René Martínez Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 (edited) Hello people! This is my first post of the year, I will be building the infamous 1/32 Revell UH-1D Gunship with the Dominican republic air force paint scheme and configuration, I'll be building the UH-1H FAD 3032, I want to try to do the best I can to get this kit up to today's standards. Edited January 18 by René Martínez 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 (edited) This project will have a lot of 3D printed parts, especially in the cockpit, I found some free files on the internet and got the help of a friend to really improve the cockpit. This file has 4 important things, the collectives, the seats, the pedals and cyclic. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4725031 I had to scale them down on the printer slicing software, but the details on these pieces are astonishing and really improves the cockpit over the old and thick plastic parts of the kit. Also, a friend of mine is lending me a hand in designing some seatbelt buckles for this build, he has amazing skills. Edited January 18 by René Martínez 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMB Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 I'm sure you are aware that the Revell kit is a UH-1D, but the Dominican Air Force version is a UH-1H with extra windows? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 9 minutes ago, AMB said: I'm sure you are aware that the Revell kit is a UH-1D, but the Dominican Air Force version is a UH-1H with extra windows? Yes, I'm very aware these 2 are different versions, but the only external differences I found between the D an H are some antennas, and the obvious engine upgrade, but the last one is going to be hidden. I don't count any extra windows on the Dominican UH-1H, I don't understand what you mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMB Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 1 minute ago, René Martínez said: Yes, I'm very aware these 2 are different versions, but the only external differences I found between the D an H are some antennas, and the obvious engine upgrade, but the last one is going to be hidden. I don't count any extra windows on the Dominican UH-1H, I don't understand what you mean. Sorry, I was comparing the earlier UH-1B model. You are correct, the 'D and 'H' have the same window arrangement. Does the kit come with pilots, as I am looking for a 1/32 Helicopter Pilot for my Testors Kaman Huskie but can't find one suitable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 2 minutes ago, AMB said: Sorry, I was comparing the earlier UH-1B model. You are correct, the 'D and 'H' have the same window arrangement. Does the kit come with pilots, as I am looking for a 1/32 Helicopter Pilot for my Testors Kaman Huskie but can't find one suitable? It's ok, don't worry. And yes, the kit comes with pilots, but they are pretty ugly, another friend already asked me for the pilots, I no longer have them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneheadff Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 Nice start!!! I will definitely follow as I have one of these oldies in my stash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 Well, this kit came with a lot of pieces I am not going to use, fist of all, as far as my research has come, I can say no UH-1D used gunship configuration, so it's not accurate anyway from the box. But since I am building a UH-1H on regular configuration, I started building the tubular frame for the bench with 1.6mm styrene rod. 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 One of the most overlooked areas of the semi-rigid rotor head Bell Helicopter model kits is the head configuration. Most manufacturers make them with the blades and stabiliser bar (where fitted) perpendicular to the mast. As your photo shows, the grips and blades have a degree of pitch built into the rigging at 'flat' pitch and there's a twist to the blades from root to tip (less pitch at the tip as it's going a lot faster than the hub end). The stab bar usually has a tilt, too and the blades are almost always tied down at the fin end. I work on a couple of UH-1Bs and a UH-1H regularly, so let me know if you need more info. It's looking great so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mahavelona Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 I am currently tackling the Dragon 1/35 UH-1D and I was about to make my own seat framework. So you have provided an inspiration! Thank you - excellent work so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 Neat start and another Huey is always welcome. I do like the 3D printed parts, a vast improvement. The Revell kit has been around a very long time, it really need a new tooling. I'll follow your build with interest. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 8 hours ago, Bell209 said: One of the most overlooked areas of the semi-rigid rotor head Bell Helicopter model kits is the head configuration. Most manufacturers make them with the blades and stabiliser bar (where fitted) perpendicular to the mast. As your photo shows, the grips and blades have a degree of pitch built into the rigging at 'flat' pitch and there's a twist to the blades from root to tip (less pitch at the tip as it's going a lot faster than the hub end). The stab bar usually has a tilt, too and the blades are almost always tied down at the fin end. I work on a couple of UH-1Bs and a UH-1H regularly, so let me know if you need more info. It's looking great so far! Wow, thank you! Didn't notice that detail on the picture, I could try to modify the rotor head, but I'm worried It will compromise structure or something, I will have to take a better look at that further into the build. 6 hours ago, mahavelona said: I am currently tackling the Dragon 1/35 UH-1D and I was about to make my own seat framework. So you have provided an inspiration! Thank you - excellent work so far. Hope it helps. It was fun to do hahaha Thankfully it's not so complicated, almost no curves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 The bench is finished! Using aluminium paper from chocolate hazelnut spread cap, which has an interesting feeling, it can wrinkle, but resists to become a mess in your hands, it's thick enough that you can work with it and leaves nice texture for seat cushions and in this case, the canvas on the bench seats, every time a bottle is opened in my house, I save the paper hehe. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 The printed seats lacked the armor plates, so I made the templates cutting a styrene sheet, I don't know the thickness, but it was thin enough to my eye. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 8 hours ago, René Martínez said: I'm worried It will compromise structure or something I used wire inserts on my Cobra: Worked pretty well. The seats look great but make sure your subject actually had the armoured seats fitted. Australia took ours out if we weren't on operations and fitted the standard seats as the armoured ones are very heavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mahavelona Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 The seats look fantastic. Definitely check whether armour was fitted as this was not universal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 (edited) 17 hours ago, Bell209 said: I used wire inserts on my Cobra: Worked pretty well. The seats look great but make sure your subject actually had the armoured seats fitted. Australia took ours out if we weren't on operations and fitted the standard seats as the armoured ones are very heavy. - Thanks for the tip! I will certainly end up changing the pitch on the rotor, it's a nice touch. Also thanks for worrying about the armoured seats, I made them because of two reasons, I had the opportunity to see these helicopters up close and noticed the armor on the seats, also some friends has told me the same, plus... Pictures doesn't lie Edited January 21 by René Martínez 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 Little details matter, looking at the model from the bottom I noticed a lack of spice, it seemed pretty empty for me, so I decided to make the wiring behind the instrument panel, I don't know how accurate is this, because I couldn't find any exact reference picture for this, but whatever is better to leave an empty and visible hole behind the panel. Also, in this picture you can notice I removed the oversize door hinges and fitted some styrene to cover an ugly gap, I decided to leave the cockpit doors completely closed, since they are very hard to fit. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 I don´t think there's a lot more detail I can fit on this cockpit, so I just primed it black and see how it looks 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mahavelona Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 That looks fantastic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 Continuing with the work! I finished painting the interior, now onto the details to give everything a gloss coat. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 27 Author Share Posted January 27 Well, after some dry brushing and detail painting the cockpit looks like this, Maybe that amount of color is not completely accurate, but at least gives more color and interest to the cockpit. I am planning to simulate the instrument dials cristal wit UV resin, it works in my head, I will see how it turns out, if I don't post more pictures is because I messed up hahaha 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mahavelona Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Your work on this interior is looking very nice indeed. Looking forward to seeing the finished instrument panel. What are you planning to do about seatbelts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturmovik Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Wasn't expecting to see Moix Models on BM! I really enjoyed your Pucará video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
René Martínez Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 On 1/28/2023 at 4:21 PM, mahavelona said: Your work on this interior is looking very nice indeed. Looking forward to seeing the finished instrument panel. What are you planning to do about seatbelts? Thank you! For the seatbelts I am planning on doing them with tape, I will thread them on the printed buckles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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