"WIP" Revell 1:48 AH-64 Apache

Welcome to the helo forum, Toshi.  Looking forward to seeing your build progress.

   Ray

rotorwash

Welcome to the helo forum, Toshi.  Looking forward to seeing your build progress.

   Ray

 

Same here

Welcome

Rick

rotorwash

Welcome to the helo forum, Toshi.  Looking forward to seeing your build progress.

   Ray

 

Toshi

Thank you infofrog, I'm looking forward in this build.

Toshi

So far, here is the start of the build, as I move forward, I will add to the thread.  Thank you, Toshi.

One day, I received a Huey Chopper model kit.  I ended up glueing the landing skids backwards and I broke off the tail rotor at some point during the build.

Since I only built WWII airplanes all my paints were flat enamel from Testers.  I purchased a Navy Blue one because it looked nice.  I decided to paint the chopper with my new paint purchase.  I waited and waited for the paint to dry, I couldn't understand why it looked so wet.  I thought to myself that; "Something must be wrong with this bottle of Navy Blue"?

I decided to touch the paint to test this very awkward situation.  Lo' and 'Behold.  It was dry!  I ran to my mom and dad and proudly announced how cool this chopper looked with this gloss Navy Blue enamel.  

I was 9 years old.  That was 40 years ago!  To date, I am now working on a AH-64 Apache.  My second build helicopter, this will be my 13th model after a 40 year hiatus.  It's nowhere near the model helicopters on this thread, but that's ok.  It's been helping me with my fine motor skills, and let me tell you that it surprised my family as well as myself.  Below, I have the next stage of the Apache.  Now to putty and sand the seams down.

Toshi

Looks like you are off to a good start.  One note though, the whole cockpit should be varying shades of flat and satin black.  There is no green in it al all.  It is this way to be compatible with NVGs.

Some examples:

This Bird is taken shape and  nicely done at that

Rick

To HeavyArty,

I was using a reference on this build of this builder,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/13315704@N03/2049425570

next time, I'll be sure to look at real world photos as oppose to other modelers builds.  Thank you HeavyArty, I really appreciate your knowledge. It inspires me to do better on my next build.  

If you have the time, in a few days after this build, I will start a Tamiya 1:32 Supermarine Spitfire.  It will be in the airplane thread, I can use some great tips from you.

Toshi

Lookin real good there, Toshi! 

HeavyArty, thanks for the info.  I had planned to build an AH-64D sometime last May but put it off for the B737 instead. Ill keep your pointer in mind when I finally start that Apache.

allan

Lookin real good there, Toshi! 

 

HeavyArty, thanks for the info.  I had planned to build an AH-64D sometime last May but put it off for the B737 instead. Ill keep your pointer in mind when I finally start that Apache.

 

 

Toshi

infofrog

This Bird is taken shape and  nicely done at that

Rick

 

Toshi

Keep up the good work, but I can't help w/the Spitfire as I don't build airplanes.

To HeavyArty,

Thank you for your service in keeping everyone safe at home, I can't say enough!

Nice Photobucket, love the military photos, great work bench, wow free ticket to Tamiya Shizuoka Japan Congratulations, and a beautiful family!

Toshi

P.S. No worries on the Spitfire, I just bought a book from Tamiya on how to build the Spitfire.  Thank you anyways.

Nice work, Toshi!  That kit is quite a chore to assemble.  Mine had a lot of fit issues.  It seemed I spent more time sanding off putty than building.  Here's the results, though:

You're making great progress, though.  I look forward to seeing the finished kit.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

CrashTestDummy

Nice work, Toshi!  That kit is quite a chore to assemble.  Mine had a lot of fit issues.  It seemed I spent more time sanding off putty than building.  Here's the results, though:

You're making great progress, though.  I look forward to seeing the finished kit.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

 

After I AB and clean up the A-64, I can move on to my next build, Tamiya's 1:32 Supermarine Spitfire.  I'll be on the airplane thread for that build.  

Thank you for the read and reply as well as sharing your A-64 Apache build, I will now use it as a reference.

Toshi

To my fellow forum members,

Im upset today as my 2 bottles of Model Master Acrylic Olive Drab has not been delivered.  Via eBay, I should have the OD in hand, no later than today.  Oh well, there's not much I can do about it except to wait for it tomorrow.  I need these 2 OD bottles so that I can AB the A-64. 

Until then, Mrs. Toshi took me to Michaels and surprised me with another model kit.  It is a A-7A Corsair II.  Again I'm a fan of WWII aircraft.  I've only built a very small handful of jet planes so this will not only be a fun endevour but also a challenging one as well.

As for challenging, I have no clue on how to assemble the AH-64 Apache or for that matter any type of helicopter.  I glued things upside down, backwards, and whatever strange assembly I came up with.  I did correct my issues but it was most frustrating.  Mrs. Toshi said that I did that backwards due to me being of Japanese decent, everything we do including reading is backwards, add to that that I am a male, it makes my stupidity ten fold!  LOL!

Until the arrival of my much needed MM/OD, I can show you a update of how far I've gone in the preparation of the Apache.  Here are the results below.

Toshi

Looking good so far.

midnightprowler

Looking good so far.

 

Toshi

Im upset today as my 2 bottles of Model Master Acrylic Olive Drab has not been delivered. 

OD Green is not the right color for modern (since the early to mid-'80s) US Army helicopters.  The correct color is called US Helo Drab Green and is available from Testors Model Master in both acrylic and enamel.   The enamel color looks more like a faded, used color, while the acrylic one looks more like a new color.

On the left is the enamel one, and the right is the acrylic; both on 1/35 Academy UH-60 Black Hawks.

To HeavyArty,

Your knowledge supersedes my expectations.  Thank you for your time and effort in showing me the correct way in assembling my A-64 Apache.  I look forward in any future correction as I have learned so much from you sir.  Thank you for your support as well as the read and reply.

Toshi

To my fellow forum members,

I was able to AB the Apache, my next step was to spray a gloss clear coat to prepare for the decals.  Unfortunately, it is way too humid outside.  I'll wait till this evening when things cool down a bit before I attempt any type of spraying.

Toshi

Looking good. OD is correct for a early Apache.

midnightprowler

Looking good. OD is correct for a early Apache.

 

Toshi

Apaches were never in OD.  They have always come in Helo Drab Green.  Even the original YAH-64 prototype was Helo Drab Green.