Kittyhawk AH-1Z Viper 1/48 Completed !!!

How are the color callouts on the exterior of the two grey varients? Are they accurate or even close? It's too late for the pit this go around, but Ill make a note of those for the instructions that I keep.

BK

Brandon,

Your cockpit looks good.

Be careful on the color call outs in the instructions.

The correct FS numbers are FS 36375 Light Ghost Gray and FS 35237 Medium Gray.  Both are pretty standard USN and USMC a/c colors.  I've lightened the top color on both of my helos slightly with some white.  Not much, but a bit for scale effect.

Here are some good links for Viper photos:

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=&airlinesearch=&countrysearch=&specialsearch=&daterange=&keywords=AH-1Z&range=&sort_order=photo_id+desc&page_limit=15&thumbnails=

http://www.navy.mil/gallery_search_results.asp

The USN shots are high res so you can enlarge them for details.

Since you are new to helos and you are building a model of one with new rotors, I'll mention something about "rotor droop."  Most rotor blades droop to the ground somewhat when the rotors aren't turning.  The new H-1 helos' blades don't droop as much as other, older machines, but they don't appear straight out from the hub as the kit will represent them. Looking at photos, the blades themselves don't bend much, but they do bend downward somewhat from the hub itself. I assembled the rotor then taped a nickle to each blade until a got a little permanent droop of the blades from the rotor hub.  Other guys will have different suggestions for this trick I'm sure, but the model will display the rotors too straight if some adjustment isn't made.

Best of luck on your build.  Please let me know if you have any other build questions while I have my build still fresh on my mind. (Such as that might be!)

Ok, so the sheet filler worked out perfect. Now the fit on the windscreen is perfect. The rest of the kit fits perfect so far; except for perhaps what Mike mentioned about his kit.

I did find an error in the instructions. It calls for PE5 to be placed in a hole that is 4 times larger than the PE piece. With further inspection, PE9 fits perfectly there. I still haven't found a spot for those two little screens. I'm gonna have to pay attention or I may miss them altogether. Tomorrow I will clean up the seam, what little it needs and move on.

BK

I'll keep an eye out for the compartment you mentioned. Thanks. 

Ya, the color callouts on the instructions made me scratch me head as I thought they looked darker in what pics I could find. But, being helo ignorant I went with the instructions and I thought (justified to self) the pit would view better in a lighter color. If I do another it will be much more correct for sure, Thanks again.

I took alook at my pic posts and noticed that the flash really washed out the dark. The color to the eye is much much darker than they appear in my shots. No where near that grey.

BK

I've just completed this kit and currently working on the Yankee Venom.  I planned to post photos of both birds when they are finished.

Your cockpit should be almost entirely dark.  Not all black but dark.  The light gray you used on the side panels should be a lot darker.

I had lots of trouble with the rear engine compartment panels.  They will not show up at all in the final model.  On the Yankee, I'm not using them at all.  The fit went much better.

Good looking 'pit, Brandon. I've been eyeing this kit, so I'll be following along to see how it builds for you.

Happy Holidays!