CH47-A Building tips, ideas, painting and general help.

I'll take a shot here although you are likely to get all sorts of replies for fellow hookers.

1. Intake compressor blades are steel. They pretty much stay the same color as engines get washed often.When they are dirty, they get a little black but probably not enough to notice even at 1/35 scale. I'd say go with a flat dull steel. The intake housing is (outer and inner walls of the intake) are dark gray. By rear fins, I assume you mean the visible portion of the turbine inside the exhaust cone. That's a tough one, I will have to look closer at work and get back to you.

2. CH-47A, B, C and D's with 712 engines have a painted dark grey compressor housing. This includes the engine from the intake back to the combusion chamber (the larger round cylinder just forward of the exhaust). The combustor is a light steel color when new but heat quickly makes it darker and dull. Some even get the blue tint from heat. Its hard to explain, I have some pictures that I can scan and post maybe this weekend.

3. The exhaust cone starts as a shinny steel with a gold or brass tint. Over time they turn to a dull brass color (again pictures). The age uniformely for the most part. Atleast the part visible outside the cowling. Some get that bluish tint up at the engine end. They do not turn black from soot inside.

4. The gear box covers (we call them nose boxes) are painted the fuselage color. One point here is that early A models didn't have the intake screens. Later A's and B's had the screen only in warmer temperatures. They were romoved in the winter. The later screens (mushroom shaped) stay on all the time but have the rear panels removed in cold temperatures.

I'll dig up some pics, I know I have some that will help.

Thanks a lot Wile E!

A buddy of mine was a pilot with the 173rd AHC Robinhoods 67-70 and he remembers one time they were hit pretty bad and a Hooker picked them up just in time to miss Charlie.....after that they had a lot more respect for those big helicopters.

I have a pretty good idea what I'm going to use for the exchaust cones......I'll start with a Chrome finish then use the mentalizer burn't iron at the ends and blend it in....then a slight tint of tamiyas clear blue....should turn out just right.    A pal of mine used that on car exhaust once and it looked sweet!

This is from a D model.. it may help.

Thanks!!!

Hey....so are ya gonna enter any Helo kits at the Contest on the 8th??

Troy,
    Probably not. I am just getting to the point with my garage where I can start building again. My built kits are still packed up. I will show up to check out everyone elses stuff and get some ideas.

COOL.....no biggie at all......better for me......PHEW! .....hehehehe

You will see some great work indeed.

Terry Moore....North IPMS president will have a few entries.....his work is just amazing and he's a real nice guy.  Bob who owns Galaxy and puts on the Contests is one of the best friends a modeler can have.....his shop has TONS of PLASTIC kits...mostly aviation! There is also a 'Scratch and dent' table with very nice kits at 30% to 70% off....some are just over stock that he just wants to get rid of.

Visa will be in tow!

hehehehe

I don't know about American Eagles in Tacoma....but the thier main shop up here has never had the reputation of being the friendliest in the area.....after spending some time at Galaxy Hobby you will wish you lived up here.....Bob has been in business for eleven years and we keep telling him to get a larger shop.

Glad you can make it!

Papa Echo out.

     It appears from some of the photos that the windows on some of the ACH-47s were either removed or filled with plate steel. Am I accurate was there a certain "protocol" regarding the windows. I have also started my stub wings. I will post some pictures tommorow when I get a chance. It may take me a few shots to get it how I like it. What was the name of the second book referenced for info Papa-echo?

Aerofax minigraph #27 Boeing Helicopters  CH-47 Chinook by David Anderton and Jay Miller

This is the BEST book that anyone has mentioned.  Its out of print but not inpossible to find.

I have one and I love it! .....that and the Squadron Chinook in action with a GO GO on the cover have been loads of help.

Does anyone know if they make a 35th scale 20mm? Thanks in advance.

Unknownpharoah wrote:

It appears from some of the photos that the windows on some of the ACH-47s were either removed or filled with plate steel. Am I accurate was there a certain "protocol" regarding the windows.

pharoah,

Good eye.... yes, the Boeing tech guys in Vietnam installed an armor plate in the 3rd window back on both sides, because the 20mm ammo boxes could be seen through these windows.    The ammo boxes were big and silver, and made too good a target.    example below:

On "Birth Control" (#64-13154) however, they put the armor plate in the 2nd & 3rd windows on the LEFT side... see photo:

Typically, the aft lateral windows were left out on all Vietnam era Chinooks to provide a gun-port for personal weapons.

Hope this helps....

Take care,

Frank

Squadron's CH-47 Chinook In Action has some good photos and drawings of the pilot's armored seats and gun positions.  Appears in the drawing of the "ramp" gun the upper sliding portion of the rear ramp was not installed and bracing for the guns ammo storage extended to the outer skin.  In a picture of the same gun position from the inside a panel in the ramp floor was removed to give the gunner more "head" room.  Can't wait for the 1/48 ACH-47A. 

Melgyver wrote:

Squadron's CH-47 Chinook In Action has some good photos and drawings of the pilot's armored seats and gun positions.  Appears in the drawing of the "ramp" gun the upper sliding portion of the rear ramp was not installed and bracing for the guns ammo storage extended to the outer skin.  In a picture of the same gun position from the inside a panel in the ramp floor was removed to give the gunner more "head" room.  Can't wait for the 1/48 ACH-47A.

Hi Mel,

Here's those pictures....

--

And yes, the secondary ramp was not on the ACH-47's because of internal bracing for the .50 mount, and the recessed panel in the floor, for the Gunner to kneel into.

Thanks,

Frank

Thanks again guys. The info is a great help. I'm compiling a entire file folder of reference on this subject. Thank for all your help. Frank, Can I get your email address?

Well as I said I would post some pictures of my first attempt at these stub wings. I still have some reshaping to figure out. I figured I would post a picture while the putty dries.

Hey!!

Your stub looks good!!   A quick note of causion!!   I hope you didn't glue the gear strut access door yet because you won't be able to attach the strut if you did!!

I would like to do one of these kits as a Go Go bird but the the many things that woud have to be changed and added would be  a great undertaking!!   I will wait to see how someone else does with this project!!

Mark

Nope. Its all just sitting there. I have some more "trial and error" before I glue anything.

Looks good Josh! can't wait to see what you do!

FAR OUT!! I found a few extra 1/35 M-16's and a cassette AM/FM radio from one of the two 1/35 PBR MK II Nam river boat I built a while back.  I'll hang the radio in the rear ramp area.

Unknownpharoah wrote:

Thanks again guys. The info is a great help. I'm compiling a entire file folder of reference on this subject. Thank for all your help. Frank, Can I get your email address?

whitefATgunsagogo.org

Ahh.. the wing assembly technique!      I thought later, that the "ribs" may have to be thicker/more of them, because of the larger scale... what did you think?     Oh yeah, did you get the image I made of the right side wing positioning... it's a much better angle than I had posted before.        (if you already had it, just ignore this one)

It's nice to see all the "in-progress" reports!    I'm about to break down and go get me one too!!

Take care,

Frank

 

Yous guys are gonna love the landing gear assy....very cool! The white metal parts need only minor seam clean up and fit well and glue very strong with CA.

The very nicely done rubber tires fit snugly over the center raised portions of the wheels with no seam lines and looks very clean.... I havn't even painted them yet. 

Q: Is OD the main color of the early A Hook struts??

oldhooker wrote:

Unknownpharoah wrote: Thanks again guys. The info is a great help. I'm compiling a entire file folder of reference on this subject. Thank for all your help. Frank, Can I get your email address? whitefATgunsagogo.org Ahh.. the wing assembly technique!      I thought later, that the "ribs" may have to be thicker/more of them, because of the larger scale... what did you think?     Oh yeah, did you get the image I made of the right side wing positioning... it's a much better angle than I had posted before.        (if you already had it, just ignore this one) It's nice to see all the "in-progress" reports!    I'm about to break down and go get me one too!! Take care, Frank

Frank,
     All of your pictures have been a great help.If you happen to have any pictures of the 20mm's detached from the aircraft that would be a great. I have a feeling I am going to have to scratch those as well. Thanks again. Actually it took less ribs than I originally thought.
Here is the very infant stages:
I was going to use 3 per stub wing. After some test fitting I figured that 2 per wing would be more than enough. I shaped the ribs as close to identical as I could. Then after joining them together with some Evergreen strips stock I played around with the width. To do this I studied your pictures in relation to where the rocket launcher sits and went from there. I am using the weapons systems off the UH-1C MRC kit. I think the hardest part thus far about the stubs is the critical trimming of the inner portions of the wing. The part that sits against the fuselage itself. I think they came out ok. I might try it again but I'm thinking after I hang all the weapons off them it will actually diminish what I see as a flaw in the shape. Then again I am pretty critical of my own work so what I might see as a big fat hairy deal might seem minimal to others. I just want to do the crews of the day justice.
    The next portion to tackle is the thumper. I have a feeling its going to be pretty challenging due to the fact its going to be done on that clear plastic. I'll keep you all posted.
    Funny thing is, I didnt even plan on starting this kit for a few months.

The clear plastic on this kit seems very workable so far....I had no problens drilling out those two entenna mounts on the nose and using glue. just be careful and start with a small drill bit and work up from there.

Look foward to seeing your progress!

hmmmm.......I better get back to Two Bobs and see where they are on the 1/35 Go Go decals.

Papa-Echo-64 wrote:

hmmmm.......I better get back to Two Bobs and see where they are on the 1/35 Go Go decals.

Are they making a set? I thought I was going to have to scratch those as well!

Unknownpharoah wrote:

Frank,      All of your pictures have been a great help.If you happen to have any pictures of the 20mm's detached from the aircraft that would be a great.

Thanks for your kind words...

Here is the best I can do with that... see if you can  find a file photo of a "M24A1", if you want to see one "disconnected".

I was going to use 3 per stub wing. After some test fitting I figured that 2 per wing would be more than enough. I shaped the ribs as close to identical as I could. Then after joining them together with some Evergreen strips stock I played around with the width. To do this I studied your pictures in relation to where the rocket launcher sits and went from there. I am using the weapons systems off the UH-1C MRC kit. I think the hardest part thus far about the stubs is the critical trimming of the inner portions of the wing. The part that sits against the fuselage itself. I think they came out ok. I might try it again but I'm thinking after I hang all the weapons off them it will actually diminish what I see as a flaw in the shape. Then again I am pretty critical of my own work so what I might see as a big fat hairy deal might seem minimal to others. I just want to do the crews of the day justice.

Thanks for the construction report!   It's nice to see how ideas work with others.

The next portion to tackle is the thumper. I have a feeling its going to be pretty challenging due to the fact its going to be done on that clear plastic. I'll keep you all posted.

I'm assuming you're going to use the Chunker from the UH-1C MRC kit.... ?

I carved a piece of balsa into the shape of the 40mm shroud, and was going to try and thermoform plastic into that shape, but ended up just USING the balsa piece as the shroud.     Here's a few reference photos of the chunker & shroud:

...mounting the 40mm on the restoration*

Hopes this helps,

Frank

 

Unknownpharoah wrote:

Nope. Its all just sitting there. I have some more "trial and error" before I glue anything.

Cool!!   You had me a lil worried there........I'm glad to hear that!!   Good luck on your Go Go project!!  Keep us posted on your progress!!

Mark

Papa-Echo-64 wrote:

Is OD the main color of the early A Hook struts??

Hi Troy,

Yes.

It sounds like the gear assembly works up really nice.... and oh yeah, here's a picture I found of the aft gear assembly on "Easy Money", taken during the restoration, without the sheet metal around it:

I forgot about the two-bobs boys, Troy... wonder how far along they are on those???

In 1/35 scale.... boy, there sure would be a lot of extra space available to install cabin lighting... Mmmmm.... and no need trying to hide the wires too much because they could serve as extra "plumbing" detail.... Hmmmmm.    

Sorry... off on one of my "are you gonna go get you one today, Frank" fantasies...

Take care guys,

Frank

Frank,
         Thanks again. I have some ideas on the chunker housing. And yes I'm using the MRC kit for my parts. Rather expensive boneyard if you ask me. I've never worked with balsa. I might give that a whirl for good measure.

Thanks Frank!

I don't trust my PC.....is that OD or interior green in the wheel well?