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A Trio of MD Helicopters I have always been fascinated by the NOTAR helicopters that Hughes, and later McDonald Douglas, developed and finally brought to production in the early 90’s. The fascination even went that far that I ended up doing most of my undergraduate and all of post graduate studies on a similar system (that specific one called CIRSTEL) and helicopter aerodynamics. Thus a NOTAR helicopter was always on my must build list. Some years back I got hold of the Italeri AH-6 kit, with all the intention of converting it. What held me back was the canopy: the kit had of course the original round canopy of the original AH-6, and not the pointed one that is used for the NOTAR versions. About 5 years back I had a try at the kit, having built myself a Mk1 vacu-former. But the attempt at forming a canopy was less than brilliant. The remainder of the parts however came out great. But the canopy issue stalled the project.... Fast-forward 2 years, when I happened upon the AZ Model kit of the MD500E at an airshow. The picture on the front showed the canopy I needed, so I bought it. Big surprise when I got home and found out 2 complete model kits inside. Now I had 3! Bad news was that the canopy was not completely useful. First it was a model of the fragmented version, that could be fixed though. The big setback however is that the canopy fits badly. Useable, but not ideal. Circumstances at the time caused the project to be shelved regardless. With my previous build of the Chengdu F-7, I built a new vacu-former, and along with much better knowledge and experience, I tried again at forming the canopy. This time rot useable results, though the master required a bit more work. But now I got a useable canopy, and can continue. But what to do with the other kits? Simple, build all three current versions of the venerable Model: MD530F, MD520N and MD600N. Here are all the kits together And this is how far I got with the first one, the Italeri kit: Here a group photo of the evolution of the vac-formed canopies. Furthest one was formed in sections (not that great), and the closest two are useable, all formed in one piece. I formed the plug from Fimo, as it is easy to form and can be easily be carved and filed after being baked. Getting it to the correct and symetric shape is a mission in its own! Caution however, since it attacks plastic if left to contact it for too long. This is what a sheet of PETG looks like when formed over the plug. Now proceeding with building, I decided to use the Italeri kit for the MD600N conversion, simply because the port door was moulded separately, which made cutting the fuselage into a front and rear bit to accept the extension piece much easier. This is after cutting it, and with the extended floor and overhead spacer fitted. Next up the production of the extension piece doors and fuselage skin. R

Special Hobby is to release in 2016 a 1/72nd Hughes MD500E kit - ref. SH72346 Ex Profiline kit? http://www.hyperscale.com/2010/reviews/kits/profiline7010reviewmd_1.htm Sources: http://www.specialhobby.info/2016/08/special-hobby-newsletter-september-2016.html http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10412985 V.P.

Hughes AH-64D Apache Block II 1:72 Academy The AH-64 Apache was developed from the US Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter programme in the early 1970s. This stemmed from The US Army need to fill its anti armour role, following the cancellation of the AH-65 Cheyenne programme. This was designed to find the replacement for the AH-1 Cobra. Hughes Helicopters developed their Model 77 which became the YAH-64. The YAH-64 first flew in 1977. It features a nose mounted sensor suite containing targeting sensors and night vision equipment. A 30mm chain gun was carried under the forward fuselage and stub wing pylons provided four hard points for carrying AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and unguided rocket pods. The helicopter was introduced into US Army service in 1986. The AH-64D or Longbow Apache identified by the Longbow radar system carried on the mast head entered service in 1996. This was produced now by Boeing as they had acquired McDonnell Douglas, who themselves had acquired Hughes. The US Army is the primary user of the AH-64. The primary identifying feature of the D model or The "longbow" Apache is the AN/APG-78 Longbow millimetre-wave fire control radar located above the main rotor head. This allows the simultaneous tracking of upto 128 targets with the ability to engage 16 of these at one time. This data can also be shared to ground units by means of a radio modem. The Block II airframes were first delivered from early 2003 and featured a digital communications upgrade. The Kit Academy have brought us Apache kits in the past, and these have been very good, in fact some would say the best in 1/72 scale. The new AH-64D kit is a new tool kit, this is not as some manufactures would be tempted to do and that is stick a AH-64D radome into an AH-64A kit. There is a choice of early or late sensors and access panels, along with the correct instrument panels and MFD's. A great touch is the one part main rotor in the kit so you wont have the often problematic job of aligning the rotor blades to a main hub and stopping them from drooping down! The kit also features fine engraved panel lines, great detail throughout and slide moulded engine pods which are basically one piece. Construction starts with the main fuselage halves. Holes must be opened up for various parts to attach later on in the build. Once this is done construction can move onto the cockpit. Control columns are added to both cockpits, along with the main display panels. There appears to be a cyclic control only and no collective. The one part moulded seats can then be added. Coamings are then added to the front and rear panels. The next step is to make up the mount for the main rotor blades. Once this is done the completed cockpit assembly and rotor mount can be added into the fuselage and the halves closed up. Next on the list of jobs is to make up the wings for mounting the weapons systems. Once made up these are attached to the main fuselage along with the top cover for the engine area. A five part assembly each side is required each side for the front landing gear. Once made up these too can be added to the main fuselage. The next major step is to attach the fairings down both sides an underneath which house a lot of the electronics carried as well as the feed system for the 30mm canon. Once the underside part is on the 30mm canon itself can be added. The tail wheel is also added at this point. Rocket pods and/or hellfire missiles can be added to the weapons pylons next (though I suspect these will be left to last by most modellers). Next up are the engine pods. The engine fronts and heat shielding exhaust parts are added and then pods can be attached to the main fuselage. Following this the main sensor package can be assembled and attached to the front of the helo. Now that the man parts of the helo have been assembled it is time to add the myriad of aerials, sensors, handles etc that seem to festoon the exterior. The last steps in construction are to add the main and tail rotors. The main rotor is one part while the tail rotor is a more complicated four part affair. The last item to be added is the mast mounted radar system, though check your references as often this was not carried to save weight in a lower threat environment. Canopy The canopy is a one part one which is a shame you cant open it up and show of the cockpit more. It is clear and distortion free. Decals Markings on these helicopters tend to be sparse so Academy have managed to get six options onto the sheet. A full suite of stencils and weapons markings is also provided. Decals are by Cartograf and should pose no problems. 07-7029 "Archangels" Camp Humpreys South Korea, 2010. 07-7031 "Slayers" Camp Humpreys South Korea, 2010. 99-5188 "Vipers" Iraq 2003 (Shark mouth). 99-5102 "Vipers" Iraq 2003 (Shark mouth). 02-5289 "Avenger" Iraq 2003. 01-5241 "Sidewinders" Iraq 2003. Conclusion This is thoroughly modern tooling of the latest US Army Apache and should make up into a great looking model. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of UK Distributors for

Danish example, pics thanks to Hans J

Hi there, this is my Hughes OH-6A by AMP just completed. A lot of interior & exterior self-made improvements, resin parts by CMK, Tailboom (Maurizio Di Terlizzi), Quickboost and Tarmac. A special thanks to Joseph Osborn of Fireball Modelworks for nice decals sheet and support for painting. Cheers, Alessandro Rome (Italy)