Red star hormones

[Desk Flyer]

Good evening comrades,

 

with the Peashooter now in the display cabinet, it's time for my next build. A complete change of era and theme was needed and so I decided it was time for me to leave the capitalists and imperialists behind and  (re) build Airfix's Kamov Ka25 Hormone in 1/72.

 

This is a kit I had built before in the last century as a teenager and I thought I could have a better result if I try again now (as well as getting lost in a trip down memory lane). My intention is to keep it as simple and easy as possible. 

 

The kit comes in typical 80s Airfix hard and brittle plastic with raised panel lines and details. So, some rescribing will be required...

 

Mind you, some are actually raid on the actual aircraft as well. Like for example here on the vertical fins:

 

The interior is a bit... basic:

 

But the main rotors (heads/hubs, pitch links, blades etc) are not that bad:

 

The landing gear is kinda OK I guess when you have cleaned all the flash

 

...but the (optional) floats leave a lot to be desired:

 

Finally the clear parts are clear enough but some have bubbles in them:

 

The decal sheet covers two options:

...but I'm not sure if I'll use it. After all it's like 40 years old. Looks OK though. I'll go for a run-of-the-mill grey example from the late 70s - early 80s.

 

So, lets get to it. I hope you find this to be of interest.

 

As always, thank you for looking and thanks for leaving a comment.

[billn53]

Oh yes! I do like the Hormone, and have a couple in my stash just waiting for me to get a helo itch. 

[Jackson Duvalier]

5 hours ago, Desk Flyer said:

My intention is to keep it as simple and easy as possible. 

 

5 hours ago, Desk Flyer said:

So, some rescribing will be required...

 

 

DOES NOT COMPUTE!  DOES NOT COMPUTE!    😱

 

I do understand the impulse, though.  

 

Kit looks to be a solid effort by Airfix, good fodder for a nostalgia build.

[Rob G]

I too built one of these many moons ago; one of my best efforts of all time, I think. Sadly, it is now in a landfill somewhere, having been irrevocably damaged in a house move. Or something. 

 

Nice kit, with a certain 'of the times' charm. I must try my hand at another at some point. I'll watch along and see how you go. 

[billn53]

10 hours ago, Rob G said:

I too built one of these many moons ago; one of my best efforts of all time, I think. Sadly, it is now in a landfill somewhere, having been irrevocably damaged in a house move. Or something.

I built many models in my youth, only one survives (Dragon’s Me-163 Komet, built about 30-years ago).  I can’t even remember what happened to most of them. 

[Darth Vader]

I remember building this in the summer holidays back in the 80s ,turned out quite well with and was different with its funky contrarotating blades. Got stuffed with parafin soaked issue and torched a few years later.

[Desk Flyer]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm back to use some of your bandwidth again with my sloppy attempts at model building. 🙂

 

So, at the beginning there was little progress. I did cut some pieces off the sprues, scrapped the mould line (there is surprisingly little flash) and proceeded building what I then thought to be a straight-forward OOB build.

 

I then test fitted the two fuselage halves with the interior (cabin floor and cockpit wall) inside to see what I was up against. Again, the fit was better than expected.

 

I took the opportunity to cement the cockpit wall on the cabin floor, using the two halves as a jig. Airfix here doesn't leave room to doubt; this kit is old!

 

And then, I took the first step down the slippery path... I thought it would be a good idea to add some features on the barren surface of the cockpit wall provided by the kit and extended the floor forward using Evergreen styrene strips:

 

Then I improved the look of the main instrument panel and pedestal:

 

Then I decided the moulded on windscreen wipers would be replaced by PE from this generic helicopter wipers set 

 

 

So the existing ones were scrapped off

 

and then the part was treated by sanding with incrementally increasingly higher grit numbers wet sanding paper until I was pleased with it. Then I coated the whole thing with Future/Pledge.

 

It wasn't 100% successful but I'm happy with it especially considering this was the first time I have tried this. I then masked the windshield inside & out to protect it from... well, me basically. I then rummaged through my spares and leftovers box and added something that will look like an overhead panel.

 

While at it I also masked the crew doors:

 

I used a pre-cut masking set for the outside and then used the empty cut-outs to create masks for the inside.

With this task completed I started the panel line scribbing:

 

And that took a few days. Next I added a mesh between the engine air intakes...

 

which was then cut into shape. And then things really took a bad turn! I thought why not adding some detail behind the main instrument panel? It will be (somewhat) visible through the (open) crew doors and chin windows. So I proceeded to mutilate more styrene rods and strips. I then drilled small holes and glued 0.15 dia. fishing line to recrate instruments and wiring together with some led wire...

 

I decided to un-do the cockpit wall and I then added 3rd crew member seat rails and the yaw pedals from styrene rods & masking tape and the forward cockpit wall from my resin leftovers box.

 

I masked the inside of the windows...

 

and test fitted the assembly so far:

 

What's the first thing that pops into your mind? It looks empty, right? Well that's what I thought you'll think anyway. And on that thought I started filling the R/H side of the cabin with... stuff!

Again I visited my spares box and re-purposed some resin bits:

(the seat rails are gone as they didn't fit the new interior design).

Then some airframe structure was added using styrene strips onto which I drilled holes...

 

Led wire was added for wiring...

 

...while on the bench, instrument racks were assembled from spare unused PE, styrene, led wire and soldering wire (for the plug connectors)

 

Now you know why it took me all this time to post an update and why primer is still in the (distant) future.

 

By the way, if you think I'm imagining things, have a look at this walkaround I found and I'm using as a guide: https://www.net-maquettes.com/pictures/ka-25pl-hormone-walkaround/ 

 

I hope you liked the update and maybe you found this to be of interest. As always, thanks for looking and thank you for leaving a comment!

 

 

Edited October 31, 2021 by Desk Flyer

[Desk Flyer]

Good evening everyone,

 

hope you are all keeping safe. And I hope you get some bench time when you need it most 

 

So, picking up from the last installment (see above) I kept adding interior detail either by building it from scratch or by repurposing bits from my spares box. Next I started working on an instrument rack of sorts using some leftover PE and 'L' shape styrene...

 

Then the shelves were added along with some mission equipment boxes using again leftover PE and led & soldering wire.

 

Some avionics boxes had to be made separately with a view to painting and fitting them later on...

 

Here's a picture from an early test-fit...

 

Then it was time for the aft fuselage to receive some detailing too...

 

The cockpit roof received an overhead panel (resin leftover)

 

And the doors got their inside handles...

 

And while in the business of electronics and wiring manufacturing, the basic cyclic and collective levers provided in the kit were improved slightly with led wire and epoxy putty. Here's a 'before and after'

 

Resin seats will replace the kit's L shaped slabs; two are indeed soviet helicopter seats and the 3rd for the systems operator is a generic WW2 seat. In fact all three seats in the 80s must have looked more like the WW2 one rather than the fully equipped later version used here...

 

The main instrument panel joined the set for the interior primer...

 

And everything was duly sent to the spraying booth...

 

The (bent) main rotor blades are also visible above. Everything was then covered with Vallejo black primer in two light coats...

 

A successful and satisfying operation. Everything looks better after the primer has been applied.

 

Then it was time to decide what will be the cabin interior colour. I went for Mr. Hobby's H307 as a base.

 

I went for Mr. Hobby's H307 with a drop of white for every 9 drops of grey. This was the sprayed in light coats trying to preserve some of the black shadows...

 

Then the mid and aft cabin was masked in preparation for the soviet cockpit green/blue/ish...

 

But what exactly do I use? Comparing the two readily available options (Mig AMMO 0223 and AK Interactive 2331) AK's paint is more to the blue while Mig's is leaning more to the green side. I opted for Mig's paint but mixed 50/50 with a light grey (see sample "3/3")

 

Coverage was less than perfect so 4 thin layers were required but got there in the end...

 

That's all for now. I hope you found this update to be of interest. As always, thank you for looking and thank you for leaving a comment 😊

 

[Desk Flyer]

Good evening everyone,

 

fully aware of how long this has been going one, I'm here to bore you with yet another update.

 

So with the two basic interior colours fully dried I started painting interior details using Humbrol enamels.

 

Cockpit floor, wiring, looms etc:

 

The instrument panel:

 

Collective and cyclic levers:

 

Instrument rack:

 

Then everything was gloss-coated (AK Gauzy agent) and a brown and/or black wash was applied:

 

When that had dried, dry brushing and matt-coating followed:

 

In between steps, I used acrylic putty around the windows. I thought that wiping the excess off would be enough but unfortunately I had to re-apply, sand and polish the windows:

 

Then it was time to gather all the interior details I was constructing and painting separately so far...

 

...and assemble everything inside the cabin:

 

Here's the last look inside before closing the two fuselage halves:

 

The two halves came together OK. Not a perfect join and some gentle persuasion was required:

 

Couple of days later, sprugoo was applied over the seam:

 

While waiting for the glue and then the sprugoo to dry, I painted some led wire (pale grey) and thin strips of masking tape (white) and made the defog duct on the instrument panel glare shield...

 

With the filling and sanding battle still in progress, the cockpit components were installed:

 

And the windshield/cockpit roof was installed together with the engine air intakes and the characteristic chin radome while more sprugoo was applied:

 

More sanding, sprugooing etc repeat ad nauseum while a piece of clear sprue was added to replicate the nose fixed light:

 

While on the tail boom the transparent piece provided by the kit was glued in place and this would require more filling and sanding as well:

 

That's all for tonight. I hope you find tonight's update to be of some interest.

 

As always, thank you for looking! 😊

[billn53]

Superb interior detailing, something I can aspire to when I get around to building mine.  There’s some great modeling going on here, thanks for sharing. 

[Darwinism]

Outstanding Desk Flyer - keep up the great work.

[Alan P]

I think you've probably smashed your teenage efforts at this kit already 😂

 

For a 'quick and simple' build this is outstanding. Superb detailing in 1/72👏👏👏

[Bobby No Mac]

You're really making this old kit sing with some wonderful detailing and I'm really enjoying this nostalgia build. Always had a softspot for these quirky Soviet choppers; I distinctly remember poring over an issue of Scale Aircraft Modelling in the early 90s which featured this kit being built but I was never able to find one for sale.

[AdrianMF]

Wow! Your skill with detailing is almost exactly balanced by your inability to resist temptation on an OOB build

 

That interior looks amazing. Airfix did do some very nice kits in the late 70s and early 80s - I have their Kaman Seasprite in the stash somewhere, which is similar in style to this one.

 

Looking forward to the outers. (And I never imagined a 1/72 generic helicopter windscreen wiper blades set even existed!)

 

Regards,

Adrian

[billn53]

1 hour ago, AdrianMF said:

… inability to resist temptation on an OOB build

 

A common malady among modelers 🤣

[Silenoz]

Great work pimping this golden oldie...

[Desk Flyer]

21 hours ago, billn53 said:

Superb interior detailing, something I can aspire to when I get around to building mine.  There’s some great modeling going on here, thanks for sharing. 

 

Thank you @billn53 not much will be visible anyway and in fact knowing this helped me feel more free to experiment than I would otherwise be. The downside to that is obviously adding many weeks to the project duration.

 

21 hours ago, Darwinism said:

Outstanding Desk Flyer - keep up the great work.

 

Thank you @Darwinism 😊

[Desk Flyer]

10 hours ago, Alan P said:

I think you've probably smashed your teenage efforts at this kit already 😂

 

For a 'quick and simple' build this is outstanding. Superb detailing in 1/72👏👏👏

 

Thank you @Alan P Yes, 'quick and simple' isn't exactly the proper description any more 😇 What I know for sure is my teenage efforts were literally smashed as the kit was crashed under a book, many years ago.

 

9 hours ago, Bobby No Mac said:

You're really making this old kit sing with some wonderful detailing and I'm really enjoying this nostalgia build. Always had a softspot for these quirky Soviet choppers; I distinctly remember poring over an issue of Scale Aircraft Modelling in the early 90s which featured this kit being built but I was never able to find one for sale.

 

Thank you @Bobby No Mac Not sure about sing, more like scream all kinds of abuse if that poor thing could speak 😄

[Desk Flyer]

8 hours ago, AdrianMF said:

Wow! Your skill with detailing is almost exactly balanced by your inability to resist temptation on an OOB build

 

That interior looks amazing. Airfix did do some very nice kits in the late 70s and early 80s - I have their Kaman Seasprite in the stash somewhere, which is similar in style to this one.

 

Looking forward to the outers. (And I never imagined a 1/72 generic helicopter windscreen wiper blades set even existed!)

 

Regards,

Adrian

 

Thank you @AdrianMF I'm glad you like it. Some things worked out as intended while others didn't. I have started working on the exterior details in between sanding and applying more sprugoo but not enough to warrant another update yet.

Yes, I an not done with 80's Airfix yet. Come to think of it, I haven't even begun 😉

 

6 hours ago, billn53 said:

A common malady among modelers 🤣

 

What is that Out Of the Box thing you are talking about? 😇

 

6 hours ago, Silenoz said:

Great work pimping this golden oldie...

 

Thank you @Silenoz

[Vultures1]

The detailing work you are doing on this old Airfix kit is just outstanding! Looking forward to your progress

[Jonners]

I've just read through this thread for the first time...and it's brilliant! That interior looks the business. I'll be following the rest of this build closely.

Jon

[Desk Flyer]

15 hours ago, Vultures1 said:

The detailing work you are doing on this old Airfix kit is just outstanding! Looking forward to your progress

 

Thank you @Vultures1 Be prepared, you'll be bored to death! 🤭

 

13 hours ago, Jonners said:

I've just read through this thread for the first time...and it's brilliant! That interior looks the business. I'll be following the rest of this build closely.

Jon

 

Thank you @Jonners By the way, looking at your avatar picture, do you have a heli background by any chance?

 

[Lord Riot]

Brilliant interior! Shame to close it up and hide it away. Fantastic detailing there. It’s the need for something like this that puts me off doing helicopters and transports! 

[Pete in Lincs]

48th standard interior shrunk down to 72nd. Rather impressive. 

I have one of these kits. After a look at the parts, I decided to use it for spares in a Sci Fi build!

[Jonners]

5 hours ago, Desk Flyer said:

do you have a heli background by any chance?

PM sent. ☺