Hueyrob Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 (edited) Hello everyone, rather than just replying on huey_crew_chief's thread I thought it might be of intereset to start a new topic right away. As the title of this topic suggests it's all about a conversion of the formidable Revell 1/32 Huey kit. Without any doubt, that aged Revell kit is still the most accurate and best detailed kit regarding proportions of the fuselage and overall appearance. The kits flaws are known and have been discussed many of times here in the forum and elsewhere. Whoever compared the available larger scale Hueys on the market (Dragon & Revell) must come to the conclusion that ONLY the Revell's overall appearance resembles the real deal in proportion and rivet details. Unfortunately there's not much more in the kit that happens to be so. In no specific order the major flaws are: nose section, cabin interior, main- and tailrotor assy, overpropotioned pilot and copilot door hinges, wrong ADF antennae on roof and wrong oil cooler plate on bottom of fuselage. And since the kit has not been improved since its first appearance, it also lacks all the modernisation steps that had been undertaken ever since on all the real world Huyes spread around the globe. So far only Joseph @ Fireball modelworks has managed to make a great step towards upgrading the 1/32 kit by producing the EXCELLENT resin UH-1H/V detail sets. I'll make every bet that every Hueylover has been waiting for an accurate large scale Huey or at least a conversion set for Revells 1/32 bird to turn this little gem into a real masterpiece! Maybe some of you guys still remember my 1/32 Huey project from almost 10 years ago here on the forum and I have literaly quit working on models since that point. But I have not stopped working on Hueys! As some of you know I have written a book about the Hueys in German service. There's a reason to mention this now. While doing research for my book project I was happy to get in touch with a guy who was a Huey pilot himself (both, within the Army and later for a civil corporation) and a highly gifted modeler who was never satisfied with the 1/32 Revell BK-117, the helicopter he flew when working for a huge German air rescue company. So he just started to produce his own conversion set for the 32 BK-117. That specific guys name is Chris. Some of you may know his BK117 conversion kit. When I saw this I came up with my complaint why he never made something similar for the most iconic helicopter ever... We talked on and off over the past few years and I provided him with all kinds of information about the real deal. A couple of weeks ago he posted me pictures of the first prototypes of a future nose & interior conversion set. To make a long story short: Here's something that should catch your attention! Remember! These are just early stages of the development phase but they give you an idea of what might will be available in a matter of time. All the credit is to my friend Chris with whoms permit I post the following pictures! One last word of what is planned for the future: The kit might include a set the depicts the correct nose and cabin floor for a civil 205A, a German built military UH-1D and may be a UH-1H/V. In parallel another friend of mine (also a very, very talented and gifted modeler) has agreed to put his work and effort on a complete new main and tail rotor assembly for the kit and any other additional goodies to make the Revell Huey more realistic. I'll keep you updated here. Cheers, Rob Uploaded with ImageShack.us Edited June 1, 2013 by Hueyrob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hueyrob Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 Next examples... Right side framing: left side with attached skin: skin attached on right side: new improved cabin floor and nose section: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
midnightprowler Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Any idea as to what this is gonna cost? Is the Revell's kit even in production any longer? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
salvador001 Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Rob, oh man, that looks beautiful, im definitly interested in this conversion, please tell us when and where will this beauty will be available. Rod. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
UH-1Mad Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Very nice work. Would definitely get this. But I still hope and pray we will get a decent new tooled UH-1D/H/V kit someday. Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
huey_crew_chief Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 WOW! Thanks for showing this ROb. I will be interested in what you have to offer and will watch your updates! Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony in NZ Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Aah Rob you beat me to it mate. Chris emailed me as well to post the pics as he was having problems. As you know Chris is an awesome modeller and it is nice that he is also working on the 205. As Rob said Chris flew Hueys and also BK-117's for ADAC and I am in the process of helping him with the main structure so he can load it all up with his amazing 'HUGE' etch set for the 32nd BK-117. Chris is a genius when it comes to photoetch and for those who haven't seen it he does an amazing set for the BK. Chris has 3 versions of floor in the works and the prototypes you see here are very much grainy test shots for fitting, alignment purposes. As far as the big Huey goes I am trying to sort out Solidworks to do a 212/412 conversion to go along with Chris's etch. The Revell kit is surprisingly accurate (aside from the nose)for its age and is a sound basis for improvement. Cheers Anthony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hueyrob Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 Hi Folks, got on the phone with Chris last night to discuss some more items and what might is planned with his set in the future. Beware that everything is still in its developing phase! There's still a lot to measure and to compare. Luckily I have a Huey sitting in my barn so I can just walk out there with a ruler and provide him with the required data. And since I have also access to all the maintenance and other doumentiation of the Huey it's a good basis for a decent and realistic conversion. ;)/> Right now we're pretty stuck and focused on German and civil UH-1 versions but those'll get down right to the knobs on the pedestral panel! Other versions might follow. Chris considered processing and/ or offering a "lighter" version of the nose conversion since it's very challenging to work with brass for not so ******** modelers. Chris is aware of that and very keen on making it usable for other modelers as well. The development of the main rotor assembly is still in the early stage of beginning. What I can say so far is that it will be a mixture of metal and resin parts... more information on this is to follow. And here's some teasers of what to expect from the instrument and pedestral panel. Cheers, ROB Here's the main instrument panel prototype in the civil 205A layout: Dashboard with new glareshield: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony in NZ Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Nice one Rob....you are lucky to have Chris so close to you!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hueyrob Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 And here's the center console prototype: The layout reflects the radios and control panels of a German Army (pre-mod) UH-1D witch shows some differences to the US Army version. (i.e. other intercom or IFF) Overlays of radio, engine and other control units located in the console: Prototype fitting test: General overview: @ Anthony: Distance nowerdays is defined by internet speed and telecommunication connection ;)/> Well, at least there's no time difference between us. Cheers, ROB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rotorwash Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Rob, Good to see you back on the forum. That certainly is one nice etch set you guys have coming along. Looks like it might take someone like me as long to put that together as a real Huey though! Glad to hear there is a set for us less skilled modelers in the works. Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hueyrob Posted May 23, 2013 Author Share Posted May 23, 2013 Ray, good to see you too! :)/> As I mentioned before, Chris is absolutely aware of the not so skilled type of modelers so a "light" version of the kit is likely to be realised. But just from the looks I can surely tell that the new window framing alone is a high improvement of the original kits general nose appearance. Anyway, here's some more pictures from the in-the-works-shelf. Cheers, ROB Noses... Cabin floor details: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 (edited) This looks awesome. I love the floor details. Any chance you guys are thinking about doing floors for other helo? A new floor (and maybe a ceiling, side walls, gunners' bulkheads, etc...) for the 1/35 Academy UH-60s would be most welcomed. Edited May 23, 2013 by HeavyArty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
UH-1Mad Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Very nice indeed. Would love to see accurate bulkheads, door pillars, ceilings etc as part of these sets too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shepard Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Rob your work is amazing....fantastic thats for sure... greetings from Brazil Shepard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Galttar Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Excellent job... I'm assembly an UH-1C 1/48 Revell and will use your as reference! Watching your topic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rotorman Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 This is Da Bomb. Sign me up for a set. Great work. Finally an accurate D model. Oliver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hueyrob Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share Posted May 25, 2013 This looks awesome. I love the floor details. Any chance you guys are thinking about doing floors for other helo? A new floor (and maybe a ceiling, side walls, gunners' bulkheads, etc...) for the 1/35 Academy UH-60s would be most welcomed. Hi arty... the project has its sources in the heads of a couple of HUEY fanatics... It is pretty much of own interest and for the HUEY community. Currently there are no plans to focus on another project (like the UH-60) until this one is finished. But who knows... Very nice indeed. Would love to see accurate bulkheads, door pillars, ceilings etc as part of these sets too. Hi UH-1Mad (I like your nick :)/>/> ) So far I really don't know how deep Chris will head into the detailing of the interior. But as a matter of fact I provided him with everything necessary to do so :)/>/> I'll keep you updated. Rob your work is amazing....fantastic thats for sure... greetings from Brazil Shepard Hi Shepard, thanks for your compliment! But all the credits have to be sended to Chris who's the artist in this game!!! I'm just providing all the info required to get it as accurate as possible. Stay tuned for more news soon! Cheers, ROB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hawkwrench Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 While your at it, how about a PE set for the EC-145/UH-72?, since Renaissance Models doesn't carry their EC-145 set anymore. Your UH-1 detail set will be an awesome add on to someone's Huey. Looking good so far! And I'll second that motion for a UH-60 set as well!!!!. Kinda partial to them Hawks ya know! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hueycrew Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 (edited) While your at it, how about a PE set for the EC-145/UH-72?, since Renaissance Models doesn't carry their EC-145 set anymore. Your UH-1 detail set will be an awesome add on to someone's Huey. Looking good so far! And I'll second that motion for a UH-60 set as well!!!!. Kinda partial to them Hawks ya know! I'm in for a set! For my huey collection. Edited May 27, 2013 by hueycrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MIG Mikkel Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Will these be sold as conversion parts?? I'd love to have a set!!! And AWESOME work!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hueyrob Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 Hi folks, here's a little update. Chris had to apply little corrections to allign the overall shape a little bit. I think it really turned out well even there's only a minor change compared with his previous versions. Regards, ROB Sideview of framing: attached to kit as a nose replacement: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hueyrob Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 In these pictures you see the framing with the struts and finally skins attached. That also gives you a rough idea of the kits architecture. The result is self-explaining and just "Wow"! Remember: This is all still the experimental phase of the project. The pictures show the civil 205A1 version of the assembly NOT the military UH-1D. Cheers, ROB More to follow... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
huey_crew_chief Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 I must have this!!!! When will you be taking pre orders? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
midnightprowler Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 Is the Revell kit even available? Just curious as to why civilian and not military, and is there much difference? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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