OH-58A complete

Very nicely done! I LOVE the 58! I have thought about adding the covers onto mine too ( I dropped one of those suckers off the side of a rig about 15 years ago! Man that was a bad night!) using cardstock or brass tube to replicate it.  IIRC we didnt use them on our Charilies when I was with 3rd AHB in Geibelstadt 86/87, I will have to check my pics when I get home.

I use the tissue method for the covers, I remember some were vinyl, others were fabric and faded.

 David

Historical note: early OH-58A's did not have tail rotor shaft covers, they were added about the time the "super C" was introduced. I do have photo's of them without covers, be careful when building for time period

1975-80 time period

PS: Mel retirement ain't bad, trying to build my stash, but it keps growing

Arkhunter2002,

Dont get to see many Kiowa's on here. Looks like the real thing, though the rivets stand out a little more in the model, love the weathering on the skids.

Great build  

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Andy

intruder_bass wrote:

Tell us some more about the byuild. Why you had to change the shaft cover, what brand of paint you use for transparent green upper windows, how is the interior?

 Okay, so the shaft cover had to be added because the kit represents a Kiowa with an open shaft on the tail (as seen on the kit box)

That was tamiya's clear green.  Their clear line of paints are very nice.  Interior was decent.  The biggest let down like all of their 1/48th kits is the decal instruments (or does the ACH-47 have a good IP?) The paint that I used for the sand color was a mix of MM acrylics.

 Take care,

Austin

  Looks good!

  Tell us some more about the byuild. Why you had to change the shaft cover, what brand of paint you use for transparent green upper windows, how is the interior?

    exhaust covers...

As Rich said - the easiest way is to make them from tissue. Also you can make them out of Milliput/Magic Sculp or other 2 component putties. There is also a foil wraping method too

  Good luck!

Andy

Austin,

She came out great!  

Rich's suggestion is probably the best way to make vinyl exhaust covers.  Soak em, put em on, let em dry and then paint.  Pretty straightforward.

Great work, man!

Jon 

I like it. Nice build. The rivets look good. Appears really used and abused. Thanks for sharing.

Re the exhaust covers...this is only an idea...cut to shape tissue soaked in white glue then painted. Alot of guys use this method for making tarps etc for trucks and tanks. It might work for this.

good luck,

Rich