"Battle for Mogadishu" ***COMPLETE*** 24oct09

Oooooo ..... spackling! I remember you saying that you used it now!!! That's going to be a WHOLE lot better than the hydrocal. Thanks for the tip about adding the second layer on over the bricks. That will really help give it that realistic feel...

As far as supporting the bird ... No, I'm not using ropes. The way "infil" is conducted off the Littlebirds is pretty much like a hot dump. They come in fast and hot, touch down for about 2-3 seconds and then they're gone. They expect that you'l be off the planks by then. Since they are unarmed they don't want to hang out for too long. As for "infil" on a rooftop ... they just get really close w/o touching down if they can help it. I was planning on using a small, solid aluminum or steel rod. I've already attached a hollow sleeve for it to fit into on the fuselage. (I think there's a pic above ...) I plan running that down into the building's wall for strength, then all the way down to the base. I might use a couple of increasingly different sized rods just to give it that really strong feel.

Overall, I'm building the dio so that I can remove the bird as well as the main rotor for transport if needed.

Thanks for the spackling tip! If it gives you great delight ... you can continue to imagine me trying to use the hydrocal!!! What a mess that would be!

Thanks again.

modelchasm wrote:

Oooooo ..... spackling! I remember you saying that you used it now!!! That's going to be a WHOLE lot better than the hydrocal. Thanks for the tip about adding the second layer on over the bricks. That will really help give it that realistic feel... As far as supporting the bird ... No, I'm not using ropes. The way "infil" is conducted off the Littlebirds is pretty much like a hot dump. They come in fast and hot, touch down for about 2-3 seconds and then they're gone. They expect that you'l be off the planks by then. Since they are unarmed they don't want to hang out for too long. As for "infil" on a rooftop ... they just get really close w/o touching down if they can help it. I was planning on using a small, solid aluminum or steel rod. I've already attached a hollow sleeve for it to fit into on the fuselage. (I think there's a pic above ...) I plan running that down into the building's wall for strength, then all the way down to the base. I might use a couple of increasingly different sized rods just to give it that really strong feel. Overall, I'm building the dio so that I can remove the bird as well as the main rotor for transport if needed. Thanks for the spackling tip! If it gives you great delight ... you can continue to imagine me trying to use the hydrocal!!! What a mess that would be! Thanks again.

i knew that about the little birds...why did i think ropes?? . hmmm...! yeah, use the spackling...i think u'll get better results! that should go on easily over the foam and with the "courseness" of the foam already it should stick well to it! again, put a descent layer on then scribe your bricks...then put a second thin layer on over top and add your cracks etc. as far as the delite of using that junk...no thanks...unless your casting bigfoot samples or something!

Those planks look much better, great work!
Now remeber to make some pins.

As for the base, as you suggest, you could use only a portion of the building. I'd say only the roof section with "just a row of bricks" would get an awesome effect.

As for fixing the helo the alluminium rod through the engine section is definitively the most stable solution, but I'm afraid it'll pop to the eye.
My suggestion is to use to smaller angled rods fixed to the skids, in order to get an effect like the one in the picture.

I'll try to make a scetch of what I'm talking about.

Hmmm ... that's a good point Klaus. I knew that the rod would stick out a little, but I was hoping to "hide" it among all the detail on the helo and the roof top. I see what you're saying about using the skids instead, but I'm afraid of putting that much stress on ths skids. Were you suggesting to drill the skids out a bit IOT insert angled rods? The only other thing that I was thinking about would be to use clear acrylic rod .... but to me, CAR is just as visable and looks a little hokey .... like you're trying to say "oh, no! There's not really a rod there! Its ... invisable!"

I'm sure that I'll figure something out. Maybe I'll try some camoflage techniques to try and hide the rod(s). Maybe .... just maybe ....

maybe model...and this is just a maybe...maybe if you have a guy from each side "stepping" off the aircraft...their legs can be the "supports"...know what im saying??? then you arent hiding anything...it'll look real and may work really well!! maybe have all 4 guys in some manner of stepping off the craft in different poses in order to "balance" the helo?? just a thought bud! i can hear the gears working now!!

You're right on w/ one of the "options" I was thinking, camo. My fear w/ this is that it'll be like trying to balance an elephant on a marble! I was also kinda wanting the helo to be removable ... BUT yes! .... I will definately be working this idea in with the others to see if would work out any better.

Thanks for the idea!!! We'll see how it does .....

modelchasm wrote:

My fear w/ this is that it'll be like trying to balance an elephant on a marble!

yeah, but if the feet are glued to the building...i assure you that thing isnt going to move. however, i know u wanted more of an "incoming" theme rather than landing. being egg shaped and having all the weight were the guys actually are will be benificial and i cant see it being an issue! who knows though...just a thought and perhaps something better will work out.

I do like your idea .... Although you're right in that I'm going for more of an "incoming" feel. If I went w/ a semi-landing, I'd probably only go w/ one foot on the deck. However that one guy would have to be drilled out etc, etc, etc .... in short .... BOO!

I'm planning on adding some lead weigh around the back wall, where the tubing is already glued in. I think that this will help keep the weight centered around the mounting rod ... hopefully stablizing the whole thing.

I am glad that you and your family is safe.  Hope the models are not being stored in the basement!  You are welcome to store them in my basement any day if it continues to be flooded... you are only few hours drive away from my house. GRIN

WHOW!!!! That's crazy! Glad to hear everything is good though ....

We haven't had any tornados yet, but we're already in hurricane season and we're dying of the heat ....

Glad that you guys are alright. Get back to building when you can. I haven't even touched the styro for my building yet. Maybe later this afternoon .....

WHAT??? texas hasnt had any tornadoes?? sorry...houston area! we normally get alot of threatening weather but its few and far between when we get the tornadoes...and if we do...its miles away!!! this one just decided to park itself right through my area!! besides, i fared much better than so many. yeah, i have to throw away alot of food, need to clean and disinfect my basement...but...!

thanks for the well wishes model...will be building soon...started painting my sniper. hope your's is moving along!

Call your insurance company about the food .... when we got hit by Hurr. Ike last year we had to do the same. Ours just called us up, asked if we threw out food, and then sent us a check for about 500 .... we didn't even ask for it. However, in your case, I'd call. Couldn't hurt, and you might just give some help with the grocery bill!?!

As far as my building goes. Things are coming along .... I've actually gotten side-tracked a little on another build .... yes, number 4 right now. But its a small/ good one.

I'll be posting the finished product on the a/c forum later on tomorrow....

Eventually I made the sketch I promised. Anyhow you got what I was talking about.

P.S.:I know it's not a Little Bird but an MD-530, but that's the only scheme I found!

hey scott, ran across these pics that i took almost 10 years ago...thought maybe you were looking for them (or at least one). hope it helps ya!

this one is of a blackhawk cockpit. you may not need it but perhaps someone else will.

as i said, i have a pic for just about everything!! again hope they help ya and enjoy!

Avus wrote:

Eventually I made the sketch I promised. Anyhow you got what I was talking about. P.S.:I know it's not a Little Bird but an MD-530, but that's the only scheme I found!

Hey, thanks for the sketch, Avus ... and YES, thanks camo! That picture will help. (as well as the BLKHK pic ... I'll use it later on!

Your sketch is pretty dead on to the idea that I've got going. I've mocked everything up and I think that the small rod that I'll be using will be ok. Running it into the engine compartment isn't really all that noticeable. The helo sits a litte higher up w/ just a little more tilt so the tail boom actually helps hide the rod.

I was wondering though. I know bigger helos' rotors will bend upwards when they flare to land. W/ 6 guys on board would the LB's do the same? Or are they too small/ rotating too fast? I've already put a small bend in the blades, but I took a little of it out last night b/c I thought it was too much in the mock up.

Thanks again for the help on this one.

Camo, not to steal your thunder, but the MH-6J has a different IP (well the MH-60L does to, but that's OT)

Check these out (images from uscockpits):

HTH,

Austin

Ark,

Thanks for those pics as well. Beside the itty-bitty details in the cockpit, I think I'm done with it. Glad to see that you're following this one...

x2.  Any updates? 

Procrastinators ...

arkhunter2002 wrote:

Procrastinators ...

Damn. .... that's cold. .... but, ya got me.

I've been trying to work on model projects, but this whole job thing has me down a bit ... understandable, sure ... ridiculous, ABSOLUTLY!

But, on this one, I've actually got some updates that I need to post. I'll put that as the first thing on my "to do" list for tomorrow ... right after my morning coffee and checking the web for updates on the Tour de France and lastest and greatest on that dead white ... rrrr .... black guy's funeral shenanigans.

Just a quick run-down to satisfy your "thrist" ...

1) I've applied the first coat of spackle to the building and "drawn" the bricks. Just need to add the second layer and touch it up and the building should be about 90%.

2) I've got the base coat painted on the helo and most of all the parts. (Not too hard though .... its all black!) I've got a couple more pieces that I need to add on, and then repaint it. Although I completely forgot to pre-paint the panel lines dark blue, so I'll possibly do that before the repaint. After that, it's all detailing.

3) Uh .... crap! Is that all I've done!?!

One thing I did notice though was that I either lost them or the kit didn't come with decals? Hmm, the instructions mention decals but not where to put them. Guess I'll have to make my own ... anything in particular that I should look for besides the "United States Army" on the tail boom?

You didn't loose them, Scott, the kit has no decals!

The only markings these helos have is the standard "UNITED STATES ARMY" on the tail, complete serial number on the rotor cowling and last three numers of the serial on the tail. In your case these markings should be olive drab.

Some LBs have the last three numers on the canopy, too, while others have the "SOC" emblem or personal markings instead of the numbers on the canopy (I put a "No Fear" writing on mine).

HTH

Great! Thanks Avus. I was thinking about "searching" for the decals today, so that definately saves me some time!

As far as adding my own, what's the best way .... making my own decals or trying to use a template? Also, what about using dry transfers vs printing decals from my printer?

The template might work for the bigger signs, but for the smaller serials it'd be a pain in the you-know-where!

You could print the decals you need on decal paper, BUT keep in mind that ink-jet ink is not opaque. This means you won't see your decals on black (or very dark) background if you use a clear decal paper. You'd have to print them on white decal paper and "coutour" them with black.

On the other hand if you should happen to have a dye-sublimation printer (aka ALPS printer)  you could go for the clear decal film, but it has to be specific for ALPS.

Final solution: Cobra Company has a set of Olive Drab markings.

HTH

Man! .... everyone's got something to sell you! HAHA!!!

Thanks for the tip on CC's decals. I'll probably go for those as all the other options sound like a huge pain, plus I'm not sure that I could find dry transfers in OD.

Thanks again Avus.