OH - 23 Raven in 1/48th

I'll tackle the hard part first.

Once I get a decent shaped master for a vacuformed canopy I'll give it a go...

A very interesting build and I agree I wish there was a 1/35 or 1/48th scale version of the Raven and TH-55 (Hughes 300). If my scratch building skills ever develop I may try and build one myself. Thanks for posting and please keep us informed on your build.

Charlie

Worked the canopy shape , started trim and doors...

That canopy is just amazing! Great work.

Charlie

Thanks...If I can pull a good vacuform I'm in....

Looking for some advice on clear plastic sheet...picked up some clear styrene, looking to see if I still have any Thermaform sheet from the old days...(heat and smash stuff).

I have pulled some small canopy pieces on an old Mattell vacuform machine...but nothing this big.

Think I'll be casting top and bottom halves in resin..then giving it a go.

I'll do doors on seperate sheet, once I get a bend in them...

Great work so far on that canopy! I figured I'd put what few decent closeups of the H-23 engine here instead of over in Charlie's H-13 build.  I have never taken a detailed walkaround of the H-23 at Ft. Rucker.  These photos are all from the Army Aviation Museum archives and most show armed Ravens but there is some decent engine detail on a couple as well.  Hope these help.

    Ray

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Started the engine deck from layered plastic sheet.
First try on the tail boom had to be scrapped.
I tried forming a long skinny cone from thin triangular strips glued around a tube.

It was weak at the base and bent...so I started over with several thick strips all laminated together and just put in the time to sand it into a long skinny cone...took awhile, but it worked better.

I'm glad the pics helped.  I have many more, but none as detailed as those.

    Ray

I took delivery today on some clear plastic sheets...very nice stuff, pre-drilled to fit the old Mattel vacuform machine.

I haven't finished the canopy master as yet...I really need to cast an upper and lower half in resin to allow for a nicer molding...(this buck is too large to do it all in one pull).

But I was very anxious to see if the old vacuform machine still worked (it has been ten years since I last fired it up  -- !).

Wanting to satisfy my curiosity and test the heating element and suction, I decided to give it a try...with the master "as is"...just to see if it worked.

Not too bad for a first try - considering the age of the machine, and the size of the part - (in its present state : a bit large). 
The pump still was able to pull most of the sheet over the whole thing, and look at the dip at the back of the part...really drew that part of the sheet down.

I think a master in two halves should work much better.

Ok.

I'm not the brightest bulb when it comes to computers...but why don't these direct links to photobucket show up as pictures...?

When I check the address on other posts...(like picture link URLs  by "rotorwash" above , the links he posts read the same as mine, ....but they show up here as pictures.

Like this one: (dots added at the end so you can see the link behind his very fine pictures...)

http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww251/saurogod/H-23/7753.jpg.......

These very same photobucket direct links I posted here....also show up as pictures on another Forum that I post to.

You are posting direct links, you want the ones that start with [ img ] link [ /img ] except no spaces between the [ ]. 

Some websites automatically do this with direct links, some like this one don't.

Also there is a guy on ebay that sells precut plastic sheets, and replacement parts for the Mattel Vacuformer. The upgrade is about $20 and includes the commonly lost / damage parts as well as a new valve for the vacuum part. 

I think this was the seller, I got the kit from.

http://myworld.ebay.com/lotekengineering/

<"You are posting direct links, you want the ones that start with [ img ] link [ /img ] except no spaces between the [ ]. 

Some websites automatically do this with direct links, some like this one don't.>"

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Ah hah!...so that's what that IMG code reference is for........eh?

I'll give it a try...lets see now...here we go.........

The Special Hobby kit...1/48th.

not too bad..cockpit resin part was a tight fit.

I like funky looking helicopters...

I'm attempting to clean up and detail this pig of a Mi - 2 kit in 1/48^th.......ok, but needs alot of work.

I did some work on the tailboom and corrugations...
All plastic strip added on to the shaped laminated plastic parts.

Your tailboom is looking really nice!

Charlie

Retired Gunpilot wrote:

Your tailboom is looking really nice! Charlie

I beg your pardon....

LOL ...(that's a joke....my lame attempt at humor).

Worked on the bulkhead behind the canopy...

I will have to start this Lycoming engine soon...(ugh) That will be a challenge...I'm really pondering that one,....

Looking awesome! Like a dummy I just realized I have the dash 10 for the OH-23A, C, D, F and G.  If you'd like em, send me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll get it right out to you.

   Ray

Ray:

Done! Thanks.

Let me know if you got the PM....

I got em. You weren't taking any chances were you, my friend! Should be on short final in less than 30. Lemme know when you get em.

Ray

I got em. You weren't taking any chances were you, my friend! Should be on short final in less than 30. Lemme know when you get em.

Ray

<"I'm realy curious about the canopy..>"

 So am I....

 I'm also curious about the canopy.....

Would like to think I will get a nice transparent clear vacuform...first test shot was ok, but not perfectly clear...