CorsairMan Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 My friend chuck540's triumphant return to ARC has prompted me to post images of my latest build. This one is a helicopter... a modern one at that...something that I don't usually do. My recent trip to AZ prompted this to come out of the stash and a fellow ARCer Dutch was most generous with the decals! I'm doing this one with a few aftermarket goodies (Eduard's Colour PE Set & I have some bits from Master Details as well). This one is going to be fun. So far the cockpit is done. The instructions call for "black" but that would hide a lot of the detail. I mixed a very dark grey from Tamiya's Nato Grey and RLM Grey (75-25). This was followed by a gloss coat, Ammo wash and then light drybrushing. I tried to figure a way to put a "glass" surface on the monitors but nothing I did looked very convincing. I don't want to paint them with future. The next thing I need to figure out is the colour of the Apache - its a weird grey-green. I'd like to mix it with tamiya's stuff (its what is readily available here) and so far I have a mix of Black green with Nato black (75-25)... but it still doesn't look right. More experimentation while I build! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fighting Eighty-Four Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 Count me in! I am glad you were able to get the decals from Dutch off of Scalemates since I was planning on using mine. Actually, my AZ Apache project is next up after my current one, so I will be watching closely your progress for tips for when I start mine. Looking great so far Chris! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotthldr Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 Looking good so far, I wouldn't worry about the screens as once the canopy is on you'll struggle to see them, although I painted mine Satin Black. The correct colour for the AH-64 is 34031 'US Army Helo Drab', which as you say is a Black Green which fades to a Greyish appearance . The closest you'll get in Tamiya is XF51 but it will require some Black added to it. For weathering purposes lighten with Medium Grey rather than White. There are several manufacturers that do an exact match both in Enamel and Acrylic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CorsairMan Posted December 29, 2018 Author Share Posted December 29, 2018 I am bouncing all over with this build - the instructions are a bit of a mess and the fact I am also trying to do the eduard PE in a logical sequence does not help! That said - I am still making a lot of progress. As you can see, the fit on the "nose" of the Apache is atrocious and I really REALLY tried to get this to align properly. It is all very fixable but it doesn't look great right now. The rivets on the bottom of the fuselage were mostly kept intact during the mating of the halves but I lost a lot down the centre. The good thing is that there are a lot of add on details that cover up more than half of these spots. I do not know a good way to replace raised rivets so I might just engrave some and call it a day. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CorsairMan Posted December 29, 2018 Author Share Posted December 29, 2018 On 12/7/2018 at 4:09 PM, scotthldr said: Looking good so far, I wouldn't worry about the screens as once the canopy is on you'll struggle to see them, although I painted mine Satin Black. The correct colour for the AH-64 is 34031 'US Army Helo Drab', which as you say is a Black Green which fades to a Greyish appearance . The closest you'll get in Tamiya is XF51 but it will require some Black added to it. For weathering purposes lighten with Medium Grey rather than White. There are several manufacturers that do an exact match both in Enamel and Acrylic. Yes - so far I am going with the Black green darkened 9:1 with flat black. Any more black and it just becomes a new Nato black! I am still not sure whether to go "museum finish" or weather it a little. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted December 31, 2018 Share Posted December 31, 2018 Looks like a challenging kit but looking good. Can't wait to see the finished model. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted December 31, 2018 Share Posted December 31, 2018 WOW, great work Corsairman. Helo's are not my cup of tea but, I can really appreciate your building skills. I'm assuming the rivets on the nose are raised ? You could try Archer Fine Transfers rivets, Chuck uses them and loves the results. As for the screen faces, you can use a drop of Testors clear parts cement. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 (edited) Chris, beautiful work so far. I wouldn't try to "gloss" the panels, because in real life, they are not gloss. The MFDs on most modern military aircrafts have a slightly rough flat finish on them, much like a modern laptop screen, to cut down on reflections. Yours look excellent "as is." Glad to see the wonderful progress my friend. Keep up the great work. R/ Dutch Edited January 3, 2019 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CorsairMan Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 Huh! See? You learn something new every day! Thanks again Dutch. Tonight I sanded the putty spots and inserted some strip into some gaps. Tomorrow i’ll Probably end up installing the canopy and the 100 little bits. Then It might actually be ready for prime and paint Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Chris, How is she coming along? Just curios. I'm in the great sandbox, so nothing happening on my end for a few weeks. R/ Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CorsairMan Posted January 26, 2019 Author Share Posted January 26, 2019 Yes! Sorry about that - it has been coming along. Not the greatest kit in the world but it is painted and I am getting started with decals this weekend Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CorsairMan Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 Hi All Well, this one is done and it certainly was not easy. Its no show stopper as I had some issues with the decals and finish. But I am glad I saw it through. My Hasegawa AH-64D Build is detailed here - including the final pictures. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 Chris, Nicely done, sir! Congrats on another completed build, and with good effect! Nice markings too. R/ Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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