I just got this one back out and dusted it off so will do work on it and post some shots soon

Doug,

Fantastic work! Of all the helicopters the H-21 is my favorite. Your work is outstanding and I look forward to your next post!

This is the cockpit of the FM kit, it is actually very good and most of the parts are there to do the job. The fit is not great and the instructions leave a lot to the imagination but with some good pictures of a real one I managed to get it this far.

more done on cockpit

nose wheel is made up of parts from both kits and some plastic strip

folded rotor heads on the FM kit

main gear and brakes

How did you do those wonderful radio boxes?

They are made from evergreen platic shapes, the boxes are the square shapes cut down with strip on the ends and then I use rod of various sizes to make cannon plugs and strip for buttons and knobs and grills. After it is set I drill small holes in the rod cannon plugs and insert fine solder to represent the wire. It is not hard just takes some time.
hope this helps.

braces and brakes

engine compartment structure

adding all the exterior photo etch stuff

progress on the cockpit

My word Doug,

Simply outstanding work!

I removed the clear parts of the cockpit glass by cutting them from the frame with a new x-acto blade. This is done to simulate an abandoned helicopter that the glass has fallen out of or had it removed for other helicopters that needed the parts.

the frames are now on and it is ready for some paint.

That's wonderful. Where are the 1/48 bird nests going to go?

Looks fabulous. It's not often you see someone this passionate about the old H-21. It's such a forgotten bird! I think I built one many years ago. My first helo. was it Revell?

Jess that is something I have been thinking about.

Swallows love to nest in old dead aircraft. Their nests are made from mud pellets, whch would be really easy to do from epoxy putty. They like to put them way up high in corners. You could probably do a more traditional bird's nest from little chopped up bits of stretched sprue. Berhaps a wasp's nest behind the pilot's seat?

painting begins, now I just need to make it old and dirty looking

Doug
I like U have both kits as well. I agree the interior and details are sparse. But you are doing a
Banging Job at adding the details. Fantastic work so far. I'll be following your progress, keep
up the great work. From a helo vet, the details you've added definitely look swell.

starting the dirt and grime

couple more shots

I did some fading with airbrush over spray and more dirt and grime