Here is my latest build. I am working on a UH-1H SAR from White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM. It is in the Hi-Vis / Arctic scheme. I recently flew on this bird and thought it was pretty cool. Here are a couple pics of the actual helo.




I am using the Panda (pre-Dragon rebox and PE) UH-1D/H in 1/35. I have added the Cobra Company UH-1N center and upper consoles, intercom/radio control boxes on the ceiling, interior light unit, and B pillar supports. The instrument panel is from the 1/32 Revell UH-1D/H; it fits great once the angled base is removed. The pilot seats are from the kit with the side armor panels removed. The Flight Engineer seats are from Academy's UH-1C kits. The troop seats are a combo of the widened kit gunner seats, Revell 1/32 supports, thinned down kit seat upper backs, and a scratch built bench. I also replaced the gunners' seat legs and added cross supports. The seat belts are made from lead foil and wire for the buckles. I also scratched the inner door panels.










Also, I will be adding parts from the Fireball Modelworks UH-1H/V Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) Update. From it I will be using the APR-39 antenna bulges and particle separator. The ASE set is also 1/32, but the particle separator was actually too small to accept the Panda cowling. I had to sand down the cowling quite a bit to make it fit. Lastly, I modified a pair of side steps from the Monogram 1/32 Puma to fit it as well.


More to come as the build progresses.

Hi Gino,

Looking good, Mate, nice and busy.

You flew on this bird? Outstanding! That sort of info lends a real credibility and interest to the model. We don't get many of these flying around here. The RAAF has just retired their last ones with the NH90 coming on stream. I did see a 412 fly over yesterday, but that's my first Huey in 6 months, since Avalon.

How many hours to get it to this stage? I don't normally count the hours spent on a model, but I have this time. I have put 56 hours in so far! Much more than I would have expected.

Here is where I am at. I am waiting now for decals so I can finish it off. Your level of detail puts me to shame!

Graeme.

Great work so far ... both of you!

Thanks guys. Yours is looking great too Graeme. I haven't kept track of hours on this one, I never really do. I have been working on it for about a week on and off though.

I think this will be your best yet Gino. The interior is great.

Graeme. Nobody will miss your chopper either. That yellow really pops.

Looks good Gino...great job with the interior, love the instrument panel. Can't wait to see the exterior colors.

Joe

Thanks guys. For the instrument panel, I used the Panda decal for it and cut out each instrument face as a separate decal. I then applied the separate decals to each instrument after painting. A dab of clear gloss for the glass on each and they are done.

She is done. Here are a few more of the final build pics first. I used wire cutters and supports from the Academy UH-60 kits. A pitot tube and tail rotor (with 1/8 inch cut off each blade) from the 1/32 Revell Huey, and a towel bar antenna left over from a 1/35 Seminar UH-1B kit. The grab handles and cage-thingys at the top edges of the canopy are made from thin wire. I also lightly sanded the entire fuselage to knock down the size of the rivets a bit too. Here it is ready for paint.




And with initial paint on it.





I made the decals using inkjet computer decal paper. I also used some decals off the Fireball Modelworks UH-1D/H sheet. I made markings for UH-1H 74-22367. It is the one below with 367 and the WSMR Army Air Division logo on the nose.


Here is my rendition of it.






More pics here.

Hope you like it. All comments are welcome as always.

Hi Gino... That was quick!
The colour scheme looks great. Did you have any trouble with the decals? What did you seal/topcoat them with? Whenever I have tried inkjet decals either the topcoat has destroyed them, or, if the topcoat has worked, the water then attacks the ink...

My build has stalled at the moment. I am expecting decals today. Brunel Hobbies here is running them out on their Alps machine for me.
In the meantime, I've been doing some two-dimensional modelling. This is for a local modelling mag...



This is about 80% complete. Still have to do the rotor heads and details.

Graeme.

Thanks Greame. I have great success making my own decals. To seal them, I use acrylic clear spray, Krylon here in the states. It works every time without issues.

Nice, that was really quick. Looks good.

Hey, Gino,

A week!! Mine's taken a month and it is the quickest build I've ever done! And I'm not finished. And it's got half the detail of yours.

I got the decals last night and they are going on now. I'll post some pics tonight.

Joe, thanks for the floor-wax guide too. I'll try it. I've always had trouble weathering over gloss paint, particularly any kind of wash. Maybe this will work better.

It's going in a comp this weekend so I'll let you know how it goes.

Graeme.

Looks great. Gino, One question: Is this bird used to search for "lost" missiles or what?

Erik

Thanks guys. Glad you like it.




Erik, it is used to track missiles, aerial testing, local SAR, and also for patrolling with the Border Patrol. They are pretty versatile down there.

Graeme, it took me a little longer. I had been working on it for a few days before the original post; took about 2 weeks total. Good luck on yours and at the competition.

Great job, Gino. Very attarctive markings and scheme. You can be proud of this one.

Thanks for sharing

Hi Gino,

I placed second in Large Scale Aircraft - Enhanced!

Graeme.

Congrats Graeme. Good job.