Matt Shropshire Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 The first HH-65s to get the overall orange paint schemes were deployed aboard the Polar class ice breakers IIRC. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pete "Pig" Fleischmann Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Looking great-Very cool Idea! I might have missed it, but what kit are you using? Looks nice! Regards.. Pig Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hooknladderno1 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 Looking great-Very cool Idea! I might have missed it, but what kit are you using? Looks nice!Regards.. Pig Pig, Thanks for the nice comments. The kit is the ESCI 1/48 scale #4061 Jetranger from many years ago. Well, while on a training mission, the aircraft experienced a "HARD LANDING"! Upon inspection, the front windscreen, chin bubble, and tail were detached from the aircraft. Upon closer inspection, I noted that the windscreen was poorly fit to the fuselage. As this is my first aircraft build, I had assembled the fuselage, dipped the windscreen in Future, then applied the masking tape. The windscreen was glued in place without ever being dry fitted to check and adjust the fit... LESSON LEARNED! Now, the question is how do I fix it? Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I obviously also have to re-attach the tail, which will probably be drilled, pinned , and glued to provide some additional strength. The anti-glare panel will be masked and painted. The chin bubble will be cleaned up, and reattached as well. Originally, I had used Testor's clear cement. Any other ideas regarding the clear parts? Do you place a bead of glue all the way around the window opening, or just in certain spots?Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Finally, you will notice that the skids have been painted a dark gray. The floats have also been painted this color. They will be attached towards final assembly. Thanks for following along. Sincerely, David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrittMac Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 What are you using to attach the clear parts. If you use the "clear parts" testors cement, you shouldn't have a problem putting a bead all the way around. Looks like you may need to trim a bit to get it to sit properly, or it should have been mounted up before painting. Main reason I say that is because if you have to trim bits now, you may have to repaint. It seems easier to secure the clear parts, mask them, then paint. Wait a sec....after looking at the pics above, did you have the clear parts on while painting? Looks like a little white on the windscreen. Hmm.... Someone else may better answer this one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 (edited) I concur on putting a bead of the Testors Clear Parts glue, or any PVA-type glues (Elamers School Glue or the like) all the way around the windscreen to fill any gaps as needed. I do the same. Then you can paint over it to hide andy uneven areas. And watch out on those landings in the future. :) Edited August 27, 2009 by HeavyArty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne S Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I like to use white elmer's glue. Drys clear and can be cleaned off with damp warm cloth, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hooknladderno1 Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 Okay Guys, I have made some progress. The floats have been repainted and glued to skids. The windscreen has been glued back in place using Microscale Kristal Klear, and is awaiting remasking and final gap filling: I finally decided on a "high visibility" scheme for the rotor system. Couldn't decide which way to go, paint or decal stripes? So, I figured that decal stripes would be a little more foregiving. The only challenge was that with such small decal strips, they kept wanting to rotate and follow the length of the blade. A combination of Micro sol, and Solvaset, along with a diligent nudge from my brush got them in the right direction. Here is the project where it stands now. I have to assemble the main rotor system, re-attach the tail, touch up the paint, remove the window masking, resand, redip(Future) the chin bubble and re-attach and tackle many other details. As always, any comments or suggestions are appreciated. Sincerely, David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrittMac Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Looks like you recovered on that windshield pretty well. I like the blades. Home stretch is in sight it seems. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rotorwash Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Looking great! I like the high vis rotors. Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony in NZ Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Great save!! I do love the look of this chopper, well done mate....shes a cracker. Cheers Anthony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne S Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Looking good bud :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Nice Save ! ;) I love the USCG colors on Jet Rangers ... Keep at it ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hooknladderno1 Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 Well, After several weeks on the "back burner", the Jetranger is back on the bench. I felt that the kit supplied main rotor mast was just too weak and spindly(is that a word)? I thought I would try my hand at making one out of brass and plastic. Although it lacks some of the detail of the original, it definitely is stronger, and fits into the hole in the top of the fuselage(since I glued it together prior to placing this piece - OOPS!). I painted it up, and attached it to the rotorhead. Glued the whole thing together - I was pretty excited to see my first helicopter model coming together! I also placed the regular skids underneath, just to see the difference from the floats. I may paint these up, and not glue either pair in. This would allow me to change the look as I wish. Still lots to do - touch up paint, re-glue tail to tailboom, etc. The Stars and Bars decals became worn from handling, despite Future(must have been too thin over that spot), so I will be replacing them. Hope to have this one wrapped up soon. David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shark 64 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Hi I like it. Cant go wrong with brass rods to either reinforce or add in scale details. I like the floats very much. Its turning out to be one fine looking model. Me likey mucho. Oliver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony in NZ Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 (edited) David, great to see you back onto this one, I like what you did for the rotor mast. I quite like the look of the skids myself, well done mate Cheers Anthony Edited November 28, 2009 by Anthony in NZ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Doppel Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Hi David, I like the look of your chopper. Look forward to seeing it completed and how it turns out. Regards Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hooknladderno1 Posted January 2, 2010 Author Share Posted January 2, 2010 Happy New Year Gents! Well, I have been able to squeeze in a little modeling time between family, work, and the holidays. This project is nearing completion. While it is not perfect, it is my first helicopter - hopefully one of many more to come. I did learn many things from this project, and that is what it is all about(as well as having fun). I still have to add the pitot tube, antennae, paint the anti-collision lights, etc. I think that I will go with the floats instead of the skids, as they are just different- you don't see many aircraft models with them. I am working on a wooden display base - also another first for me... I will post completed pics once everything is finished... Thanks for looking as well as your helpful comments and constructive critiscism. ARC is a great forum! David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rotorwash Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 David, ARC is a great forum and that's a great build! I love high-vis. Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 That's looking Great ! Fantastic build .... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shark 64 Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 HI I agree with you the floats are different. I like it. Your helo turned out really nice. Its great to see bright colored helos on this site. I know Coast Guards helos are always spotless. If you were to do the same helo tomorrow what would you do different? Spend more time on paint, more time on building, more details? This is a question I always ask myself. If it was my build I would have painted the whole helo in a darker color first as an undercoat. I would have built up the white color using various nuances of shading with the darker color underneath. This is only it was my build. I really enjoyed reading the various steps of your Ranger build. Oliver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hooknladderno1 Posted January 2, 2010 Author Share Posted January 2, 2010 HII agree with you the floats are different. I like it. Your helo turned out really nice. Its great to see bright colored helos on this site. I know Coast Guards helos are always spotless. If you were to do the same helo tomorrow what would you do different? Spend more time on paint, more time on building, more details? This is a question I always ask myself. If it was my build I would have painted the whole helo in a darker color first as an undercoat. I would have built up the white color using various nuances of shading with the darker color underneath. This is only it was my build. I really enjoyed reading the various steps of your Ranger build. Oliver Oliver, I have never done any "preshading(is that the correct term?) or washes before. I would probably try them on my next build. I had thought about applying a wash to the vents on the engine cowling, but the detail of this particular kit as well as my thick paint/Future coats led me away from trying this step. Although I did a lot of reading/research on appying Future/masking the "glass", I need to work on developing this skill. Dropping the model and breaking loose the windscreen and chin bubble didn't help either... Thanks to everyone for their encouragement, constructive critiscism, tutorials, comments. David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K5054NZ Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 What a great model! Top marks! May I ask which kit this is? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AirMedical Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Hey Dave, That turned out pretty nice. good job. John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
salvador001 Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Great Jet Ranger, but you might try to fix the tail skid, i love this build... Rod. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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