Malian Air Force Mil Mi-24 'Hind D'

[Smudge]

So I got home from work tomorrow/today, and took some pictures of progress so far.

 

The cockpit, which always seems to take up too much time. I used my Colourcoats cockpit turquoise for the first time. Needed two coats for a nice deep solid colour, but I do like it. The kit comes with instrument panel decals with a black background. I cut out some details and added them to the turquoise panels. Not 100% accurate, but I think it gives a fair representation of the real thing. It's all kit parts with some tape seat belts.

 

 

 

 

Quick test fit in the fuselage.

 

 

 

I'll put a few more on in a bit...................

 

Cheers.

[Smudge]

The Main Rotor Head is quite nicely done, and is also fair representation of the real thing. However, the rather prominent hydraulic hoses needed adding. I used fuse wire for this, which was a little tough to manipulate, but submitted eventually. The central hub also sits a little low, so I punched out a plastic disc to lift it up a little.

 

 

The kit comes with a neat little etch fret, with wiper blades and a little part for the tail rotor. I also added some more fuse wire hoses.

 

 

Thanks for looking 

[Smudge]

Whilst waiting for the cockpit paint's to dry before moving on to the next stage, I made up a couple of sub assemblies.

 

The engine front's, and the chin sensor's and gun unit,

 

 

And the stub wings, pylons and rocket launchers. These parts all needed a fair bit of fettling, and the pylons needed a touch of filler.

 

 

Couldn't resist having a mock up and test fit to see how things were shaping up.

 

 

 

I will be fitting the rocket launchers, but I'm not too sure what might be hung on the end plates/pylons (if anything). The kit supplies some nice looking little missiles, but I don't think these are appropriate. I can't find any pictures of armed Malian Hinds. Any ideas?

 

Thanks for looking 

 

Edited March 13, 2021 by Smudge

[modelling minion]

That is very nice work Smudge, and excellent progress.

Nice touch with the hydraulic hoses on the rotor, just done the same on my build.

In terms of the anti-tank missiles on the pylons I wouldn't bother fitting them. If they are carried they will be the later AT-6 Spirals rather than the AT-2 Saggers which come in the Hasegawa kit, and seeing them in pictures of any African Mi-24/25/35's is very unusual, I am leaving them off my build.

[Smudge]

Thank you.

 

Yes, I am tempted just to leave the end pylons empty.

 

Cheers.

[RidgeRunner]

She’s coming along nicely, mate

[Smudge]

The fuselage parts are now joined together. Only needed a few smidges of filler here and there. The chin gun fairing and sensors were a nice fit. I also made a start on some of the smaller details like the crew step and various aerials.

 

 

I did consider painting the stub wings before gluing them on, but because of the join that would need cleaning up, I decided just to glue them on first.

 

 

The area behind the engine intakes required the most filler, but not too much work really. 

 

 

 

I used a burnt metal AK Extreme paint, airbrushed onto the exhausts. Looks quite good, just need to be careful not to damage it, and take care masking them off.

 

Going quite well, so far  

 

Cheers.

 

[Smudge]

There is a small sensor fairing on the rear of the rotor head/engine 'dog house' on the Mali Hinds. Unfortunately this part is not supplied in this version of Hasegawa's Hind.

 

But, some time ago I did buy a small mould and resin part making kit off of ebay, so now seemed like a good time to bite the bullet and give it a go.

 

I have the Hind E, and this has the part.

 

I needn't have worried, it was fairly straight forward. After a couple of practice mixes to get the right consistency, I managed to produce some reasonable copies.

 

 

[Colin W]

Crystal cear canopies!

Hope this turns out as well as it ooks so far

[Smudge]

Thank you @Colin W Yes, the canopy is nice and thin. too. I hope I can do it justice with an attempt at masking the frames off. 

 

Work and home life are getting the better of me, but I have managed to fix on and blend in the home made fairing.

 

 

As the undercarriage bays and legs all appear to be the same blue as the underside, I decided to go ahead and glue them all on.

 

 

I popped the rotors on to get a feel of how they are fitting. Not too sure about the moulded in droop. Need to compare it to a few photographs.

 

 

Nearly ready for some painting............

 

[RidgeRunner]

Looking good, mate

[modelling minion]

Very nice work Smudge.

Your casting has worked very well, no holding you back now!

She has come together really nicely. You are right that the blue for the undersides is usually used on the undercarriage, saves some masking. I think the rotor droop looks about right to me.

[Smudge]

Thanks Guys.

 

Yes, I think the rotors do look about right. Although I will probably still fiddle about with them 😬

[RidgeRunner]

I agree, Iain, the rotor droop is good :). 
 

Martin

[exdraken]

nice base model!

 

any plan for painting it?

.

[Smudge]

9 hours ago, exdraken said:

 

any plan for painting it?

.

 

Hi. Yes, sorry about stalling on this one. I think I am developing a phobia of using paint 😬 Had some poor results trying to hand brush, and then getting in a right mess trying to use my airbrush. 

 

I guess I am going to have to bite the bullet and get on with it.

 

Thanks for the kind comments 

[RidgeRunner]

Yea, go on and get the compressor fired up ;). She’ll look great! Of course, I can hardly talk as my Malian is stuck on the shelf!!!!

 

Martin

[Smudge]

Thanks, Martin.

 

I'll get her masked up and have a bash at it 

[RidgeRunner]

12 hours ago, Smudge said:

I'll get her masked up and have a bash at it 

That's the spirit ;)!

[Smudge]

Blimey, was it June 4th when I said I'd get on with this? Time is just flying by, and I don't seem to have too much of it for modelling 

 

Anyhow, I did manage to give the bench a good tidy up, and get focused on this one.

 

The Main and Tail Rotors are pretty much done, ready to be popped on.

 

 

Although I'm sure I'll knock them off, I fixed the remaining aerials on to the top of the fuselage. I prefer to fix them on first, rather than after painting, as that tends to risk damaging the paint finish.

 

 

Engine intake covers in place, and a test fit of the canopy, which now needs masking up. I have splashed out and bought a masking set for this one as it is rather complex. 

 

 

And I finally got some paint on it. Only the 'easy' underneath solid blue colour, but it went on nicely and I'm pleased with the result.

 

 

{It's a much brighter blue than it appears on my screen}

 

So next step will be to tackle the topside camo scheme. Hopefully I'll find some time towards the weekend.

 

Cheers Guys.

 

[Col.]

Tidy work there fella  

[exdraken]

Finally in the paintwork!

[Smudge]

Despite my efforts to have an Eleventh Hour push on the Hind, there was just too much left to do. Still, I have enjoyed the GB and chatting to modeler's with similar interests. Thanks for stopping by and showing an interest in my build.

 

I did manage to have a bit of a bash with the airbrush, and although it still needs a bit of attention here and there, I'm fairly pleased with it, so far.....

 

 

 

 

Although it won't make the GB Gallery, I'll pop a couple of pictures on here when it is finally done,

 

Thanks Guys 

[exdraken]

Nice camo work!

Please keep updating us!

[RidgeRunner]

13 hours ago, Smudge said:

Despite my efforts to have an Eleventh Hour push on the Hind, there was just too much left to do

I know the feeling, Iain