Build Log: 1/32 UH-34D Conversion

Thanks Tom.  I have always loved the UH-34D as well.  I have wanted to do one for a long time.

MR TOM SCHRY

 Wasn't one of these used in a detective drama from the 1980s called "Riptide"?  

TJS

Sort of, the "Screaming Mimi" was a later, civilian S-58T with a turbine engine.

Wonderful Build of an overlooked subject.  One of my favorite helos though I never cared for the look of the British version.  Wasn't one of these used in a detective drama from the 1980s called "Riptide"?  

TJS

Thanks keavdog. It was a fun build.

Worth the wait!  Looks sharp

OK, so it is really finally done now. I received the exhaust parts from Adriatic Models, which are very nice. They were originally shipped from Italy on Dec 13, and I just got the small padded envelope yesterday. Man, international shipping is hosed right now.

The actual exhausts.

The parts I needed were mainly the tips for the exhausts which have a double pipe (inner and outer). I added the flat clamps and bolts from wine bottle foil and 1/35 bolt heads.

I think they came out looking great.

Fine’.

Excellent as always and congrats on extending the Army tradition.

Nice job on one of my favorite helos.  That era of rotary engine, bulbous noses certainly are easy to pick out!  The crew looks great and are a perfect compliment to the kit.  I've got two of these in 1/48 in the stash - the old Revell Wessex and the Trumpter arctic seahorse.  Your's is an inspiration!

Thanks Glenn.

Excellent as always and congrats on extending the Army tradition.

Thanks Gents. It has been a long journey, but a fun one. I have really enjoyed this build.

Wow. That is fantastic. Great detail work.

Excellent work!  Everything about this build just "clicks".  The construction/conversion,painting, subtle weathering, and the crew figures all help this build to be over the top.  It's too build that no mainstream manufacturer has made this helo in a larger scale. Once again marvelous work!

TJS

I am calling this one done. I built the main and tail rotors. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pics before painting them. They each had a bunch of plastic, resin, and PE parts.

I washed the whole thing with a couple coats of dirty brown and black acrylic colors. Then picked out some selected parts for a dirt-colored drybrushing.

Here it is.

IMG_1837480×640 62.3 KB

I added Dragon Vietnam Helo crew figures with their torsos swapped out with the correct USMC flak vests. I also swapped their heads out with some resin ones from Verlinden helo pilots. I also added PE boom mikes to them. I used Quinta 3-D/resin seat belt decals for a 1/32 B-17 on them as well.

It actually is still waiting on one part. Did anyone catch it? I am still waiting on the 3D printed exhaust parts from Adriatic Models out of Italy. They will be slid into place once I receive them.

That is looking very sharp now! 

Work has continued...slowly. 

I have applied the decals and sealed them down. I used a set of decals from Heli-Scale Quality out of Germany for the USMC and YN19-specific markings. The Heli-Scale Quality decals snugged down really well and came out looking nicely. No issues with them at all. The rest of the stencils and aircraft placards are from the Fly Models kit. I also got her up on her wheels, no issues there either.

Here she is so far.

Next up is some weathering and deciding on a crew or not. I still need to make the exhausts and build the rotors as well.

Quite a nice project. The Wessex in itself is a really wonderful helicopter. That model OOB would be swell also.

One interesting thing is that the turboshaft engine (s) in the Wessex weigh considerably less than the big radial in the Chocktaw. I don't remember the engineering solution but it was considerable.

Thank you and your family for your service to this country. It must take a considerable leap of faith for a military family to send a young one out to serve.

Married?

Get out the checkbook. Get a lot of pictures.

Bill

I was able to get the initial base coat of Medium Green on it. The USMC did not use Olive Drab as the Army did at the time. The 3D printed parts (landing gear and nose) look to have really blended together seamlessly with the plastic kit parts. I am very happy with how it is turning out.

Next up is detail painting and the decals. They will be in a couple weeks though as I will be out of town for the rest of this week and next.

Very nice work.  Big fan of the Choctaw.

I have basically finished construction on the fuselage and the main parts of the helo.

I added piping and some other details found on H-34s (white styrene). I also added the teardrop-shaped antennas on both sides with small marker lights left over from another helo. The exhaust deflector below the port side front canopy is styrene as well.

The struts and tail wheel gear are 3D printed parts from Heli-Scale Quality out of Germany. I will also be using their decals later on as well.

I added “C” channel (upper) and 45 degree angle (lower) styrene for the side door guides. The kit came with PE for this, but it was really small and almost impossible to fold and keep from kinking. I added the frames on the screens using thin wine bottle foil. I simply cut thin strips and glued them into place.

I also plumbed the brake lines and rescue hoist. I cut half circle steps in each side and two new fuel filler points on the starboard side.

I also had to modify the sliding door. On US H-34s, the window was centered on the side door. On the British Wessex, the window was further aft. I cut a piece out forward are of the window opening, then inverted it and placed it in the aft section of the opening and filled/filed it smooth. Door window successfully moved forward/centered.

Painting is up next. I also have to build the main and tail rotors, which are kits in themselves with lots of resin, PE, and plastic parts.

More progress this last week.

I painted the rear side of the engine fan and drive shaft. I also added a couple hydraulic lines. Most of this will not be seen once it is all together.

I also added the screen and oil cooler on the underside.

Once all that was done, I added the nose to the fuselage. I had no real issues with it, just a little bit of filling and sanding needed to blend it all together.

The underside.

Next is adding all the exterior details, tail, rotors, glass, etc…

I have gotten quite a bit of work don​​​​​​​e it it the last couple of weeks.

I completed the rear cabin by adding a couple first aid bags, fire extinguishers, a rucksack, a duffle bag, an M14, and a few 7.62mm ammo cans for the M60A door gun.  I also washed it with a dirty grey-brown to make it looks a little lived in.  Lastly, I added some bare metal on the floor as well.

Here is the IP and overhead console.  They are painted by hand and I used the kit instrument decals on them, and a few from the spares bin.

The rest of the cockpit.  I added the fire extinguisher, placards and  other details.  I haven't added the seatbelts as I think I will put a couple pilots in it.

I have sealed up the fuselage as well.  I didn't really have any issues with the fuselage going together.  I did sand a couple spots that were sticking out and binding, but after that, there were no other issues.  It will require a bit of filler where the bottom meets the sides, but it isn't too bad.  

It is finally starting to look like an UH-34D.  I am very pleased with it so far.  Next up is painting the inside of the nose, building the intake vents on the underside front, and installing the nose.

Hello Gino!

Lookin' good - I like the work you've done on the the cockpit and the cabin a lot. Lookin forward to see it painted. Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

I'm slowly making progress on this one.  I have been working on the cabin recently.  I installed wiring and the troop seats so far.  I made the seats out of the kit provided frames and fabric made from red card stock paper with the seat pattern printed on it.

I also have some of the detail pieces started.  These are the pilots' seats and fire extinguishers that will be in the cabin and cockpit.  There will also be various bags, ammo cans, and a couple M14s in the back.

Next up is to start detailing the cockpit.

I have made a little bit of progress.  I completed the basic interior and haver painted it.  Waiting for paint to dry to proceed on that.

In the meantime, I have been working on the 3D printed nose.  It is very detailed, but missing the intake screens and internal parts that can be seen behind them.

I added the firewalls and a basic engine fan and drive shaft inside.  The engine fan is a little small, but for what you can see, it will do.  The firewalls are 0.020 styrene, and the engine fan is a couple left-over fans from a couple Tamiya M26 Dragon Wagon kits.

For the intake screens, I ordered PE screen from Royal Model; Medium Hexagonal Mesh (#469).  I made a template for the screens by enlarging a 1/48 UH-34 PE fret to 1/32.  I then used the paper templates to cut the Royal Model mesh.  It was pretty close and only required a bit of finessing to get them to match the openings on the 3D nose.

I also made a recessed "bucket" to place the exhaust pipes into.  I used a kit part for the wheel hubcap used on the British version that is excess to the UH-34.

More to come soon.

Well Now!

    That sounds like a Plan to me! Note: Tell your daughter to take No Crap off of any man. She's going to have an uphill fight in the Man's world she chose. I definite Wish her Luck and Good Fortune. She looks Determined so there !