard.cz/
I have the interior set on the way and will hopefully be getting the weapons set next. Though as Andy previously advised me, as the sets are made from 0.16mm brass plate they can be a bit tricky to use so you have to be careful with parts like the minigun ammo belt.Though if your building the Heavy Hog that shouldnt apply to you.
Another invaluable source of helicopter bits and bobs is the Cobra Company. They supply resin parts for all manner of helicopters, I know the vast majority of people on here use the site. Ive just been told by a very good friend on here that my half of a joint order from Cobra Co has just arrived in the UK for my UH-1H and i cant wait to see them :)
I cant say off-hand exactly whats available for the UH-1C as i havnt got that far yet, but im pretty sure Chris does a set that can turn your UH-1C into a UH-1B and ive seen that he does a quad M60 set for the MRC (the twin fixed machine guns you see mounted with rockets on the outside of early gunships in Vietnam) as far as i know Cobra company is the only place you can get them in 1/35 scale. ( i deffo have my eye on a set ![Wink [;)]](/emoticons/icon_smile_wink.gif)
)
http://www.cobracompany.com/
Next is scratch build bits, ive learnt that you can get stuff called Styrene from most model stores, it comes in sheets, rods and tubes and is the plastic everyone uses for scratch building also you can use brass/copper/aluminium tubing and rods for rockets and stuff. styrene and wire is probably all you need for your engine detail, though Andy (Intruder_Bass) is probably the best person to ask. Foil and adhesive foil are also handy things to have and i think some people use the lead foil from the top of wine bottles for making seat belts. A sharp blade a good file some tamiya clear green for the overhead green windows and olive drab for the body, some Klear helps with decals and making glass dials on the control panal look like glass. As far as putty goes i bought the "Squadron White" as it appeared loads in the threads on here, but the "brain damage" warning that comes with it insured the lid has stayed on lol.so i opted for Milliput which is harmless and great to use. Im sure Squadron is fine but if your paranoid like me, get milliput ![Big Smile [:D]](/emoticons/icon_smile_big.gif)
Lastly, as far as M16s,grenades and smoke grenades, you should have some grenades and smoke grenades included in the MRC kit! they also provide a little box to put them in,check your kit, For M16s M79s M60s keep your eyes open for any of the Dragon 1/35 "Nam" series figure sets, i picked up a few including first Air Cavelry and marines, they come with all manner of Vietnam era small arms and have been a great help in adding detail to my huey.
As your building the XM3 24 tube rocket hog i wouldnt worry to much about M16s as it was an early model gunship and in the early days the crew carried little more than thier side arms.
Anyway appologies for the length of the post but its my trade mark lol, hope it helps, If you have any questions ask away i will help all i can and the guys on here are great for advice, Mel Flew with the 174th AHC (i hope i got that right) so he knows his stuff and Andy is the King of scratch building so you have deffo come to the right place
Good luck with your build, have fun.
Andy
While the rest of the crew may be in the same predicament, it's almost always the pilot's job to arrive at the crash site first.