colargol Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 (edited) Hello, This is a model I have build several year ago. I really like this helicopter but I had trouble with the clear part. Indeed, the Matchbox/Revell kit includes clear parts, but the edges of these pieces are too seeable and you will notice a specific shade of color at the link between the clear parts and the classic plastic parts. I found that disgracious and I feel like looking at a toy if I have this on a kit ... So I have postponed my build for several years until I have found a solution to this issue (the solution could have been a kit in clear plastic as it is the case for some choppers). Finally, I made a vacuformed piece for the windshield and a part of the cockpit, avoiding the edges. First, I have used a Matchbox kit to build the master. Then, I sawed the nose and filled it with plaster. The first attempt of vacuforming were not very successful ... The shape of the stucture is too smooth ... so I filled the windshield Results were better ! Some were not very pretty, some were better ... I have made like 30 attemps and choosed 3 among them. I was then ready to build a Panther ! I was still requiring a new radome (the Panther hase a radar and has a different nose as the Dauphin, which is the model of helicopter in the Matchbox/Revell kit). After several years of search, I eventually found the Duarte kit in a online Bristish shop. Between the beginning of my thinking of the build of the Panther and the actual build beginning, 20 years occurs (more or less) ... it was a loooooong way ! I have used several walkaround (here and here for instance), the idea is to build a Standard 2 Panther : it has more external equipments (like a Flir), and the fenestron rotor is quite orignial (see here). To be continued ... colargol Edited May 20, 2023 by colargol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 20, 2023 Author Share Posted May 20, 2023 The Revell kit that I had used has red plastic, so it will be very obvious to identify the pieces of the original kit ... the rest is mostly Evergreen (or Plastruct). I made a lot of surgery to remove parts of the original kit I also made a lot of temporary build, using Kristal Klear glue, for example to build the intermediate wall in the cabine And this is the final version of the interdemiate wall and of the ceiling of the rear cabine. This version of the Panther could be equiped in several ways. I have choosen the one with a radar operator on the intermediate seat. Therefore, I had to build his work station ... Work station is in position ! And the seat and its lower structure : For the pilot/co-pilot seats, I had to build the same structure several times. To I made a master to help me doing this properly I have used photoetched pieces from several kit (for F/A-18E/F and F4U-7 mostly ...) To be continued ... colargol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 20, 2023 Author Share Posted May 20, 2023 For the cockpit, I have used the Matchbox piece (it the same as the Revell one, but I have used the Revell one for test gluing). I have scratchbuild the console, based on several walkaround and newspaper photos (Air Fan french review). I have used F/A-18E/F photoetched part, and also Hasegawa F-14 photoetched part. I modified the cockpit shape too I printed a patron for the cockpit to use it to build it ... Screens are coming from F/A-18E/F and EA-6B photoetched kit (from Eduard). I have glued these pieces on a 0.13 mm plastic sheet using fluide Tamiya glue (green top) The cockpit, in a test build using Matchbox floor. The ceiling was build using the Revell piece. For some of the build, I have also used the engine pieces, for test build purposes. The ceiling is finished ! to be continued ... colargol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 21, 2023 Author Share Posted May 21, 2023 For the floor, I have used the Revell piece. First, I have build the front landing gear bay The upper part has separation between spaces in the cabine. Le rear part is limited with aluminium to represent the limit of the space (I think it is to avoid water to spread into the cockpit during operations, but I am not sure) The equipment of the cockpit are build too (the estinguisher, the distress beacon, the sticks) The structure of the main landing gear bay The fairing of the landing gear bay is made by vacuforming using white Evergreen sheet. There are some structure on the side of the fuselage (to open the rear doors and also a specific compartment on the right side) The next step is the fenestron: the fenestron of the Panther is wider than the one of the Dauphin, so I have to rebuild it ... to be continued ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 21, 2023 Author Share Posted May 21, 2023 Now I begin the painting ! The color is mostly Gunze H308 for the grey parts and H77 for the black parts with various shade of color. It has to be noted that, at that time, the H77 black was darker than the current version of this color ... I also have dry brushed the pieces using Humbrol Enamels. There are long line of duck tape inside the cabine. They are made using an F-82G decal sheet having metallic colors ... The result is quite good because the "tape" looks different depending on the point of view This is the cabine A specific device (a Dinghi ?) is positionned in the rear cabine in place ... to be continued ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 21, 2023 Author Share Posted May 21, 2023 As the main fuselage is build, I can focus on the fenestron The fenestron rotor is very specific with irregular blade positions. The center part is a rocket pod front piece from Hasegawa. Rear fuselage and fenestron space Fenestron in place (temporarly) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 21, 2023 Author Share Posted May 21, 2023 Then I focus on the engine fairing. The upper part of the cockpit will be connected to is. I made several light modification to this pieces In the meantime, Dreammodel has produced a Dauphin version of the Helicopter and I will use some part of this kit. I have put the intermediate wall in place to begin the door installation For the middle doors, I am using the pieces of the kit, with some modification (to represent the NACA type air intake in the middle of the door) The engine fairing is in place ... as well as the doors (not glued at that time) For the nose radome, I had trouble ... indeed, it seems to me that the Duarte resin kit piece is not perfectly adapted to the kit : the fuselage would be too long. Moreover, there is a step between the pieces. After a long thinking, I have decided to glue the radome on the kit using Kristal Klear glue, then to saw the nose, to correct the length of the fuselage. And in the end to glue the nose (later) Then I have worked on the belly of the Panther (to make it purr) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 21, 2023 Author Share Posted May 21, 2023 The winch is entirely scratchbuild, using photos references The FLIR device is coming from a NH90 Revell kit (same equipment on both helicopter) For the landing gear, I have used the Dreammodel kit, even if it turns out that cyano glue has difficulties for work on it ... The shape of the rear door is totally different between the Dauphin and the Panther. I had to rebuild it. But through the clear part, it will be possible to see the plastic structure. So I decided to use black styrene sheet (from Evergreen). As the door will be opened, The interior structure (especially for the rear part of the doors) would not be seen. Doors in place (not glued) This is the painted cockpit The windshield (I made several, to keep the better one). The small step due to the rhodoid is compensated using a 0.13 mm Evergreen sheet on the top of the cabine. The horizontal tail is from Dreammodel. Radome in place ! It looks like a Panther now ! to be continued ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 21, 2023 Author Share Posted May 21, 2023 The main rotor is made using Revell parts, but not a lot and with a lot of modification. The blade are from Dreammodel I have used Micro-Mark decal rivets to represent the bolts It turns out that my version of the rotor is wider than the hole in the top of the engine fairing ... There was a very stressful part of the build to increase the size of this hole ... But it worked 😉 I was then ready for painting ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Major Walt Posted May 21, 2023 Share Posted May 21, 2023 I’m impressed!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 21, 2023 Author Share Posted May 21, 2023 First, a masking preparation ... Then, I painted the inside part of the doors to be be able to put them in place Ready for painting ! I began with a black coat all over the parts (to suppress the red color) ... First layers of colors avec with H308 I made some marbling with H307 and H337 ... honnestly, I though I was going to do the "dark grey" of the camouflage using these color, but they are not dark enough ... So I tried with H331 ... TOO DARK !!! I lightened it using light coats of very diluted H308. I even made variation of lightening on the tail depending on the number of light coats ... I have painted the exhaust areas too (several shape depending on the version of the Panther) The final version of the rotor (first I painted the blade in Midnight Blue H55, but it turns out, it was a mistake. They are Olive green with a aluminium leading edge) Then I started the brush painting job (mostly with Prince August colors) The decals are coming from various origin, including Carpena Super Etendard, Syh@art Rafale (the "MARINE" text. The "M" shape was not correct, so I have used the legs of the "M", but, the shape of the "A" without the horizontal bar and upside down ...). The 36F logo comes from Syh@art 72-911 decal sheet. I have removed the masking tape ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 21, 2023 Author Share Posted May 21, 2023 This is the finished model I also build a small platform to present it So this is the final final model 😉 It was a long way between the moment I decided the build a Panther, the moment I have found the correct way to build it concerning the windshield, the moment I have found the Duarte kit, and the moment I put the finished kit on the shelf ! I hope you'd like it 😉 colargol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted May 21, 2023 Share Posted May 21, 2023 Simply great! Very nicely done! HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted May 21, 2023 Share Posted May 21, 2023 Whooooa. Initially I was going to say there's a Dream Model kit of the Dauphine 2, but it pales in comparison to Your work. Amazing job on all the details. I've built the Matchbox and Revell kits several times, and absolutelly love them. They are just so full of errors, especially in the cockpit area. You just nailed it. Again. Wow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SERNAK Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 AND ... just when you say "I'm going to start scale modelling again" here comes a build like this and makes you feel that perhaps it's better to start a new, a completely new hobby like needle-stitching!!! Man, what an incredible build!! And your scratch-building skills!!! Unbelievable!! Job well done! My kudos. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 22, 2023 Author Share Posted May 22, 2023 Thank you all for your comments 😉 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted May 23, 2023 Share Posted May 23, 2023 Outstanding. Just outstanding. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 Magnificent! Simply beautiful! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted May 26, 2023 Author Share Posted May 26, 2023 Thanks 😉 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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