Bulldog 09 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 (edited) Hey Y'all, I started this build back at the beginning of the Helicopter group build which I believe was July 1st link here. Well long story short it turned into a serious AMS build and work keep me from spending the time on it that I wanted. So needless to say that I did not have it done in time for the finish of the group build. Well here is an update on the progress of the build to date. -Both engines finished and all plumbing and wiring is complete. -Both wings complete. Non-skid areas replicated using Mr. Surfacer 500. I was unable to photograph clearly the position and navigation lights (which are not mounted yet) because of there size. Eduards PE was used on the wing tips and for all of the “slime lightsâ€. All that is lacking now is the pitot tubes and static dischargers on each wing. -Both landing gear struts were rebuilt using PE parts and a lot of scratch building. Below you will see the before and after pictures. On the left is the kit part and to the right the finished product. -The ballistic window that separates the pilot from gunner was added. -The canopy framing above the pilot was fixed. The Original canopy had the clear section going under the dog house when it should stop just before it. To fix this I filled in the original frame lines with superglue, sanded, and rescribed new lines. -The canopy was cut open and the pilots and gunner/co-pilots doors rebuilt. All the lacks on the doors are the hinges, vents, latch handles, and first aid kit for the pilot’s door. As for the canopy, well that’s the next thing to tackle after the gun. Well that’s it for now; the next update will cover the M230 gun system. Please let me know if you have any questions or corrections. Thanks again everyone, Dave Fassett Edited August 21, 2012 by Bulldog 09 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bulldog 09 Posted March 11, 2009 Author Share Posted March 11, 2009 (edited) Hey Y'all, Here is the M230E1 chain gun for my 1/72 AH-64A. The first three shots are of the kit supplied gun. Here is what has been done so far to it. -Muzzle break removed and replaced with PE piece. -Stainless steel barrel and PE heat shield added where barrel connects to the main gun body. -Gun body, motors, servos, and drive links added using sheet styrene and stainless tubing. -The wire strike framing around the gun was a mix of 28 gauge wire and stretched sprue. The main part of the frame was wire which I soldered together. The small bracing pieces where made of the stretched sprue. The wire cutter on the top was cut from a piece of .005 brass. That is it for now. I will post more pictures of the gun after I finish the wiring and other various pieces that sill need to be attached. Please let me know if you have any questions or corrections. Dave Fassett Edited March 11, 2009 by Bulldog 09 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rotorwash Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!! X2 That is some really nice work there. She's gonna be a beauty. Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ice225 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 That cannon is really great work. Could be 1/32! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loach Driver Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 Amazing stuff. Great work on the undercarriage legs and the gun. LD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Retired GunPilot Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 WOW, She is looking very nice. I will enjoy watchng your progress. Charlie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avus Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I recognized the engine from the GB. You're proceeding very well, Bulldog. That gun is amazing! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bulldog 09 Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 Thank you all for the great compliments. I should have pictures of the finished gun system and canopy up by Sunday I hope. Thanks again, Dave Fassett Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vertex Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Thank you all for the great compliments. I should have pictures of the finished gun system and canopy up by Sunday I hope. Thanks again, Dave Fassett Great progress Dave. It nice that you've updated us. Me too didn't make it to the deadline with the same kit. -Nicky Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bulldog 09 Posted April 17, 2009 Author Share Posted April 17, 2009 (edited) Hey Y’all, Well it’s been a couple of weeks since my last update, so here’s what has happen since then. I have finished the gun along with the main canopy, rear bay doors, and added a couple of RBF tags. So far on this build the gun has been the most rewarding and challengin part. I counted it up and I have a total of 41 parts in the gun alone and it took a whopping 34 hours to finish. So let’s start this update off with the completed gun. Next up the Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHDSS) which was added to the pilot and gunner/co-pilot stations. Now for the main canopy. To this I added grab handles, gunner/co-pilot rearview mirror, wiper gear box, fuse panel, vent piping / vents, and lock block with RBF tag on fuse panel. Last but not least, the aft avionics bay door (on the right), aft storage bay door (on the left), and the RBF tags on the pilot and gunner/co-pilots main panels. The RBF are attached to the canopy jettison levers. Well that's it for now. Please let me know if you have any questions or corrections. Thanks, Dave Fassett Edited April 19, 2009 by Bulldog 09 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joseph Osborn Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Great job, Dave. It's nice to see so much effort going into a 1/72 build! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Retired GunPilot Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 I love your work Dave, a very nice build. Charlie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GoBlue96 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Wow. Just... wow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bulldog 09 Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 Thank you all for the great compliments. Dave Fassett Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bulldog 09 Posted June 8, 2009 Author Share Posted June 8, 2009 Hey Y'all, I know that it has been a while since the last update so here's what has been done since then. -Canopy has been mounted and blended into the main fuselage. -The ice detector probe base has been made and mounted (Long white rectangular base on dog house Starboard side) along with the transponder antenna base (Small round base center line of the dog house). Pictures 1 & 2 (painted in pictures 3, 4, & 5) -Finished non-skid areas on the doghouse and port / starboard sponsons (light gray areas in pictures 3, 4, & 5). I used Mr. Surfacer 500 along with a short bristle brush. You can see the finished effect on the wings (Picture 3) which have been painted, all that remains on them is the black to be painted over the non-skid area. -Rotor head has been completely rebuilt. In all the new head contains 20 scratch built parts. Items that were added and not present in the kit are as follows. -Blade pitch control rods. -Duel friction lead-lag dampers (Eduards PE) -Two scissor assemblies which attaches the pitch control swashplate to the rotor hub unit (picture 7 side view). I still have to add the air data sensor (which I am rebuilding right now) to the rotor head along with various wiring, but for the most part it is done. I will post some more pictures of the finished rotor assembly in the next couple of days. Well that's it for now. Please let me know if you have any questions or corrections. Thanks, Dave Fassett Top Side Bottom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
petebuilt Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Supurb workmanship Dave. Excellent details all around. I'll be looking forward to further updates. Pete Brown Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loach Driver Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Another great 1/72 build. Amazing stuff. Keep going. LD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avus Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 It's proceeding very well! How do you represent the anti-slip surfaces? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RotorheadTX Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Wow!! That's some great work Dave! Guess that book is never coming home. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Retired GunPilot Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Dave, she is looking really awesome...great detail work. Charlie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rotorwash Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Dave, She just gets better and better. Nice work! Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bulldog 09 Posted June 14, 2009 Author Share Posted June 14, 2009 Thank you all for the great compliments and encouragement. It's proceeding very well!How do you represent the anti-slip surfaces? Hey Avus, The method I use is pretty simple. First I mask off the area where the non-skid will be applied. Allot of times the decal sheet will represent the non-skid area with a decal. If this is the case what I do is make a copy of the decal sheet and use it as a pattern for masking off the appropriate areas. Next I take a short stiff bristle brush (3/16" - 1/8" in bristle length) and Mr. Surfacer. I use Mr. Surfacer 500 for 1/48 scale and up and Mr. Surfacer 1000 for 1/72 scale and below. To apply simply dip the brush in the Mr. Surfacer and dab it onto the area to be treated, as it dries the brush will pull it up giving you the rough texture. Allow it to dry for a day, then paint and weather. This method also woks great for simulating the protective coating applied to NAVY and Marine bombs. Please let me know if you have any other questions and I hope this helps. Wow!! That's some great work Dave!Guess that book is never coming home. Hey Tony, Thanks man. I tell you what that book has been a life saver on this project and I am in debt to you. I hope to have it heading your way in the next month or so. Dave Fassett Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bulldog 09 Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 (edited) Hey Y'all, Well it's been over a month since my last update so here you go. Work has begun on the engine and drive shaft housing covers, which at this point is just tact on for alignment purposes. The tail gear has been rebuilt using the Eduards PE parts. The tire has not been attached yet because I am still working on the tow bar for it. Antenna bases, access panels, and panel latches (8 white rectangles) have been added to the bottom. Several other panel latches have been added around the aircraft I just forgot to get pictures of them before I primed them, sorry. The majority of the month has been spent working on the TADS/PNVS base and housing. In all the new housing consist of over 42 scratch built pieces not counting the kit parts. The two photos below will show you the extent of the work done. On the right is the kit supplied parts and to the left the same pieces after being modified. Here is the main base mounted to the airframe for alignment. Last but not lest are the gearbox housings with FOD cover, panel lines, and panel latches added. On the left is the newly modified gearbox housing and on the right the kit supplied housing. For the most part they are finished; all that is lacking are the cover handles and RBF tags which will be added after they are painted. Well thats it for now, but please let me know if you have any questions or corrections. Thanks, Dave Fassett Edited August 3, 2009 by Bulldog 09 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rotorwash Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Dave, WOW! Now that is some 1/72 magic you got going there! Great work and well worth the wait. Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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