1/32nd scale Panda model. I am trying to do a diorama of a Huey crashed into a rice paddy in Vietnam. the tail boom will be broken off and the rotors smashed up.

here it is so far.

I am using the Cobra detail set for the interior.

Looking good so far. The damage to the tailboom looks great. I'll be watching to seeing this one done.

progress

more

Looking awesome so far, can't wait to see it finished.

I agree. That's some beautiful detail.
-Sean H.

some work on the base

seats. I chose not to use the seats from Cobra as the kit seats were really good and they painted up nicely.

The seats look great. If the rest of it comes out as nice, it is going to be a really great model.

Wow! You're not kidding they painted up nicely!
-Sean.

more painting

more painting

a little more

this looks great

paul

It is looking great. The interior is coming along well, as is the battle damage.

One question though. Are you building an early UH-1D ('64-'65 timeframe), or a later model?

I ask this due to the red seats. Only the very early UH-1Ds (chin-mounted pitot tube and FM homing antennas) had the red seats. They were quickly changed to green seats after about '65 on later D models and all H models.

it is an H mondel and there are pictures of red seats in several books I have so I mut assume that some of the newer ones retained them. Either way it is a done deal now so we will have to just live with it. Thanks for the info.

Have you thought about the belts? They will be a little to neat for any crash. Other than that, it's great. Can't wait to see the progress.

You know guys I understand that you want to help with your input and I do appreciate the info, and here it comes... "but" when you see the work that has been done and the fact that the belts for instance are already on the seat and inside the model I must ask the question, what do you want me to do about it now? Do you want me to break them out and redo them? You have made good points and I know you are right but it does not help me now when you point it out. I am sorry if it seems like I am whining but just needed to get that out. I consider this forum like a virtual model club meeting and I enjoy showing off my work and seeing other peoples work just cant read your minds or even want to. I know I am rambling so please forgive me. I consider this a form of art and expression and a way to relax. I want to be accurate but I make compromises sometimes to get things done, and to make it interesting to me when I am doing it like Red seats. (by the way I was wrong about that also, there are no H model Huey's in my book with red seats.) Anyway I will just soldier on. Please dont take this as me yelling at anyone.
best regards Doug

Don't take it the wrong way either, but if you show some in-progress shots of individual steps or parts, or are not sure of something, we can give you the info then, as opposed to when it is done. This forum should be interactive and provide info for all. Your info will likely help someone else out in thier build.

Glad you caught the H model seats as green. I was going to ask that you check your data as I have never seen an H model with the red seats either.

Lastly, yes, you could repaint the seats and fix the belts. The model isn't done yet. I never really consider a model completely done. There is always something that can be improved upon. I have taken a model back off the shelves to fix something years after it was completed as I had just been made aware of the error or inaccuracy.

It is looking great, but would look even better if it more accurately portrayed the model it is supposed to be representing. I would repaint the seats and rebuild the belts with lead foil so they lay more haphazard as they would in a downed helo. I would also add some belts to the rear gunners' seats, or a ring on the wall for them to hook their monkey rigs to.

It's up to you how you view your modeling and what you do with them though. To borrow from an old saying, "Accuracy is in the eye of the beholder."

Gino is right, in theory.

I am affraid that trying to repaint the seats while they are fixed inside the model could end up in a big mess.

I woudl suggest "painting" them with water before attempting to paint them to find out if you can reach every piece of the seats without smothering paint everywhere

I didn't say to leave them in the fuselage and repaint. I would pull them out and then repaint them. It is easy to do since the doors are still off. It would also make it easier to redo the belts that way. But hey, that's just me.

I really don't care what colour your seats are or 'ZOMG! You haven't modelled the correct pattern of soundproofing' - what does impress me is the idea and presentation, and the modelling skills on display.

That's all.

acav out

PS Actually, no - I don't like crashed helicopters and I demand that you undamage the Huey and display it in flying condition with rotating rotors and everything, maybe a crewman dangling on the winch, perhaps with a flight of accurately modelled seabirds flying escort...

Hey Doug, no matter a few details here and there, it's still looking like a great bird, or whats left of her. The cobra set you used, does it come with the uprights for the stretchers? Also would like to know if the set comes with the jungle penetrator within the set. I have 8 V.N. chopers to do and a dust off is in the future. A real good book if you can find it is Ballentine Press, (paper back) titled, Dust off. Some good write ups and photos. Will be looking forward to seeing more of this bird here, darn good job.