Find us on Youtube Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Sign up for our email newsletter
See inside current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine
See inside current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine

THE MAGAZINE

        CONTACT US

          RECENT ARTICLES

          POPULAR TOPICS

          RECENT REVIEWS

          POPULAR TOPICS

            RECENT REVIEWS

            POPULAR TOPICS

              RECENT VIDEOS

              POPULAR TOPICS

                RECENT THREADS

                CATEGORIES

                  NEW PRODUCTS

                  OUR STORE

                    CURRENT ISSUE

                    See inside the current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine

                        SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

                        Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

                        Search

                        HELICOPTERS: ATTACK HELO GROUP BUILD!

                        26148 views
                        444 replies
                        1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
                        « First«567891011»Last »
                        AH1Wsnake
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Modeling anything with "MARINES" on the side.
                        Posted by AH1Wsnake on Saturday, February 5, 2005 1:47 AM
                        ....just have it be made by MRC, because I can't afford any of the 1/35 offerings by Trumpeter, LOL!

                         

                        "There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 7, 2005 12:08 AM
                        i third that... a 35th apache would totally rock.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 7, 2005 4:48 AM
                        Managed to fit and mask the main canopy last night! Man that was a tough job on a 1/72 model! First time I've tried it and let's just hope it works! Will mask the side windows tonight and then airbrush the main fueselage. Made a couple of silly mistakes like trying to glue the tiny side windows with CA glue! They've frosted slightly and I got my grubby finger print on it too. But from a distance you won't notice it. Overall I'm pretty happy with the (slow) progress though. Will post picks tonight or tomorrow. Thanks all.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 6:01 AM
                        Well my MD500D has now been relegated to my spare bits box!! I was trying to mask the side windows when they popped out. I've tried to get them to go back in using a peice of sprue glued to masking tape cover ing the window but it was no use and the window is now glued to the pilots seat! Aaaaaaaaaargh! Anyone else ever had to give up on a model?? I feel totally disheartened. Luckily for me I'd already started work on a 1/72 scale RAH66 Comanche chopper too. The kit is much better than the fiddly MD500 and I'm almost as far along with it now. So hope you don't mind if I change my choice for this GB. I may use the MD500 as a shot down israeli version on a little diorama!!
                        Report Abuse
                        osjohnm
                        • Member since
                          October 2003
                        • From: Cape Town, South Africa
                        Posted by osjohnm on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 6:06 AM
                        Hi all

                        Haven't touched the kit in a couple of days, not really in the mood to putty at the moment.

                        However I do have seam question. On all the helo kits I've seen the two halves of the fuselage are left and right, not top and bottom as on planes. Therefore there is always a line running all along the top and all along the bottom once the halves have been glued together.



                        Now how do u get rid of that line? There is no "gap" but u can see where the two halves meet.

                        Or do you guys just leave it there?

                        Thanks
                        John
                        John
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 8:33 AM
                        I usually sand it down until smooth. I start with a coarse grit (250 - 300) using the wet'n'dry method and then I move up to a finer sandpaper (400). Once done I prime the model and then the seam can't be seen or felt. That's what I did on my kit before it all went wrong with the windows (can you tell I'm bitter??!). Another thing I tried is to run some super glue along the seam with a brush. Not only does it fill any small gaps but also helps the two halves bond well during sanding (as there can be quite a bit of pressure when sanding and occasionaly the two halves can come unglued). Just make sure you let the super glue dry thoroughly before attempting sanding.
                        These are just the basics that I use (not been doing it long) so I'm sure there will be more advaned techniques as well.
                        Report Abuse
                        Cobrahistorian
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!
                        Posted by Cobrahistorian on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 9:27 AM
                        John,

                        Yep, I use gap filling super glue on that seam usually. If it is a flush fit, I'll just sand it down so the seam isn't visible, but on most helo kits, for some reason that's not the case. The thicker the super glue, the better. I just run a bead of it along the seam, let it dry and then sand it flush. Poof! No more seam.

                        Dan,

                        I just gave up on my IMEX Apache, so I feel your pain. It ended up meeting with the Mk 1 Mod 0 combat boot last week and didn't come out on top. Good luck with the Comanche!
                        "1-6 is in hot"
                        Report Abuse
                        osjohnm
                        • Member since
                          October 2003
                        • From: Cape Town, South Africa
                        Posted by osjohnm on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 9:42 AM
                        Thks 4 the replies.

                        So even though the two halves have already been glued together the super glue method would still work?
                        I also assume that when refering to super glue u aren't refering to model cement/liquid but actual super glue?
                        Would putty work at all?
                        John
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 10:14 AM
                        Cobra - thanks glad I'm not alone!!

                        John, personally I think putty would be too heavy for seams, great for filling gaping holes but super glue is much better for seams in my opinion.
                        Report Abuse
                        Par429
                        • Member since
                          October 2004
                        • From: Maryland
                        Posted by Par429 on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 11:19 AM
                        John-
                        If you want another opinion, I use putty on all seams. I'll admit I have not used super glue as a seam filler very much, but when I tried it, I thought it dried very hard (not easy to sand) and didn't feather very well. I use a polyester glaze filler (autobody product) on seams. You have to mix in a hardener, and spead sparingly across seams. It cures in 20 min, sands easily, doesn't shrink like some putty's do, and feathers very nicely. I'm almost to the point of filling the bottom seam on my HH-60H. I can post some pics on how I fill seams if you think it would be useful.

                        The are lots of techniques, I would recommend trying different ones to see what works best for you.

                        Regards,
                        Phil




                        Report Abuse
                        osjohnm
                        • Member since
                          October 2003
                        • From: Cape Town, South Africa
                        Posted by osjohnm on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 2:20 PM
                        Hi guys

                        Thanks 4 the responses.

                        Phil, if you don't mind I would appreciate the pics. Sure it will help.

                        Was thinking of using Tamiya putty and using nailpolish remover to wipe it off with(posted on ARC under the Tools&Tips section). However in the example the seam is deep and evident, not like my join line?

                        I'll also try the superglue approach and try it on a small section first and see how it goes.

                        Thanks
                        John
                        John
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 4:16 PM
                        Well things are looking up. Just airbrushed all the cockpit parts for the Comanche and am now ready to paint the small details. Have also managed to mask the canopy ready for fitting and painting. Already looking much better than the cursed MD500! Not sure on which colour scheme I want. Apparently the is only one and it was olive drab?? I might duplicate the two-tone effect as seen in the birds in The Hulk.
                        Report Abuse
                        Trigger
                        • Member since
                          February 2004
                        • From: Moooooon River!
                        Posted by Trigger on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 7:23 PM
                        HULK SMASH!

                        A Hulk-Buster would look pretty cool. I didn't even notice the two colors until I got the DVD.
                        ------------------------------------------------------------------ - Grant "Can't let that nest in there..."
                        Report Abuse
                        GA.modelmaker
                        • Member since
                          November 2003
                        • From: savannah ga.
                        Posted by GA.modelmaker on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 7:30 PM
                        well guys here is my 2nd build for the gb. the ah6-j little bird. i screwed up the mini guns so this bird wont carry them. i even tried a few new tips on building this one and i now am a firm beleiver of using future on your canopies. its 96. 5 complete i just got to add a few more attena and the rear glass and its done. so here are the pics thanks rob

                        dang it the others didnt load
                        Report Abuse
                        Cobrahistorian
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!
                        Posted by Cobrahistorian on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 8:59 PM
                        Rob,

                        Lookin good! Have you thought about scratchbuilding the miniguns? Shouldn't be too difficult.

                        I'm busy attaching antennae, etc to my KW, should have some pics within the next few days.
                        "1-6 is in hot"
                        Report Abuse
                        Trigger
                        • Member since
                          February 2004
                        • From: Moooooon River!
                        Posted by Trigger on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 9:26 PM
                        Nice Killer Egg Rob.
                        Thumbs Up [tup]

                        Hopefully my CC kits will arrive soon and I can finish my AH-6, then start on my MH-6J. Thinking now about adding a couple of DML SOF bikes to go with that one
                        ------------------------------------------------------------------ - Grant "Can't let that nest in there..."
                        Report Abuse
                        osjohnm
                        • Member since
                          October 2003
                        • From: Cape Town, South Africa
                        Posted by osjohnm on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 3:18 AM
                        Dan, the correct colour for the comanche is US Army Helo Drab, not Olive Drab.
                        Model Master 2024 is the one you need to get, they are the only company that make this colour if memory serves me right.

                        Rob, great looking Little Bird.
                        John
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 4:33 AM
                        Nice looking egg Rob.

                        Thanks for the info John. I may still do the two-tone grey colour thought to make it more interesting. Although it means lots of masking - aaaaargh!
                        Report Abuse
                        Cobrahistorian
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!
                        Posted by Cobrahistorian on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 5:28 AM
                        Got a lot of work done on the KW last night!
                        All of the major antennae are now in place. Formation lights have been added, APR-39 recievers are on, and the Engine Barrier Filter has been added. At this point, all that's left to do is add the glass, and the associated antennae that attach to it, finish the skids and then paint and decal.

                        I'm finding a LOT more variation in configurations than I'd originally planned for. Upturned or downturned skid crosstubes, presence or lack of laser detectors, UHF "towel rack" antennae or the newer commo antennae on the tailboom. Problem is, I haven't been able to find detailed info on a bird that is configured exactly how I've built this one! I think I've finally found one bird from the 1st ID, 1-4 Cav 94-0154, but man, that was a lot harder than it should have been!
                        "1-6 is in hot"
                        Report Abuse
                        AH1Wsnake
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Modeling anything with "MARINES" on the side.
                        Posted by AH1Wsnake on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 11:12 AM
                        Cobra....
                        You're going to have to run your model periodically through "depot-level" maintenance if you want to keep up with any upgrades/configurations Tongue [:P]

                         

                        "There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 4:04 PM
                        Well here's where I am at the moment, just installed and painted the seats although the colour is way too bright, looks more lke 'Hulk green' than 'field green'!. Never mind, once the canopy is on you won't see much anyway!! Just need to install the console and then fit into the fueselage and then painting can begin!

                        Report Abuse
                        Cobrahistorian
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!
                        Posted by Cobrahistorian on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 10:48 PM
                        Snake,

                        You're tellin me! None of these configurations make any sense! Some have the latest commo equipment but the old style skids, others have new commo, but no laser detectors. Its just weird!

                        Anyhow, I've found my bird. I'm waiting to put the glass on right now. I ordered the M-16/ AR-15 family in 1/35th and will be securing two M-4s to the dashboard, just like the pics I have of this bird. Of course, that's going to take some work as well, considering the weapons kit is old and doesn't have current-configuration M-4s in it.

                        Should be ready for paint by the weekend.

                        "1-6 is in hot"
                        Report Abuse
                        osjohnm
                        • Member since
                          October 2003
                        • From: Cape Town, South Africa
                        Posted by osjohnm on Thursday, February 10, 2005 4:22 AM
                        Cobra, wouldn't a modern 1/35 Ranger/Marine figure(s) kit have a M-4 in it and be a better option?
                        John
                        Report Abuse
                        Trigger
                        • Member since
                          February 2004
                        • From: Moooooon River!
                        Posted by Trigger on Thursday, February 10, 2005 6:41 AM
                        Nice badge Dan.

                        Question - How are you going to handle the "John Wayne 6-Shooter" Hellfire capacity?Big Smile [:D]
                        ------------------------------------------------------------------ - Grant "Can't let that nest in there..."
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 10, 2005 7:06 AM
                        Thanks trigger, I did a screen capture from The Hulk to get it! As for the Hellfire capacity.......well......I'll put a box of them by the gunners feet, that way he can reload them easier, just open the cananopy and viola, fire and forget death on a stick!
                        Report Abuse
                        Cobrahistorian
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!
                        Posted by Cobrahistorian on Thursday, February 10, 2005 7:19 AM
                        John,

                        That may be a better source, but nowhere near as much fun! I build real M-4s for fun along with modeling, so I've got plenty of source material to work from. Plus, its kinda fun making them a mini-project within the helo itself!
                        "1-6 is in hot"
                        Report Abuse
                        osjohnm
                        • Member since
                          October 2003
                        • From: Cape Town, South Africa
                        Posted by osjohnm on Thursday, February 10, 2005 7:27 AM
                        Cobra...

                        The joys of 1/35 Wink [;)]

                        I'm starting see why the majority of the group builders are favouring 35.

                        Maybe one day when I have the space and have improved my skills to do justice to a 35 kit.

                        M-4s and Apaches, remind me not to upset you Whistling [:-^]
                        John
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 10, 2005 8:56 AM
                        Hi john/Cobra,

                        I've just bought the 1/35 AH6 little bird 'night stalker' kit from Dragon. It looks great but are there extra detail kis available?
                        Report Abuse
                        Trigger
                        • Member since
                          February 2004
                        • From: Moooooon River!
                        Posted by Trigger on Thursday, February 10, 2005 10:31 AM
                        Cobra Company makes a resin MH-6J MELB conversion set. It has great detail parts that you can use on your AH-6 too (FLIR, seats with and without belts, RWR, Doppler antennae, new control panel with FLIR screens and cockpit details.)

                        http://www.cobracompany.com/35003.htm


                        He's also got some generic SOAR decals:
                        http://www.cobracompany.com/decals.htm
                        ------------------------------------------------------------------ - Grant "Can't let that nest in there..."
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 10, 2005 1:13 PM
                        Cool, does this kit transform it to the helo's as used in Blackhawk Down? If so where could I get hold of some 1/35 M4's or maybe even Ranger figures?

                        SOAR??

                        Report Abuse
                        « First«567891011»Last »
                        JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

                        Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

                        SEARCH FORUMS
                        FREE NEWSLETTER
                        SIGN UP
                        By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.
                          More great sites from Kalmbach Media
                            Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy