john53 Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 I just ordered this kit and came across an article saying the rotors are molded backwards? How is this so and what can I do to fix the problem, I saw a build on line and all it said was that the builder cut the blades into 3 pieces? Any help would be appreciated. Any other major quirks with this kit? Thanks---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 I don't recall the blade issue, but Italeri had the tail rotor wrong on the H-34 so I am would not surprised. If you are going to fix the issue, the rotor blade is one piece to start with. You want to make the cuts closest to the rotor hub. It will be helpful to drill small holes on each side and use a pin for support. Go back to the build it is the part below the rotor blades and to the left. The part of the right is the chaff and flare dispenser. Depending how far you want to go, the cockpit is a under detailed and iirc there is an issue with the exhaust profile but I don't recall what or how bad. The kit like all Whiskey kits is for a pre-NTS bird or early cobra if you will. That means three tone color scheme, two tone first gulf war scheme and all grey for a little bit. Most current decals for markings colorful or otherwise are for late model Cobras, with NTS (change the windscreen profile among other things) and turned exhausts. There is/was a resin set for the exhaust and interior NTS mods nothing to address the canopy profile. HTH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loach Driver Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 I think the main rotor is OK but the tail rotor is the problem. I think the camber or profile of the tail rotor blade is off, being thinner at the leading edge of the blade and thicker on the trailing edge. LD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 (edited) Here's a picture of the rotor looking at the top of the rotor. Are the leading-trailing edges in the correct orientation? I am not an expert on helicopters by any means. You can see the "boss" on the top of the "blade holder" thingy in the very center. Hope I didn't get too "technical".Thanks.---John Edited January 15, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCAFFAN Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 6 minutes ago, john53 said: Here's a picture of the rotor looking at the top of the rotor. Are the leading-trailing edges in the correct orientation? I am not an expert on helicopters by any means. You can see the "boss" on the top of the "blade holder" thingy in the very center. Hope I didn't get too "technical".Thanks.---John Looking at pictures the rotor turns counterclockwise so if your shot is from the top the rotor looks just fine but I note that in the photos I looked at on Wiki there were some shots of models built with the rotor turning the wrong way so maybe people put it on upside down. Looking at pictures of the real thing show it turns counterclockwise so you should be good..... Cheers Bruce Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 (edited) Thanks Bruce, so the blade turns counter clockwise when viewed from underneath? Otherwise when turning counter clockwise as viewed from the top the trailing edge would be leading the leading edge. Hopefully lost on helicopters---John Edited January 16, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 Just watched 3 you tube videos of AH-1 start ups. The angled cut on the blades outer edge doesn't lead the blade, so Italeri has the blades upside down I guess not really backwards. They need to be flipped to be correct. Maybe hack off the boss on the rotor's top where shaft comes through and put it on other side making that side top!--John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 Yes, that is what I was trying to say earlier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loach Driver Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 12 hours ago, john53 said: Looking at the rotor in your photo, you are looking at the rotor top, in it correct orientation when viewing the real thing from above. I had a look at my old AH-1W model I built years ago and from examining both main and tail rotors, the only issue I can see is the tail rotor blade shape. The main rotor does not appear to the issue with this kit, just the tail rotor. With some surgery, it can be fixed but at the same time, it is a flaw that isn't really all that obvious until you go looking for it. The issue is there but it isn't as bag a problem as say an inaccurate fuselage outline. The area that needs a little work on this kit is the engine shroud near the exhaust. Some filler will do the job there. I hope this is of use. LD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 Thanks, I don't know what that modeler was getting at but I have seen models of this kit with the rotors on "backwards" NOT the way they are shown on the sprue, not sure how that happens! It looks more like they weren't really depicted very well, early style maybe? The only other issue is the exhaust, which way should they go or again are there two different versions, early and late? See my photos. Thanks for the answers, Rotor things really confuse me more than wing things!---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ice225 Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 I would cut them anyway - just to angle them like in the picture above. I think it gives more life to the model. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 OK so you would just slice part way through the blade where it joins the bracket coming off the shaft and twist them to get the desired angle as you show in your picture? NOT cut them totally off?---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loach Driver Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 I just had a quick look on-line at the current issue of Meng Air Modeller magazine. Apparently it features a super-detailed build of the Italeri 1/72 SuperCobra. I will hopefully be able to purchase it in the coming week and I'll report back on whether or not the modeller deals with any rotor issues. LD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 LD thanks, I will be most interested what the jury has to say on this. I myself think there are rotor issues but not as bad as I have heard. I am curious if Italeri just went with early or pre production rotors as the kits ones don't really look all that much like pictures I've seen. I've built Italeri's UH-60A and it has the correct exhaust but it has some issues also, seems no one can get these helicopter kits right.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loach Driver Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 This seems to be the helicopter depicted by the Italeri kit. It is the AH-1T+ which later was designated as the AH-1W prototype. If you correct the engine fairing near the exhaust, you have an early service AH-1W. LD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ice225 Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 22 hours ago, john53 said: OK so you would just slice part way through the blade where it joins the bracket coming off the shaft and twist them to get the desired angle as you show in your picture? NOT cut them totally off?---John No, I cut them off and used a pin to rejoin them with the rotorhead. I also closed the gaps at the exhaust and replaced the gunbarrels with hollow needles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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