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So I toyed with this GB as I have 3 helos in the stash, including an earlier version of this (only thing different is decals so not sure how/why I have both!) and the Airfix Merlin......I have a lot ready for the Battle of Britain GB and can just see myself over extending - I have only just come back to the hobby, built in the Nordic GB, also managed to finish off my 2 x F-111 builds from the STGB (have updated the threads!), pushed along a couple of stalled 617 Sqn Lanc builds etc... Then I thought - when would I ever build these things - if not in a Helo GB....so why not! Living in Colchester I regularly have them flying over me from Wattisham, its still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up everytime, throwback to Helmand in 2006 I expect, where part of my role included being a JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) and as callsign WIDOW 67 I often had to call up air support, including UGLY callsigns from the Army Air Corp's 9 Regt/656 AH Sqn. I always like to have some personal link to my builds if possible, this is a bit of a stretch given I will have to build the aircraft as circa 2002! This boxing is not the best, its really a US version with some Dutch decals and British decals....the Heritage add on set for the upgraded AH1 that saved my butt a few times in Helmand in 2006 seems impossible to source.... As ever no crew, again a shout out to any 1/48 Helo crew sat in a spares box that want employing! I looked back and found a picture of an Apache AH1 without all the lumps and bumps that were later added - any experts please do correct me, but I think IO can get away with a UK build based on the initial delivery...if not I am anyways! Obligatory box and sprue shots Aforementioned 'basic' UK Apache - pic dated 2002! Got started yesterday, removing and cleaning up some parts. A little research seems to blow most of the painting guide out of the water, so I have used references and started the pit in various black shades, blades also will be a NATO black. Mr Paint FS34031 US Army Helo Drab is pretty much out of stock everywhere, so I have gone for the Hataka Orange Line version and ordered....found these paints ok to use, once perfectly thinned for whatever airbrush is being used.... won't be weathered too much (new airframe and BoB build in mind!). Priming also started: eye test next week, defo need glasses for close up work now, so I will just do the basics as the IP's look old rather than the UK version and I can't focus as well as the old days!! Some great ref pics for the newer Apaches by @gary1701 available on the site as well. Thanks for looking!

I've gotten hold of the 1/48 Hasegawa AH-64D Longbow. I bought it after studying the sprulayout and found it to be identical with Hasegawa's WAH-64D kit. I have the Aviation Worshop decals where there are decals for the british WAH-64D. What more do I need - surely it can't be this easy, can it? Cheers Hans J