dean Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 Hi Guys, I got given this one awhile ago so thought I'd give it a go but turn it into a challenge. It's a very basic looking kit so I don't mind destroying it. What I want to do is way above my modelling skills so I'll be looking at all the tutorials and asking for your expertise when the time comes. I'm going to try to turn this: into something like this: I've got a general idea how I want to do the damage but my challenge will be the weathering. all I've done in the past is pre shading, post shading and Flory washes but I'm going to need a lot more than that for this. It will be loosely based on the movie but the the model is probably the wrong version and the damage will be within my limits but hopefully it'll come out alright. This is what came in the box So as you can see it's only got the bare essentials. It's a very plain looking model so I decided since I'll be doing so much scratch building anyway I may as well add as much detail as I can. I started on the foot wells that will be visible through the (Broken) glass cut the door out I've got a couple of pilot figures in my spares box. I'll need to reshape them to put them in the poses I want and they came from jets so have the full face helmet and masks on. I've got some more spares so I might try and file the mask off to make it look like a face from the visor down. beginnings of an APU exhaust. (If that's what it is) Wings getting cut down. I'll have to do some more research to see whether the ends are smoothed off or have some sort of bracket system for attaching the full wings to. and the avionics compartment lid cut off and the whole thing mocked up to see how it looks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 I started some of the damage around the tail today. Some bullet holes and an RPG hole disabling the tail rotor. I've got some drive shafts and other internal details to build before I close it up permanently and I'll also damage the horizontal stabilizer to suit once I decide how it's going to sit. Entry holes: exit wounds: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kiwifire Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 looking good there, set yourself a good challange with this one Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 (edited) Looking good so far. Nice idea. Wings getting cut down. I'll have to do some more research to see whether the ends are smoothed off or have some sort of bracket system for attaching the full wings to. The "wing" pieces are actually covers over the attachment points for the ESSS (External Stores Support System) wings. They are smoothed off on the ends. It will be loosely based on the movie but the the model is probably the wrong version... You are correct there. The movie version and actual aircraft used on Op Gothic Serpent were MH-60Ls, while the kit is of an early UH-60A. The most glaring external difference is the stabilator tail plane. The MH-60L has the folding, square type, not the pointed, triangle type seen on a standard UH-60A. Also, the step-sponsons below the pilots' doors are wider on an L model. The rest of the differences are in the weapons and avionics and such internally. Also, the kit is of an early UH-60A without HIRSS (Hover, Infra-Red Suppression System) covers on the exhausts. All MH-60Ls have HIRSS on them. You will also need to add the weather radar on the nose, and a FLIR turret under the nose. Here is more info on Op Gothic Serpent MH-60Ls. Additionally, Werner's Wings is about to release a 160th SOAR decal set that has helos from Op Gothic Serpent on it, to include Super 61. Keep up the good work and keep us posted. Edited November 24, 2012 by HeavyArty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shark 64 Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 A great subject. Looks to me like a perfect start. Oliver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
norbert Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 ... and the whole thing mocked up to see how it looks I realy like how the fuselage looks twisted It's a great beginning. In my eyes, doing a destroyed plane or helicopter is a real challenge. Norbert Quote Link to post Share on other sites
salvador001 Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Wow Dean, this build is looking great, must be difficult to make a crashed bird, keep it on!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted November 26, 2012 Author Share Posted November 26, 2012 Thanks for the comments guys, You can always count on ARCer's for a wealth of information. I'll just leave it as an A model this time. I'll be adding a lot of scratch built detail but I don't want to invest heavily in aftermarket details as I don't know how it'll turn out with the damage I've got planned. If it works I'll go all out next time but I'll keep an eye out for those decals, any idea on when they are due to be released? Your guys builds are outstanding! I hope I can do this site justice with mine. I've made a couple of gearboxes for the tail section and a driveshaft today. Only very basic as you can only see a small part of them and the one at the tail rotor has been hacked up to stay consistent with the rest of the damage. It's all been closed up, I've still got more detail to add but I'll do that once the rest is ready. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shark 64 Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Looks good from here. I like the transmission shaft showing. If I may suggest, I would replace the mesh kit part with real mesh. Following your build. Oliver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Challenge Accepted Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 It's looking great so far, keep up the good work :) On the side note; as far as I'm aware, the tail fin did not have any bullet holes, the RPG struck the tail rotor where it broke off sending the helicopter into uncontrollable spin. I might be wrong on this one, so if anyone thinks otherwise feel free to correct :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted November 26, 2012 Author Share Posted November 26, 2012 Thanks guys, Yeah I know the damage isn't exactly the same. I shouldn't have said it was Super 61, I pretty much just took inspiration from that to build the kit I had in the stash, so basically it's just a random crashed helicopter. like I said in my first post "It will be loosely based on the movie but the the model is probably the wrong version and the damage will be within my limits but hopefully it'll come out alright." Oliver, you're right about the mesh. I was trying to get away without it but it just doesn't look right. I ordered some online from the US last night and I got an email 5 hours later saying it's already been shipped so so should be here early next week. I'm between night shifts at the moment so I'll get stuck back into it tomorrow. Thanks for the feedback, keep it coming Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted November 27, 2012 Author Share Posted November 27, 2012 Hi Guys, I'm after some advice. What is the best way to heat the kit to bend the plastic? I want to buckle the main section in a couple of places as well as denting the underside. I tried soaking the tail section in boiling water and using my girlfriends hair drier but neither worked as I'd hoped. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted November 27, 2012 Author Share Posted November 27, 2012 I managed to get quite a bit done tonight. There is no detail whatsoever in the cockpit apart from decals. I don't have any resin so I added some detail to the instrument panels and seats with card and various wires. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Interior details are looking good. To deform the fuselage, gently heat it over a candle flame and bend it. Hold it in place a couple seconds until it cools again and it will hold the "damage". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted November 29, 2012 Author Share Posted November 29, 2012 Thanks Heavyarty. I'll give it a go once I close it up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 Hi guys, I've got a bit more done on the interior. There is now more white plastic card than kit parts in there now and I've only done half of it. Still very basic structures at this stage, got a lot of detail to add later on. I'm off for a road trip around the South Island tomorrow so won't get any done for awhile but will get stuck in once I get back Quote Link to post Share on other sites
norbert Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Hi Dean Great additions Will you add some figures around ? Norbert Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arkhunter2002 Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Looks great! I'm interested in how you'll do the clear parts... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted December 22, 2012 Author Share Posted December 22, 2012 Thanks guys, I'm interested in how I'll do the clear parts too. I haven't thought about that yet. lol. And yes I've brought a set of German WWII soldiers that I'll have to convert. It was impossible to find a good set of figures in 1:48 so just got the best I could find. The diorama as a whole is getting bigger too. I've brought the academy 500D to add to is as well as the figures and am looking for the Airfix Afghan single storey dwelling to finish it off. Here's where I've got to so far: It worked out pretty good that it came with 4 pilot figures so I'll use 2 for this and 2 for my blackhawk. I did a bit of scratch building on the interior adding various wires etc... The seats are very plain looking but the front 2 will have the pilots and some scratch belts and I'll add some belts to the rear seats too. I'm waiting for an accessories set to arrive that I can fill it up with as well. This is the first time I've ever tried the hairspray weathering technique and it's probably beginners luck but I can't believe how good it looks compared to just dry brushing and how simple it is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted December 23, 2012 Author Share Posted December 23, 2012 I got the little bird closed up and primed and the blackhawk interior primed, silvered and hairsprayed ready for the top coat and weathering. Apart from some more damage to the fuselage sides I'm hoping to get that closed up over the next few days too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dæn Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Very cool! I would give the eyes of the pilots without his RayBan on a black wash, cause now his eyes are quite a contrast. Great job so far, have a merry christmas! Daan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted December 24, 2012 Author Share Posted December 24, 2012 Thanks Daan, Yeah they do stand out too much. Started detailing the inside of the blackhawk, the instrument panel is completely made up but it's a lot better than what was supplied in the kit (Nothing but a decal). Looks better with a bit of colour. And got the top coat on the little bird. The pre shading isn't showing as much as I'd like so I might end up doing some post shading as well as washes. It's starting to take shape but i'll be taking a break for a few days MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted December 31, 2012 Author Share Posted December 31, 2012 I've ordered the Airfix Afghan Single Storey Dwelling and a Black Dog accessories set to bring it all to life to finish it off. I got a bit done today, Made a start on the seats and belts and started converting the pilot figures. The spare 2 that came with the Hughes kit were pretty poor quality and the spare pair I had were from a jet so had full face masks on so I cut the heads off the hughes pilots and attached them to the jets bodies. I modified one of them further to have his head drooping and arm limp to make him look unconscious. I might straighten one of his legs too. He'll be quite visible since the door will be hanging open. old pilots New pilots I turned the head of the other one to make him look concerned for his mate. Still a lot of tidying up to do but you get the idea Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 pilots painted and belted in. interior finished and the fuselage closed up ready for detailing and damaging. I mocked it up to give me an idea of how it'll look when it's finished. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dæn Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 (edited) Great job so far! I can really see the bigger picture of this dio! Some little things: It looks like the guy holds something, maybe you can make a sideclick for him. The blackhawks have those on the side. See here: And I think the seatbelts are a bit too thick in my opinion. If you look closely you can see the belt is as wide as their shoulders in your helo. All constructive critisism cause I follow your build with pleasure! Daan Edited January 3, 2013 by dæn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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