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Hi all and welcome to 2018. Below, and dare I present, the last model I finished in 2017. Here we have Italerie's 1/72 Apache Longbow that was handed to me by a family member a few months go and will be built OOB. The kit was more a flat-pack than a kit; some parts painted with some parts missing. The build went well with the missing parts being fabricated and it was during the build that, AFAIK, this kit was of the prototype...and stayed at what ever variant it is. After a bit of filling and sanding, the primer went on and still everything looked. The helo was painted with Tamiya Olive Drab and coated with a couple of coats of Klear. Kit decals were applied with no problems and there stood a nice shiny Apache. Then, it went downhill. I asked the LMS, "What matt varnish would you recommend?" Humbrol's water soluble matt varnish was applied and this was the result.....aaaaahhhh As can be seen, it looks like it has been sprayed with milk! It stayed as-is and ironically the previous member thought it looked weathered and great. As to what went wrong, I can only put it down to the varnish and/or how it was applied... What an end to and otherwise good year Stuart

Just purchased this from local model shop, will it make a good representation of Apache operated by AAC, or will I need to add/delete any fixture fittings. Derek

AH-64D Longbow Apache "100 Years Military Aviation" Revell 1:48 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. Other users are Greece, Japan, Israel, Singapore and the Netherlands. The AH-64 is produced under licence in the UK by AgustaWestland as the AH1. The Royal Netherland Air Force acquired its Apaches in 1995 after it won their competition against the Eurocopter Tiger and the AH-1 Super Cobra. They now have 30 airframes which have seen use in Djibouti, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. One of their Apaches is used in a demonstration role and carries and attractive paint scheme for this. The Kit The Kit is the old Monogram kit, which dates back to 1986. You get the AH-64A kit along with a new sprue for the D model parts. The kit is typical of the period. The parts though are well cast and there is little flash evident. The kits is 3 sprues of grey plastic which form the basis of the original kit, and one sprue in a light grey plastic which supplies the D model parts. The new parts also have the distinctive mast head radar, whilst not used in this boxing it does mean a normal Longbow Apache can be made if you can source the decals. Construction starts shockingly enough with the cockpit. Controls are added along with instrument consoles and seats. Two pilot figures are supplied if the modeller wishes to use them. Construction then moves to the starboard fuselage half. The parts for the tail rotor attachment are installed. Following this the main rotor is built up and installed onto the decking which forms the back of the cockpit area (though I suspect most will leave this off until the end). Once this is complete the two fuselage halves can be assembled after taking care to open up the holes where needed. The next stage is to make up the engine pods and stub wings for both sides and attach them. The stubs wings interlock with each other to form a stronger joint. Following this the D model parts are added to the fuselage. They form the underside and side avionics pods. The landing gear is assembled and added along with the weapons pylons on the stub wings. Next you get to assemble and add the chain gun, sensor turret and tail wheel. Finally a variety of grab handles, external fuselage parts and the canopy are added. It should be mentioned that a lot of the external fuselage fixings must only be placed on after the decals are applied otherwise you will not get the decals on! The instructions then show putting additional details onto the main rotor, then installing it; strange as much earlier on in the instructions you have already put this on!! I suspect the earlier step is a mistake and they have not removed this from the A model instructions. A good reason to read the instructions through first Canopy The canopy is clear and molded with no flaws. It can be posed open or closed as needed. Decals The decals are the star of this release from Revell. The decals have been designed by Syhart and printed in Italy. The modeller will have to paint base Olive drab at the front of the helo, and the grey on the rear; along with the moving tail. The rest of the markings are provided on the extensive decal sheet. All of the printing looks good, and no register issues can be seen. Conclusion This should make upto a good looking model of the special marked Dutch Apache. Recommended if you want a bit of colour. Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For further information visit

Cyber-Hobby is to release two new tool 1/72nd Boeing AH-64A Apache & AH-64D Longbow Apache kits - ref. 5078 & 5084. Source: http://ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/Nuernberg2014/Nuernberg_2014.html V.P.

Hi, It has been a while since I've posted. I've now finished my AAC WAH-64 Longbow Apache AH Mk.1. It has been a slow build, but I managed to finish it. It's from Operation Herrick ca. 2006. I've scratched som UK specifik antennae, and a scoop?? on the right side of the nose. I've also remade the grips and the guards in front of the landing gear. I did some wire superdetailling on the Longbow unit and on the gun. For the HIDAS gear, rockets and the decals, I've used Isracasts conversion set. Cockpit is Aires resin cast. I managed to find a '4' in my spare decal box, and the serial is ZJ224, which I think is the one Ed Macy flew to Jugroom Fort ? It was painted with WEM Helo drab and toned down with MM helo drab. Afterwards, I made a thin dust wash, which doesn't really show through the dust powder. I wish the dust would have been more red, though. I wanted to show a dusty Apache, from Afghanistan. I hope you like it. I am just pleased to have finished it and can now move on to something other. Cheers,