I just bought a 1/72 MACH 2 Kaman HH-43 Huskie kit

I saw it built up at the Mobile Alabama show last year and was quite impresed by it. The builder did masterful work with it despite its' size.

I would ditch the sheet and use some aftermarket. I think his was built NMF but I would go with the SEA camo over light grey just for visual interest :)

Good luck with it and let us know how it progresses

 

David

 

I've just got hold of the 1/32 scale version. It's an amazing a/c. How those rotors never hit each other.....!!!

Rich

HI again rich , I also recently bought Testor's HH-43 Huskie , the box says 1/48 scale but obviously it's 1/32 . I actually  got the kit to help me with the Mach 2 version . I had difficulty with Mach 2's vague instruction sheet . It's not that the two kits have anything in common , but testor's instructions certainly did help with identifying certain parts and how they fit to the helicopter . The Testors kit cost me $20 bucks , I paid double for Mach 2's... Anyway I've started Mach 2's kit I'll post some progress pic's shortly . Helo 53

I have built the testors kit many times.  Still have one to go.  I also have the Mach2 kit. I was rather disappointed in it.  For the price of it, as with all the Mach2 kits, I would expect something a little better.  The detail is crap, and the moldings are very rough with lots of flash.  Luckily, I got my three Mach2 kits for $5.00 a piece at a consignment sale.

I've been building the 1/32 Husky using the Cobra company detail kit for the past 2 years (no I'm not getting that detailed I'm just that slow).

I've looked at the Mach 2 kit since I primarily build Helicopters in 1/72 but I've heard it is a horrible kit. Please post your results when you build it so I can see for myself what I'd be getting into if I ever buy one. 

Hi everyone , here are some progress pic's of the HH-43 Huskie . It's been a lot of work for me just to get this far ; I added a couple of pilots to the cockpit but the kit seats were too narrow so I replaced them with some seats from an old SK Model SH-60B Sea Hawk , I also cut the little square blocks the seats sit on from the Sea Hawk base as well . For nose weight I squashed up some small fishing sinkers and super glued them to the underside of the floor and in the rear bench seat recesses . The fit of the front canopy is where the real challenge begins ; one entire evening spent dry/test fitting , adding small wedges to both bottom corners where the canopy meets the fuselage , lot's of filing and sanding just to get a resonable fit. Lot's more putty and sanding at the top back edge of the canopy [where the two overhead panels are located] and the roof area . The fit of the rear canopy is only slightly better , lot's of putty and sanding of the rear roof area to try and level everything up . Many of the parts i've had to use a hobby saw to cut them from the ""tree trunk"" sprue frame-the attachment points were molded right into each part [lot's of filing to clean up each piece] . I'm having difficulty working out how those little extensions that fit on the trailing edge of the rotor blades attach ,  they look nothing like the ones in Testor's 1/32 kit ??? Hopfully I'll figure it out... Kind regards Helo 53

Lookin good!!!  Gonna make me get out that retched kit and finish her up. lol

Helo 53 wrote:

I bought this kit from Squadron .com . I was going to start this kit once I finish my HH-3E Jolly Green Giant . I'm a bit dissappointed with the decal sheet , you only get 2 stars and bars and 2white USAF 58 1853 tail markings...

You bought a Mach 2 kit!  My condolences.  May I recommend the following:

1.  Liquid spirits of your choice in prodigous amounts.

2.  Ensure children are not around whenever working on the kit, especially the alleged see thru "glass."

3.  The decals are very useful for lining the bottom of your bird cage.

4.  Gloves on your hands for protection from all of the sandpaper that will be needed.

I'm basing the above on my previous Mach 2 experience which I speech-ified about on the aircraft forum here:

/forums/852336/ShowPost.aspx

I'm impressed though with what you have done so far.  Nice build you have going there on your Pedro/Huskie!

 

Hi rocky , If my pedro/huskie turns out only half as good as your incredible effort on your HU-25 Guardian , I will be satisfied with that!!! . The end result of your HU-25 is absolutly amazing . I have both the HH-43 Huskie and HH-3F Pelican on my work bench , there both coming along slowly but are looking okay so far . As you suggested on your previous post I'll keep lots of positive thoughts as I continue the builds . Helo 53

Helo, I would agree with Rocky.  I've built two of these blasted kits thus far.  And his "glass" comment is right on the money.  Here are my two Mach 2 builds.  Note the glass [only the nose is kit glass, the rest had to be replaced cause it was too nasty]

 

It's INCREDIBLE how you guy's make those awful kits turn out so good . Viper your two helo's look awesome . I wish Italeri/Revell or Hasegawa would consider producing some of these early types of helicopters , I'm sure they would sell quite well . It appears that if I want these early helo's in my display cabinet I will have to show the same determination and grit you guy's have .  Helo 53

Hi Helo,

Your patience has paid off and it's coming along nicely. Your hh-3 btw was excellent. Thanks to you I ended up buying an hh-3 kit from Poland!!...and on the back is a pic of the Coast Guard Pelican, so like you I think I've started an addiction to all things Coast Guardish. You just have to love that paint scheme.

Good luck with the rest of the build. Keep posting those pics.

Regards,  Rich

Hi rich , Which hobby store did you buy your HH-3 From . Is the kit available over the net , I would like to get another HH-3 , The Lindberg Kit hasn't been available for a while here in Australia . My two HH-3 helo's were kits that I stripped the original paint scheme off and I was lucky to be able to get the kits apart without too much trouble . I certainly would like another . Also I greatly appreciate you kind words on my first HH-3E build .  Helo 53 .. john

Hi John,

I bought the HH-3 off Ebay from a seller called   http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/sklarek-family/  . This is their home page. He doesn't seem to have one in stock at the moment but looking back through his feedback he's sold a few in the past so maybe he'll get some more in. He ships world wide and has shipped over to Oz. The kit is made by a Polish company called Plastyk. The over all shape seems OK but you might have to go down the kit bashing line as detail is pretty thin on the ground. The ramp is fixed into the fuselage as is the side door and the decals........well they'll have to come from the spares box. There is no surface detail ie engraved panel lines or rivets , as on your kit, but some people don't like those anyway and end up sanding them off. But it's an HH-3 and there aren't many of those around and it was cheap!! only £7.00 including shipping. Good luck with your search and keep posting those pics.

Rich