Whirly Bird by a Squirly Bird!

[fumblethumbs]

Hello Everyone :v

I'm relatively new here, so I figure what better way to get aquainted than join in a campaign! I'll be doing the MRC/Academy 1/35 Huey Gunship (special noseart editon). This one has been on the shelf for a while and I've been itching to build it! Looking forward to seeing the other builds in this campaign as well!!

Thanks for checkin' it and thanks for having me along

 

[moon puppy]

welcome aboard Jeff, looking forward to the Huey.

 

[MrT]

Cool!!! I'm glad you could join us here in country.

Terry :v

 

[SA Dave]

Bloody great. I love these Academy Huyees.

 

[kryptosdaddy]

Good to have a new face jeff, I used to love those old 1/35 'copters!

 

[JamesOLeary]

Welcome to the build!

I look forward to seeing how your project progresses. I've always wanted to build a
helicopter model, but never got one completed. Perhaps I'll learn something new
as you are building this and perhaps actually finish one that I have started.

Cheers,
James

 

[fumblethumbs]

Thanks very much for the warm welcome folks!!

Well after cracking the bags on this kit yesterday morning, I spent most of the day (and evening) in the hobby room. The kit looks pretty good with some decent detailing. I think it should make a fun little project. So, lets get down to it.

After some clumsy sanding on a poorly located sprue gate I ended up with a bald spot where there should be texture

I used some PE that was originally intended for a 1/25 race car seat harness to replace the damage

Moving forward with engine assembly

And the basic engine/inner fuselage top, assembly

Also managed to get these three guys cleaned up and put together

Thanks for checkin' it folks! Should be more soon

Jeff.

 

[MrT]

Great start!! Are you going to have engine panels open?

Terry B)

 

[fumblethumbs]

I've been going back and forth on that very question T. Still undecided at the moment :hmmm

 

[Iron Mike]

Nice save with the PE, I'll follow along!

 

[moon puppy]

Thanks very much for the warm welcome folks!!

Well after cracking the bags on this kit yesterday morning, I spent most of the day (and evening) in the hobby room. The kit looks pretty good with some decent detailing. I think it should make a fun little project. So, lets get down to it.

After some clumsy sanding on a poorly located sprue gate I ended up with a bald spot where there should be texture

I used some PE that was originally intended for a 1/25 race car seat harness to replace the damage

Moving forward with engine assembly

And the basic engine/inner fuselage top, assembly

Also managed to get these three guys cleaned up and put together

Thanks for checkin' it folks! Should be more soon

Jeff.

Dude, you put PE on the engine, you can't hide it now!!

 

[fumblethumbs]

Thanks kindly Folks!

A little more progress here.

A little primer

A little dryfitting

And a tricky part. Instructions were a little unclear on the minigun. I used some reference pics of a 1/1 minigun and got close!

Thanks for checkin' it folks!!

 

[moon puppy]

You're not wasting time Jeff! Looking fine, like your painting style with the subassemblies and all.

 

[fumblethumbs]

Thanks PUP! Yeah, I'm in between contracts right now so time is on my side!

Here are some better pics of the minigun and 7 shot. My photography skills and equipment aren't the best

 

[moon puppy]

Looking and doing fine Jeff!

 

[MrT]

Oh man I need that mini-gun!!! Looking good!!

B)

 

[fumblethumbs]

OK, todays chore was to get after the instrument panels.

Thanks for looking!!

 

[moon puppy]

Wow!!! Nice IP!

 

[ernestsink]

Ok, how do you get that detail in the displays?

 

[fumblethumbs]

Thank You PuP :v

Ernest: I am no expert and learning as I go, but here's how I went about it. These particular IP's have very good raised details. After the flat (NATO) black, the panels were drybrushed with enamel aluminum to bring up the raised detail. I find it works best to use a 1/4" flat brush. The paint is wiped off on a piece of paper until no paint is visibly coming off the brush. Very, very drybrush! Then, quick back and forth "fanning" type motion with just the very tip of the brush. It takes a few trips over to get the level of definition required. Best to build up slowly. After that some various colours are added to the gauges and some buttons and switches. I modified a brush to have literally 5-6 bristles on it. I use this to apply the dots of colour and move them around a bit if necessary, for example the green and red inside the gauges. The sharp end of a round toothpick is also good to lay in "dots". What really makes the gauges pop is a droplet of clear gloss layed inside where the glass would be found. Hope that helps!