utley Posted September 20, 2023 Author Share Posted September 20, 2023 I still cant come to grip with how this armored plate is fitting so I might just forgo it altogether. This whole cockpit tub only fits in one spot, that pilot combing only fits in one spot, and the armored plate fits in only one place. In other news, making progress on the Saraf. Main rotor mast is complete, engines are complete just needs painting, cockpit sans seats are complete, exhaust is next on the detailing list. These little parts love being sacrificed to the carpet monster for some reason...really wish they would just NOT put them on sprues altogether where they can be chopped up by merely cutting them off the sprues or flung out to the farthest reach of space time at breakneck speeds that are beyond human eye comprehension. Nuclear launched manhole cover so to speak. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted September 24, 2023 Author Share Posted September 24, 2023 (edited) Update: making progress on the AH-64I. Going to paint some interior parts then assemble the fuselage tomorrow. Building the exhaust sleeves now, engines have a tad bit of work to go through. Lots of other work assembled and ready for fit, most of the small stuff is finished. the RFI is almost complete as well, just need cables attached. Lots of cleaning up to do. Edited September 24, 2023 by utley Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arnobiz Posted September 24, 2023 Share Posted September 24, 2023 Nice work, thanks for sharing your progress with us! Arnaud Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted September 26, 2023 Author Share Posted September 26, 2023 (edited) Seats are done, pits 99% complete now. Going to do some test fits and see if I can physically move the cockpit tub aft 1-2mm to get the armor plate in the correct place. Edit: no real way to get around moving the full tub aft 1mm without "other" fitment issues. This so far is the only issue Ive encountered with this kit, but unfortunately its a major issue. How did they mess this up so bad?? Even the mold line on the left cockpit shows the armored plate where it belongs, so WITAF. Edited September 26, 2023 by utley Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted September 27, 2023 Author Share Posted September 27, 2023 Ok, tiny update for today: I didnt catch this until NOW. So theres going to be a tiny little addition to my 64I Saraf since I missed deleting this flare mount on the tail boom. So the blister is staying, but for future reference this blister goes away early in the build. I thought it was kinda nutty the instructions said to cut it off, but I missed it before I glued the fuselage together. D'OH. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 7, 2023 Author Share Posted October 7, 2023 Taking a tad small break from the build waiting on more of my aftermarket parts to come in. Here are the black ops rocket pods and rocket refills that came in today...they look awesome! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 10, 2023 Author Share Posted October 10, 2023 (edited) Stupid ME, Ive decided to order the AH-64D Late Blk II with the updated cockpit. Since I have too many goodies, Ill go ahead and build this thing too...man this model is FUUUUUN. Ill start working on everything again mid week or so, right now its just mainly painting and small stuff. Ive replacement M299 missile racks arriving tomorrow. The plan is to install a 1x1mm neodymium magnet in the missile pylons and rocket pods. The ResKit M299 racks I have were being re-manufactured due to some printing error that warped the missile racks on the kits that I have, should be here tomorrow. New articulating M230 chain gun in both stowed and flight position to arrive tomorrow as well. Since the US Army Apache's are going to be slated to carry APKWS in future deployments (if not already), Im going to make these interchangeable: fuel tanks inboard racks/M299 missile racks with AGM-114K/L mixes, possibly swapping out pylons as well. From the looks of it, the missile racks use a different mounting point to the rack than the fuel tank mounting point, and therefore the pylon needs to swap out too. Edited October 10, 2023 by utley Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 It’s sad that Takom decided put what looks to be an E cockpit in their new Late D Block II kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 10, 2023 Author Share Posted October 10, 2023 (edited) Theres more than a few issues with these kits, like how the nose section of the aircraft is very well rounded while the model is flattened. I havent seen a CMWS controller in either cockpit either. Ill pour through the kit and see what the major differences are, and I havent seen an E cockpit yet...but I am somewhat familiar with the Blk 2 Apache D. late edit: guns and racks came in today, along with a spare Red Fox AH-64E pit for some reason or other...dunno because I didnt buy it, but here I am. Missile racks still have a tad bit of downward droop to them, but wont complain because its barely noticeable and will be bent back in shape with the missile on the rail. Will post pics later when I return home from work. Edited October 10, 2023 by utley Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 11, 2023 Author Share Posted October 11, 2023 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 12, 2023 Author Share Posted October 12, 2023 On 10/10/2023 at 9:02 AM, Dave Williams said: ... you wouldnt happen to know when the radar inferometer is dismounted, would you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I don’t know what a radar inferometer is, much less where it’s located. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 12, 2023 Author Share Posted October 12, 2023 the radar dish on top of the rotor mast. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 12, 2023 Author Share Posted October 12, 2023 (edited) M230 gun barrel in fly position is missing the attaching nipple for the receiver. Easy fix, but told Reskit about the problem so they can fix it. You can see it clearly, its the bottom barrel. I have a metal barrel set, I might use it instead of this one but its in the same boat as this kits. Gun came out perfectly, this ones the parked version. Not assembled yet, but will be painted before installation. Missile racks came out fine. Will start working the magnets into some sacrificed racks tonight to see how they work. Maybe trial an AGM-114 from the kit as well to see if I can place missiles with magnets in the rails as well. If not, will just let the rack itself be attached via magnet. Edited October 12, 2023 by utley Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 13, 2023 Author Share Posted October 13, 2023 First test with an M299 and pylon yielded me good results. I feel like I can camouflage the magnet in the pylon adapter, but its every bit as wide as the adapter itself so I had break out on one side. The pylon I used was the right side outboard, and the magnet is showing outboard so unfortunately will be very much visible, but looking at it makes me think it can be concealed effectively. The missile rail itself is trashed so I cant use this particular one. The rails are too thin to support a magnet, but maybe if I find a 1mm x 1mm Ill give it a shot again..but Im thinking they wont be powerful enough and the rails are too brittle so Im going to skip this effort. Also, these kits have different mounts for different payloads. There are adapters for fuel tanks, adapters for missile rails, and adapters for the rocket pods. Each one do look visually different, and you have to use the correct part for the payload you want. All in all I think this was a success. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 Looking good! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 16, 2023 Author Share Posted October 16, 2023 On 9/1/2023 at 6:39 AM, 11bee said: Just discovered this build. Nice work! I'm doing a similar build over on LSP and on the Apache modeler's FB page. I'll be following closely. Keep up the good work. quick question: can you provide a link please? Id like to compare notes and I just joined that forum the other day. Also contacted a person from Italy there that has a bunch of 3D printed stuff Im highly tempted to get for both these Apache builds plus the Academy AH-1Z Ive been working on for a few months now thats been on the back burner. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted October 16, 2023 Share Posted October 16, 2023 1 hour ago, utley said: quick question: can you provide a link please? Id like to compare notes and I just joined that forum the other day. Also contacted a person from Italy there that has a bunch of 3D printed stuff Im highly tempted to get for both these Apache builds plus the Academy AH-1Z Ive been working on for a few months now thats been on the back burner. Here you go. With regards to 3D printed bits, there are two gents who offer very nice bits for this kit. I've purchased from both and am very pleased with their products. The guy from Italy (Simone Plai) is working on a MUMT-x antenna for the rotor hub and (a bit further down the road, a correct M-DAS sensor (can't believe the kit that that part wrong) and JAGM AGM-179 missiles. I'll be purchasing both. Here's the link to my build over on LSP. Heavy Attack - US Army AH-64E Apache Guardian - Page 4 - Works in Progress - Large Scale Planes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 16, 2023 Author Share Posted October 16, 2023 I talked with Simone Plai already and Im getting a few things from him this week hopefully. Main reason why I went over to LSP lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 Going to be back to the model this weekend. On a side note, the Takom Apache Blk II is on the way from HLJ Japan and it will be here in a few days. Going to get the engines painted this week and post pics when Im finished. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 (edited) 22 minutes ago, utley said: Going to be back to the model this weekend. On a side note, the Takom Apache Blk II is on the way from HLJ Japan and it will be here in a few days. Going to get the engines painted this week and post pics when Im finished. Cool. Have one on the way from Ali Express. Are you going to build it as is? I’m thinking of either transferring the cockpit parts to an E kit, or just cutting off the E helmet sensors and adding the D helmet sensors from the Quinta set. Edited October 22, 2023 by Dave Williams Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 (edited) Not sure yet. The upgrade set in the video below is whats going to go in it or it will go in the spare E kit. I have a spare Red Fox kit as well but Im going to compare the kits with an updated D Blk 2 model and see where the descrepancies are, probably wont include the pilots. Not really interested in trying to paint those new army uniforms as it hurts my eyes........ Edited October 22, 2023 by utley Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 24, 2023 Author Share Posted October 24, 2023 Detailing the engines finally underway. Exhaust sleeves kept wanting to split on me when I put the nozzles on so Im thinking this ones going to be closed. Maybe not, I dont know since I might just be able to either hide it or fix them. these are real rough right now and I still dont have all the hardware on them, but going to spend a few days getting these things looking good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted October 26, 2023 Author Share Posted October 26, 2023 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted November 11, 2023 Author Share Posted November 11, 2023 (edited) Update: pylons are coming along. Since the magnet idea came out great, I found some 1mm neo magnets that are almost adequate for the job. Placed two of them in both the pylon and the M299 missile rack, and seems to be holding up fairly well. Used two to help hold the weight and to keep the racks in alignment. Hanging a rocket pod as well tonight just to see how well my system works. Its looking like these might actually have to be hung permanently unless I can hide one of the magnets thats necessary to hold it in place. Edited November 11, 2023 by utley Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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