Helicopter Group Build 2009

The Revell SA-365 Dolphin seems to fit together reasonably well , the only thing I did differently was to attatch the seperate cabin roof section to the engine housing first and then glue that section to the fuselage halves , everything appears to line up better .

I'm quite disappointed and frustrated with the fit of Italeri's HH-60 ; It was a real struggle to get the fuselage halves to line up , it appears that the alignment pin on the lower nose part of the fuselage half seems to be the main culprit , it stops the top of the nose section halves from finishing flush when you glue the two fuselage halves together .

Also I din't pay much attention to the landing gear struts when I fist glued them in place , other than making sure the wheel lugs were a right angles to the fuselage , however they splay out at too far from the fuselage and simply doesn't look right , not to mention that the helo has a shocking lean  to the starboard

I'm seriously thinking about buying Hobbyboss's USCG HH-60J Jayhawk , I'm just not happy about Italeri's HH-60 , STUFF-IT , I'll build them as U.S.Navy birds and go and buy a Hobbyboss kit , For a USCG Helo italeri's offering just isn't up to scratch

                                                                      John

I hate those kinds of problems, especially on a kit from a maker like Italeri, I jist don't expect it to happen on a recent kit.  Drilling and pinning might fix it if you have the patience on the gear, looks like you fixed the cabin alignment.

I'm equally angry with myself as I am with the Italeri HH-60 kit . Mainly because I decided to build four of these birds at the same time and made the same mistake with the landing gear struts four time over .

I was able to remove the short landing gear strut from the completed fuselage build and using some needle files , I filed a small half round section of the underside of the fuselage so I could straighten the landing gear strut , so it doesn't look too splayed outwards .

I'll also file down the length of the short gear strut as that may have also contributed to the helo leaning to one side . I've also cut away the locating pin on the lower nose section on the other three fuselage halves , so hopfully the fit of the two halves will be better , especially around the nose section when I glue the next three together .

I ordered a Hobbyboss HH-60J Jayhawk from Tower Hobbies there in the US , the kit should arrive in about a weeks time and I'll start on her straight away .

                                                                     John

John - You're like a one man helo factory! 

Well the Hind is finished... 1/48 Revell Mi-24.  Alot of work in this kit and it looks pretty good for my first helicopter.

Hope you all like her!

Probably won't be seeing much of me anymore due to the changes on these forums. Fifteen minute ordeal just to make this post doesn't fly with me. I'll check in from time to time to see how you fine gentlemen are progressing and hopefully things will improve here.

Klaus - I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for my digi cobras... now get crackin'!

Jeremy, it's been fun to watch this build come together, and it is indeed a fine build, congratulations.  I've posted that first image to the front page. 

I think we'll see the site speed up with time.  It has gotten better, but every once in a while I hit a real speed bump.

But, like the buzzard,  we all feel like saying "Patience, Hell, I'm gonna go out and kill something!"

Jeremy

Awesome build man, I was watching your helo from the begining.

You realy earn this badge!!

NICE!!!  Outstanding build Jeremy.

Jeremy , Your Mi-24 is absolutly perfect . The paint finish is awesome especially around the canopy frame , so is the subtle panel line wash and the cockpit is just amazing . I may build lot's of helicopters but quanity is no subsitute for quality .

Well done Sir

Kind regards ...  John

Jeremy, your Hind came out gorgeous! A superb build!

John, you are the helicopter building machine! Sorry to read about the problems on Italeri's HH-60.

Your Hind is simply AWESOME, Jeremy! I really like how the faded paint turend out.

jmabx

Klaus - I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for my digi cobras... now get crackin'!

Thanks for your interest!

I think it clear to all now that I won't be done with these two helos for the deadline, BUT don't be afraid as I'll keep you all posted here and in the Helo-section.

And now ... TA-DA ... the canopy as it is now:

Basic shape is done, though it seems to me the bulge on the sides are a little too pronounced.
I have to fill some gaps, add the frame and all the surface details.

I never noticed it until you called it out... the writing is TINY... I had to use a magnifier to read it The larger lettering is "Augusta Bell", and the smaller is "Jet" and what is probably suposed to be "Ranger", but can not be read, even with the magnifier.

Jeremy....AWESOME!

Great job on that build!

Keep 'em coming!

Justin

Jeremy, the Hind looks great.

I also hope they get these forum issues fixed, I'm not hear nearly as much as I was before either. It is becoming a chore to use the site making it more like work than fun, after about 10 minutes I start to get a headache.

I wanted to thank everyone for the kind words... much appreciated. I usually don't dive that deep into something but I figured I was building with the pros this time around. Plus this was my first helicopter and my first group build so I didn't want to disappoint. 

Thanks again!                 

Aaronw

 ...after about 10 minutes I start to get a headache.

Funny you mention that Aaron because I have the same problem. The small text doesn't help but I think the green is my problem. The closer you get to the blue spectrum, the harder it is for the eyes to focus. I find myself squinting to read the green titles.

*Sorry... double post and I can't figure out how to delete it.  

I fell a little behind this past week with my builds , lot's of running around getting the family organized for Christmas , better than leaving everything to last minute , like i've usually done in the past .

Anyway the Hobbyboss HH-60J Jayhawk arrived today , so I'm excited about getting her started .

I like the look and feel of the plastic , there is also some nice cockpit and interior cabin seating and I much prefer the landing gear arrangment .

Overall I think it's much better than Italeri's offering , so tonight i'll start cutting parts from the sprue , some glueing and a little airbrushing and hopfully get the cabin section well under-way .

                                           John .

I like the CG markings, and the plastic does look pretty good.

The intereior has now been painted, washed and drybrushed.

Engine top (transmission?) and upper surface of cabin roof

front view of crew area

upper side view

instrument panel

IP and cabin roof in place

Yeterday after I took those pics, I glued the fuselage halves together. This morning was sand the seams and putty a few sink marks and seam areas. In the afternoon I sanded the putty, rescribed lost panel lines and then glued on the tail boom and skids. Here are a couple pics, plus a view of the main rotor placed on the mast.

Almost ready for the base coat of OD.

Looking good so far, Stikpusher! 

You're on the home stretch. I know those Italeri kits can be rough sometimes... how's this one?

Thanks JM! The kit itself builds fairly easily. The biggest snags have been due to the beat up condtion of the kit box when I bought it. Most of the fit has been good to this point. We shall see about the clear parts. Now it looks like a Kiowa at least. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Thanks for the report, stikpusher.  I have one of those around here somewhere and I'm glad to know it fits well.

Hi guys

Not that I gave up after that canopy accident:) I am trying to sort it out in many ways, hopefully one of them will be successful. as for the progres I have already started paiting

Thanks for looking

Hopefully you can find another canopy, Polak, or stretch form one from thermaform plastic over it. Good luck!

There are some beutiful birds taking shape around here.  I have added another kit to the mix and am trying to finish three before the New Year and the end of the GB. I am building the Italeri and Hobby Boss UH-1B's OOB for an article on Scale-Rotors and the Hobby Boss AH-1F is also basically OOB and will be in Sky Soldiers livery. I bought one of the HB AH-1S (actually an F) kits for $9.99 during Squadron's recent sale. I wish I had bought several more! They are GREAT! I am sure there is some inaccuracy that has escaped my eye and I wouldn't consider building em without Floyd's or Joseph's decals, but dang they go together nice and easy. Anyway here are a few progress pics. I have some of the Cobra cockpit, but they are on another drive. If anyone is interested, I can post em later.
Ray

UH-1F ready for paint:

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Italeri and Hobby Boss UH-1B interiors OOB. Hobby Boss on left, Italeri on right.

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I'd like to see the Cobra cockpit, Ray.  I did add it to the first page.

John,

   Well I can't very well turn the moderator down now can I!   The kit TSU part was lost to the carpet monster, so I made a piece that kinda looks like a TSU. The seats lack side armor which is no big deal to me as the Sky Soldiers cobras have the side armor removed.  Here are some pre and post painting photos.  The gunner's IP goes in after the cockpit has been added to the fuselage, so it's not in the first three pics.

    Ray

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Looking good Ray!  

Looking at the Hobbyboss and Italeri cockpits, I assumed that the Hobbyboss would be a little more detailed, but that Italeri pit looks mighty nice from where I'm sittin'.

Jeremy,

  Thanks.  In my opinion, the Italeri kit beats the Hobby Boss hands down for accuracy and detail, but the Hobby Boss kit goes together like a breeze.  If you are really interested in a detailed comparison of the two kits, check out the review article I did over at Scale-Rotors: http://www.scale-rotors.com/content/italeri-uh-1b-vs-hobby-boss-uh-1b

   Ray

That is a great review Ray. 

There is alot of info in your review that can be used in any scale with any kit... that's what I like reading.