thorfinn Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Haven't done a large-scale eggbeater in a while, so I thought I'd have a go at the old Panda Twin Huey in its non-gunship boxing. The bird I'm doing served as a combination base utility a/c and in the SAR role, so I don't have to worry about adding (or correcting) all the combat accoutrements; it'll be more or less OOB with a few additions to dress up the cockpit and cabin a bit. The kit's auxiliary consoles have nice raised relief, but the main panel is flat and featureless with a kit-supplied decal for gauges. I dressed it up with a random assortment of left-over etch bezels and a few decal data plates added. The kit collective parts looked more like levers on a steam-engine, so I added the switch-panels from styrene bits to fancy them up a bit. To dress up the rear cabin I added a 'spares' fire extinguisher, plus belts and headphones made up from white-glued tissue, plastic scraps and wire. For SAR equipment I added some spares duffles (left over from a 1/25 police vehicle) and made up a reasonable facsimile of a typical 'Huey' hoist from tubing bits and lead wire. I'll add in a few more duffles and such before 'buttoning up.' 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Great looking interior. The rest will certainly be worth watching. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted August 20, 2019 Author Share Posted August 20, 2019 Adding a few details to the nose 'bubble' areas using copper & lead wire and some home-made decal graphics. Clipping the cockpit door window parts from their sprues to install them before assembling the fuselage, those clear parts proved to be very brittle and susceptible to cracking. Fortunately no 'visible' damage done...but I'll use my micro-saw to remove the rest. (Already done on the windscreen, and everything was fine.) The bad news is that the windscreen itself is a little blurry and could use some buffing and polishing, but I'll have to go easy to avoid pressure hazing. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 I love the extra detail added in the chins! It looks great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted September 16, 2019 Author Share Posted September 16, 2019 Small update for non-exciting bits, with work proceeding apace. No 'beauty' shots, but major construction is finished, with installation and masking of clear parts underway. Minor kit alterations included metal screens (actually sections of Eduard etched perforated floor plate, which resembled available photos) added to replace the molded intake grids on the engine cowling shrouds. Also adding details like reinforcement struts (from styrene rod stock) to the roof and underside cable cutters. The kit's decals--whatever their quality--were designed for a dark-color scheme with all-white letters and numbers supplied, and almost nothing in the way of stencilling or service-markings. Since the aircraft I'm portraying needs fairly straightforward black markings, I was able to lay them out (along with a small cross-section of standard stencilling) in MS-Paint and print them on clear decal paper with my trusty inkjet. (A smaller sheet of interior cabin markings and colored warning labels was printed on a white background.) Should be ready for painting soon. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted September 21, 2019 Author Share Posted September 21, 2019 On to a bit of 'colour.' First...a touch of primer, in this case Tamiya's fine surface primer spray for a nice smooth finish: Then...skipping ahead to the more eye-catching bit...out of the 'paint shop': Next-up...rather obviously...will be decals. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 That looks rather nice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard E Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 A neat build and a very smart paintjob to match. Watching with interest as I've got one of these listed under "interesting challenges" on my to build list when I can lay hands on a sensibly priced example. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted September 26, 2019 Author Share Posted September 26, 2019 Getting close to the finish, now. Most decals are on, and I'm adding a touch of Flory wash here and there to make the fairly pristine surface 'pop' a bit. Added the visible-from-outside emergency window latches to the 'barn doors': 'Flight line' shots should be up soon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnie Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 Man... I LOVE the float bottle placard in the nose! Have checked that a few times that is for certain. One of our machines was so tail heavy, we had a float bottle filled with sand (un-pressurised) for ballast, when we were flying in the no float season... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted September 26, 2019 Author Share Posted September 26, 2019 24 minutes ago, Winnie said: Man... I LOVE the float bottle placard in the nose! Have checked that a few times that is for certain. One of our machines was so tail heavy, we had a float bottle filled with sand (un-pressurised) for ballast, when we were flying in the no float season... Many thanks! I confess I tend to fixate on cool little details like that, when I see them in photos. (Sometimes it's a real challenge to figure out what they actually are!) I appreciate the kind words (and the keen eye)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted September 28, 2019 Author Share Posted September 28, 2019 Calling this one mission-ready. RFI is here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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