rwoolven76 Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Right then. Here goes. This is a lot of firsts for me. My first helicopter build since I was about 12, my first Group Build and my first ever WIP thread. First step is to clear the modelling/dining table as it currently seems to be occupied: Right. Now that's done, where's the person responsible for getting me involved in this and dragging my modelling subject into the 21st century. Oh, there he is, clutching the birthday gift he bought me: Let's open the box (and the recent envelope I got in the post) up and see what we've got to work with: What we have is an Italeri A-129 Mangusta, a canopy mask (which I hope will make up for the poorly designed canopy a little) and a sheet of ExtraTech PE. Up until this point I've only ever used PE once before and that was prepainted. Not sure how much of this I'll actually use but we'll see. The kit itself looks pretty straightforward. The part count is very small as you can see and the instruction sheet only includes 5 build steps. Reviews suggest the kit is pretty simple to put together so putting it together shouldn't be too much of a challenge. Decals are OOB. Not sure which I'll do yet, but since they seem to be pretty much the same paint-wise I guess I can make the decision a little later. I've done my first bit of scratch building on my Mosquito recently so I'll keep an eye out for any opportunities that are small enough to tackle with my limited skills. I might give some "remove before flight" labels a go at the very least. Every day is a school day I guess. I'm a brush painter, which again raises questions about how to deal with the PE painting, but who knows. If anyone has any weathering and painting tips for olive drab paint schemes I'd appreciate them. Time to get the can of primer out and get cracking I suppose. Wish me luck. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fostersdave Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 good luck with your mangusta,should look cracking when finished dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwoolven76 Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share Posted June 8, 2013 Thanks Dave. We'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gajman Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Welcome to the GB. That's a nice prezzie to get. I hope the build goes smoothly. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Great choice, Idon't think I've ever seen one of these built up. Good luck. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwoolven76 Posted June 9, 2013 Author Share Posted June 9, 2013 Thanks Colin. As a subject it manages to be both unusual and mundane at the same time. Still, hopefully I should be able to do it justice. I've found a walk around of one from the same unit as one of the schemes in the kit so that pretty much helps me decide which to do. Feeling a bit out of my depth with this GB though. My fellow builders all seem way way more talented than me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fostersdave Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 i'm with you mate,my first GB as well and some of the talent I've seen on here i'm deffo out of my depth! dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwoolven76 Posted June 9, 2013 Author Share Posted June 9, 2013 Right then. First step is to spray primer on the sprues. No idea if this is what everyone else does but it generally works for me. Mr Tamiya and his superfine white for me seems to do the job: With that out of the way it's time to make a start. Cockpit comes first and the seats need some work. They have a moulded seatbelt on them but it's pretty awful: So off with that and time for some PE. Vallejo model color buff and a silver pencil. Painted the seat a dark green as I can't find a photo of the seats anywhere. PE stuck on and we have this as the result: That's all for now. Time to sort the kids out and take them home. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 A good start on the seat. I don't understand why to primer first but each to their own... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Great start, each to there own when it comes to modelling as there is really no right or wrong way if you find whats best for you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwoolven76 Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 Thanks guys. It needs filing down to get the shape of the back right and in that photo you can see the acrylics aren't sticking to the PE very well causing the paint on the buckles to flake a little. The priming first is an interesting one. I'm a recent returner to modelling so I'm still kind of finding my feet. Since I brush paint everything apart from primer, I've found the easiest approach for me is to bulk prime everything at the outset and then I can paint most parts one at a time while they're still on the sprues. I'm also limited in my workspace so when I spray I have to do it outside in my garden. Because of that, priming each part as and when I want to paint it is just too much of a pain. Had a busy week with work but hopefully I should get a bit more done in the next couple of days. I'll keep you updated. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fostersdave Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 nice looking seats mate,your right about P.E though.can be a real pain to work with! dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotorheadtx Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I recall CJ built this kit some time back for HeliKitNews.... said it was a bit of a filler-queen, but overall accurate and trouble-free. Keith Goodman built it here: http://www.kgwings.com/mangusta/mangusta.html Only secret trick I know for weathering OD schemes is to mix in DAK Yellow for the 'fading' tones and dry-brushing highlights. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gajman Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Hi Richard, you've been a bit quiet recently. Any progress? Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwoolven76 Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 Gary, Yes, all a bit quite here I'm afraid. A number of reasons, including my desire to get my tamiya 1:48 mossie completed, as well as work, house move, divorce stuff and just the general complexities of life getting in the way. I'll do my best to try and find some time to do some more and keep you updated. Cheers, Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gajman Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Don't you just hate it when life gets in the way of the important things like building models, it's one of the great injustices of life I can accept all your reasons except for the 1:48 Mozzie. Putting a mozzie ahead of a helicopter?! That's just not on. ... I'm joking, I'm joking Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwoolven76 Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 I can accept all your reasons except for the 1:48 Mozzie. Putting a mozzie ahead of a helicopter?! That's just not on. ... I'm joking, I'm joking Gary Now that, there, my friend, is fighting talk... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fostersdave Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 (edited) steady girls,differant horses,differant courses! dave Edited July 2, 2013 by fostersdave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gajman Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 steady girls,differant horses,differant courses! dave Don't worry, nothing serious here, just a bit of fun. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwoolven76 Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 Indeed. We all know I'm right, really. Wings are supposed to bolted on, not whirl round and round just above your head. That's an utterly crazy idea. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1fuN0 Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Nooooooooo Wings of any sort, whirly or bolted are contrivations of the devil... (Nervous tics seem to be going away now, and the medication appears to be working... ) My bench is full of aircraft..... Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwoolven76 Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 Having announced I was putting this aside to get the Mosquito done, it turns out that my missile was going badly so I thought I'd do a little more. Some of the cockpit PE is done and, having finished the tub, I've put the fuselage together and given it a light sanding. Filler next. Here are some pics: That's all for now. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwoolven76 Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 Liquid green went on, dried and sanded. The fit of the fuselage is not good, but it seems to have filled well enough. Will finish the seams and sanding and then post some more pictures. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fostersdave Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 coming along nicely Richard dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristolhibby Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 Swithering whether to buy one of these. My stash is already at 60 kits. Pesky hoarder mentality! J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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