Ichitoe Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 I'll be joining this GB with the AFV Club AH-1W. It'll be a OOB build with the possibility of AM decals for a What-If JGSDF Super Cobra. I like the tri-color scheme of the JGSDF AH-1S, so I'll be applying it to this build. This will be the first helicopter I've built since the late 70's when I built the Revell 1/32 Huey Attack Helicopter. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Great choice! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Floyd S. Werner, Jr. Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Well if you don't want to build it out of the box Werner's Wings has a vacuform canopy and turned exhausts. Floyd Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-ONE27 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Echo the sentiment Mike, nice choice, I' m also bringing a Snake to the party!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pappy121 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 On 02/01/2017 at 1:43 PM, Ichitoe said: I'll be joining this GB with the AFV Club AH-1W. It'll be a OOB build with the possibility of AM decals for a What-If JGSDF Super Cobra. I like the tri-color scheme of the JGSDF AH-1S, so I'll be applying it to this build. This will be the first helicopter I've built since the late 70's when I built the Revell 1/32 Huey Attack Helicopter. Mike G'day Mike, Is the AFV kit a new tool or is it a re-box with some extra bits. If the latter, what are the extra bits? Great choice, cheers, Pappy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ichitoe Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 Hello Pappy, Nah, it's a re-boxing of the MRC kit with extra bits. The extra bits are a resin chin turret and aluminum barrels. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ichitoe Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 I've got the cockpit assembled and test fitted in the fuselage. I'll start painting the cockpit and closing up the access panels. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pappy121 Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 3 hours ago, Ichitoe said: Hello Pappy, Nah, it's a re-boxing of the MRC kit with extra bits. The extra bits are a resin chin turret and aluminum barrels. Mike Thanks Mike, cheers, Pappy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ichitoe Posted January 7, 2017 Author Share Posted January 7, 2017 Had a chance this week to spend some time painting the cockpit. I don't worry about accuracy as far coloration of buttons and switches since once the build is complete it goes into the display case, and no one peers into the cockpit. As long it's close that's all that matters to me. The task for this weekend is to get the access panels closed on the fuselage and hopefully get the fuselage assembled by the end of the weekend. We're supposed to have a snowy and icy weekend, so chances are good I can get this done by Monday. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pappy121 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Nice work Mike, cheers, Pappy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Great work so far. I'm the same with button colors. I don't think anyonelooks at that even at contests. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whiskey Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 On 1/3/2017 at 8:09 PM, Ichitoe said: Hello Pappy, Nah, it's a re-boxing of the MRC kit with extra bits. The extra bits are a resin chin turret and aluminum barrels. Mike I wrote a review of it yeeeaaarrrsss ago on KitMaker, can probably still find it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-ONE27 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Outstanding work so far Mike! Looking great so far!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ichitoe Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 (edited) Thanks for the encouraging comments! We had a snowy day today, so it was a good excuse to spend the day working on the build. I attached the intakes, exhausts and the engine access panel. The fit for these wasn't bad. I only needed a little Mr Surfacer to fill in some gaps. As you can see, I also got the fuselage assembled. I didn't check the fit for the tail section before hand, and I had some issues with the fit. I have some work to do to clean up the mis-alignment. Oh well, I guess that's part of the enjoyment of modeling, correcting mistakes.... Mike Edited January 8, 2017 by Ichitoe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 It's looking good. I had the same fit issue with a few panels on my build, so I fully understand the need to do some cleanup. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rotorwash Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Nice work so far. I really like the cockpit paintjob. Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ichitoe Posted January 21, 2017 Author Share Posted January 21, 2017 (edited) A quick update. I was able to clean up the fit issue I had produced in the tail section this past week. Got lucky with that screw-up! Tonight, I was able to get several hours in at the bench, and I made some good progress. I have all the access panels closed up now, assembled and attached the wings, have the skids on and added few odds and ends. Next up are the canopy and the armament. I'm leaning towards rockets and Hellfires on one side and rockets and TOWs on the other. Soon the paint shop will be calling! I haven't been able to source any 1/35 JGSDF decals. In fact, I don't think any exist! So I'll probably have to use some spare 1/32 JASDF decals. Thanks for looking in on my build. Mike Edited January 21, 2017 by Ichitoe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rotorwash Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Looking great! She'll be done in no time. Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 It's looking mean, and in a good way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
usmcski6502 Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Looking great! FYI, while she can carry TOWs on either side, we preferred to carry TOW on the #1 side (port/left as you sit in the cockpit), and Hellfire on the right if it was a mixed load. That way, if the TOWs wire-cut logic failed, it reduced the chance of the uncut wire getting caught in the tail rotor (in theory, anyway). Not always the case, of course, but in every unit I was with, anyway. If I see any photos of HMLA-267 Whiskeys in Iraq in '03 with TOW on the right side, I know for a fact that the left side was bad for TOW and was Hellfire only. Keep up the great work, love the progress! Semper Fi, Ski Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ichitoe Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Well, it's been a a while since my last post. I have been working on the build, just slowly. Ski - thanks for the info! TOWs on the port and Hellfires on the starboard is what it'll be! I assembled the weapons and cleaned them up for the paint shop. And here they are all painted up. The color bands aren't accurate, but they look the part. At least to me. Due to the lack of appropriate decals for the JGSDF, I've decided to do a Marines AH-1W bird instead. It'll be the grey on grey scheme. I've laid down the first coat of paint. I'll continue to dial in the painting then I'l start on the resin/aluminum gun assembly. Thanks for checking in. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
usmcski6502 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Dang, Mike, she looks fantastic! After all that hard work, have you considered using Werner's Wings replacement canopy? It's unfortunate, but one of the worst parts of the big Whiskey is the canopy shape. Keep up the great work, you're in the homestretch now! Semper Fi, Ski Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ichitoe Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 Ski - After I took the pics I noticed the step along the bottom of the canopy where it meets up with the fuselage on both sides. I scrapped most of the step down, and hopefully it'll look better after another coat of paint. I should have paid more attention to this as I've heard this is a trouble spot on the kit. I will on the next one! As far vacuform canopies, I've never had much luck with them. Can never get them to come out right. Thanks for checking in. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-ONE27 Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Mike your birds looking outstanding, I too have that same problem with the step on my canopy mate at the fuselage, going to scrap and sand s well and hope for the best. That load outs looking superb also. Can't wait to the see the end result, I always enjoy seeing your completed work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 That is looking incredible! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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