Jump to content

EC S.A.565 Panther


Recommended Posts

22 hours ago, Andwil said:

Very impressive detailing.

 

AW

Thanks Andrew

13 hours ago, modelling minion said:

That is really nice work Pappy.

The extra details such as the radiator really do make a difference, as does the box of water bottles, which as H says are probably not water.

I hope that you're enjoying the build as much as we're enjoying watching it.

Cheers Craig, thanks, but it is only a  guess, I actually don't know what is supposed to be in there, but at least it is no longer 'see-through'. I have seen plenty of boxes of water inside aircraft, typically at airshows but it seems a little stereotypical to suggest that the box would contain wine just because they are French, mind you I am sure that plenty of duty free has been smuggled in through various aircraft nooks and crannies following an international exercise!

 

I am having a blast. KH kits are supposed to be hard work but this one seems to be falling together, albeit with lots of test fitting and some judicious sanding here and there but the fit so far is splendid

2 hours ago, JOCKNEY said:

Outstanding progress, please try and keep that interior as visible as possible, its far too good to be allowed to disappear. 

cheers Pat 

Hi Pat, thanks very much. No fear, the interior will be visible with the doors open

 

018.JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bound

 

G'day people,

 

Today was spent on the undercarriage. The detail OOB is pretty nice but the sprue attach gates require great care to remove  and clean up if you want to avoid snapping the delicate undercarriage parts. I managed to break one of the two arms for what I believe is part of the ship recovery gear. I dressed up the main gear legs with some fine copper wire and bits of wine bottle foil

 

010(10).JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bou

 

Then these were given a custom mix of light blue

 

010(10).JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bou

 

As were the rest of the dangly bits

 

006(11).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

I also noticed that the rear engine access doors have some internal heat shields. I added these using more wine foil

 

005(13).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

Back to the cockpit, the overhead console needs some additional engine levers. I don't know what these are as the throttle control is typically combined with the collective, but there are two prominent yellow levers so I assume one for each engine? The middle lever may be a rotor brake, again I dunno, I just add what I see

 

002(17).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

The overhead transparency is supplied clear but should be a green tint. My trusty jar of clear green has turned to soup so I decided to try something a little different. I added some green food colouring to Future and spray two thin coats


001(17).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b


012(8).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bo

 

Lastly, I have started painting up the door interiors

 

004(18).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

 

  • Like 11
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It certainly is isn't it!

The food colouring in the future has worked very nicely and has given a lovely colour.

The undercarriage detailing is up to your usual very high standard too, as is the painting and detailing of the interior of the cabin roof and the doors.

All in all this is a fantastic build.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Absolutely awesome work Pappy!

Food colouring?? All these years I've only thought of the kitchen as a source of something to eat. I'll be looking at everything in a different light from now on 🔎

 

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

On 7/27/2020 at 3:13 AM, desert falcon said:

Wow, this is seriously good detailing work! 

Thanks DF

On 7/27/2020 at 4:40 AM, modelling minion said:

It certainly is isn't it!

The food colouring in the future has worked very nicely and has given a lovely colour.

The undercarriage detailing is up to your usual very high standard too, as is the painting and detailing of the interior of the cabin roof and the doors.

All in all this is a fantastic build.

 

On 7/27/2020 at 6:11 AM, halcyonjet said:

Absolutely awesome work Pappy!

Food colouring?? All these years I've only thought of the kitchen as a source of something to eat. I'll be looking at everything in a different light from now on 🔎

 

Dave

Hi Craig, thanks very much for your kind words. Dave, I have used food colouring before. Apart from being cheap, there are also plenty of colours not readily available like purple for example. You can also use the food colouring with any acrylic clear varnish, like Tamiya for example. If you don't like the result, it strips off very easily with some methylated spirits and the plastic remains unblemished.

 

G'day people,

 

Still on the dangly bits, I added some random PE to the main gear bays to busy them up a little

 

002(18).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

The undercarriage parts have been painted up

 

010(11).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b


009(11).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

A quick dry fit did not reveal any nasty surprises


008(9).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bo

 

The kit includes a whole arsenal of weapons but most of my reference pics show these helicopters unarmed. Being a fleet chopper, I assume that the most typical armament would be a torpedo or perhaps a LMG for fleet escort/anti-pirate duties?

 

With that in mind I assembled the two torpedoes provided. Not exactly sure of the torp variant represented, I am assuming either a Mk.44 or Mk.46? They look good but I don't like the way the screws are represented as the blades are overly thick and do not have any 'pitch', which means they would not be able to propel the torp. I decided to cut off the molded screw details and scratch replacements. In the pic below, the one on the left has the screws detail removed, the other is OOB

 

001(18).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

 

 

 

 

Edited by Pappy
  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think that you are right about the load out for this one Pappy, one torpedo and an LMG is the type of thing you would see on a regular basis.

The fact that you are even modifying the torpedo screws to make them more accurate shows a fantastic commitment to accuracy and detailing on your part.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/28/2020 at 4:53 PM, modelling minion said:

I think that you are right about the load out for this one Pappy, one torpedo and an LMG is the type of thing you would see on a regular basis.

The fact that you are even modifying the torpedo screws to make them more accurate shows a fantastic commitment to accuracy and detailing on your part.

Hi Craig, thanks very much. I actually have a pair of aftermarket tin fish that I could use so I can afford to be brave and have a crack at detailing the kit items as if I make a complete hash of them I can just substitute the resin items

On 7/30/2020 at 2:48 AM, Hewy said:

Very much up to your usual standard pappy, looking real good 

Cheers Glynn, thanks very much, likewise for your Sycamore, I have the kit so I am taking notes

 

G'day people,

 

I have started adding more of the airframe sticky out bits beginning with the thinned down main wheel well fairings

 

015(3).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bo

 

Next up, the upper and lower door guides


013(5).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bo


012(10).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

As the cabin was still looking a little empty, I rummaged through the spares to find a bag of some sort to add to the rear bench seat.

This seemed to fit the bill. I am going to say it is an emergency life raft

 

011(10).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b


010(12).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

The cabin doors interiors have been painted up

 

020.JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bound


019(1).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bo

 

A few of the build reviews that I read mentioned that they had issues with the fit of the doors. I have just dry fitted the middle doors and they fit just fine


009(12).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

The aft doors are a bit gappy when in the closed position, but as I want to show off the cabin interior, these rear doors will opened, so it will not be apparent


008(10).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

thanks for looking,

 

Pappy

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

G'day people,

 

I spent today cleaning up, test fitting and installing the cockpit windows. Either KH have stuff up the instructions or I have a made a grave error. Step 10 deals with installation of the lower forward windows however I think the instructions have the part numbers incorrect. I used GP 15 for the RHS and GP14 for the left (noting the LHS one is smaller due to the addition section of airframe immediately behind the radome. GP14/and 15 fit quite well but the KH sprue attachment points are quite substantial and great care is needed both to separate the items from the sprue and to clean these up - beware!

 

002(20).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

 

 

Test fitting the windscreen and overhead windows show that an acceptable fit can be achieved bit you will need to test fit and make sure the mating surfaces are square and cleaned f any sprue stubs of flash

 

003(20).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

001(20).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

While that is drying, I turned again the the tail. The FN variant has a long antenna running along the lower RHS of the tail boom with several supports along the way. I added the rear most support that lives directly beneath the fenestron

 

016(1).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bo

 

and I also forgot to drill out the flashed over locating points for the boom mounted supports before attaching the aft sub-assembly!  :dunce:

 

017(1).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bo

 

 I have another KH kit (the Z-9 boxing), hopefully I can use the un-assembled  kit parts to determine the location of the antenna supports. There is no warning in the KH instructions that you need to drill open any of the holes for the antenna supports or the winch in Step 16 (the last step). This is a potential pitfall for anyone contemplating building this kit. 

 

Ideally, the requirement to open these locating holes would be included in steps 10 and 11.

 

Luckily I was able to drill the external winch support strut locations out before any of the sub-assemblies had been attached

 

018(2).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bo

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

 

 

 

 

Edited by Pappy
  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kittyhawk's instructions seem to be quite notorious for being either incorrect or missing parts out, they're not alone in this though as I built a Kinetic Harrier T.4 and nowhere in the instructions does it tell you to fit the representation of the LP compressor fan for the Pegasus engine, just a small part you understand.

You're doing a grand job on her, and getting all that glazing to line up is going to be interesting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/3/2020 at 6:28 AM, modelling minion said:

Kittyhawk's instructions seem to be quite notorious for being either incorrect or missing parts out, they're not alone in this though as I built a Kinetic Harrier T.4 and nowhere in the instructions does it tell you to fit the representation of the LP compressor fan for the Pegasus engine, just a small part you understand.

You're doing a grand job on her, and getting all that glazing to line up is going to be interesting.

Wow, that is a doozie! You are right though, KH are not alone in amking errors. If I was being honest, I should have seen the error but I got fixated on getting stuff together and test fitting, and forgot to open all the holes beforehand like I usually do. The glazing is fitting much better than anticipated and should pose no real issues other than selecting the correct parts.

 

19 hours ago, Tim Moff said:

Great detailing Pappy, really impressive work.

 

Thanks very much Tim. I like how your Merlin is coming together too

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

G'day people,

 

I spent today on the whirly bits. I manged to complete the main rotor- sorta

 

002(21).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

The eagle-eyed will have observed that one of the blades is missing. I could be glib and say that it is a deliberate move to make sure the assembly fits in the box while I build the rest of the kit, but the real reason is that I managed to fit one of the blades on upside down so of course when I tried to undo the mistake this happened

 

001(21).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

No biggie, I will let the glue dry and repair it by drilling and pinning, standard stuff for anyone who has had to move helicopter models.

 

The back of the cabin is starting to look less empty  after the large round pack was added. I also used a small satchel to represent a FA kit.

 

007(18).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

Wow that macro is really unforgiving, looks like I have some touch-ups to do.

Still not satisfied, I had a rummage around the spares box and found a suitable looking pack to add a little more clutter to the cabin.

 

004(21).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

The searchlight was also assembled. KH provide a choice of either a solid one piece item or a two part affair that includes a clear lens which looks better however, the sprue attachment points will need to be dealt with and the part required polishing to restore clarity

 

More work on the back end,

 

003(21).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

The various antenna supports were added along with the rear stabilisers. The fit was okay although a little filler will be required

 

006(15).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

She is starting to come together

 

009(14).JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=b

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Pappy

Edited by Pappy
  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes fixing rotors is something you have to become quite good at as a helicopter modeller, sure you will get that sorted no problem.

The packs and equipment you are adding to the cabin interior are really making a difference to the look of the model and helping greatly with the realism.

Getting closer and closer to having the fuselage complete.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

G'day people,

 

I am going to apply the brakes on this one as it is not going to make the deadline and I have two other  GBs underway already

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am only coming to this GB because of Dermots Dauphin. Interesting build.  I have this kit in my stash and this is only the second time I have seen it been built up.

You are doing well on what looks like an complex and  overengineerd kit (?) , are you enjoying it ? There is plenty of detail in there.  

 

I also have the Trumpeter  kit+ Cobra detail sets and have a feeling that it would be the easier route to a good Dauphin than Kittyhawk but will reseve judgement till I see this built up.

Thanks for sharing and stick with it , 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/16/2020 at 1:46 AM, Pappy said:

I am going to apply the brakes on this one as it is not going to make the deadline and I have two other  GBs underway already

Keep it going though - the KUTA GB is only three weeks away. Looking forward to seeing more progress. 😀

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...