The kit is the 1/35 Trumpeter "D" Chinook. The Big ED detail kit was also incorporated. Why do I do this to myself, I just don't like working with PE, its a pain. The exemption to that would be the Eduard 'Zoom' intrument panels, pre-painted and look great.
This build has been on my bench for along time including 2years when I did not work on it. I would say this was a fun build and went together with minimum issues. One area of detail that was needing serious attention was the cargo cabin ceiling and wall insulation. In the 47, the insulation is kind of puffy. The kit walls and ceiling were pretty flat and I felt did not come close to a close rendition. Using Aves sculpting putty, styrene sheet and a piece of screening, the panels were fabricated. The screen was used to duplicate the quilting pattern of the insulation.
This is where the build started. I will get more photos organized to continue the posting of this build.
The Kit
The top photo is the Eduard instrument panel PE as viewed by Senator Inhofe flying a Chinook. The subsequent photos are the fabricated backside of the instrument panel as they can be viewed through the lower windshields when completed. I used solder to construct the hydraulic lines to the pedals.
Base color and wiring for instrument panel
Cargo cabin insulation on the roof panels and cargo floor preparation. The lower photo is looking up the cabin, minus the side-wall insulation. I was just test fitting because of the Aves putty adds thickness to the parts and affects fitment. The Eduard instrument panel can also be seen.
The l/h forward fuse window had to be modified to carry the door gun. Sorry about the blur on the lower photo.
Rear rotor pylon required some detail. This is the Auxillary Power Unit in the lower photo. The upper photos were structure upgrades.
More aft details.
More subassemblies prepped for installation.
In Fine Scale Modeler a few years ago there was an article that made me come-up with a similar suspension system. Under the floor there are small brass rods that attach to the brass tubes that are housed in the sponsons.
I trimmed the lateral support rods that run under the floor and got the sponsons on. Preshading and top coat went nicely. The kit came with decals for the upper walk-way that were not close to the correct colors. Also they were one piece, the length of this big bird. So I opted to mask and paint the walk ways. The canopy was masked with the Big Ed masks that came in the package which fit perfectly.
It is time to consider the base. A friend of mine is a carpenter and I asked him to cut the wooden base for me to use. I used 2 steel rods epoxied into the main support block. I drilled the locator holes in the support block at the angle I wanted the chopper to be posed at, before the rods were in place.
To add terrain I used aluminum screening to form the basic shape.
Next I used kleenex, wetted with diluted white glue to cover the screen and give me a basis to attach cast rock face to.
Here are the rock castings made from hydrocal.
Between Casey and I we have a numerous Scenic Woodlands rock molds. I made multiple rocks of various sizes. Using my new hot glue gun, I attached the castings to the terrain base. Next the areas between the cast rocks were filled in with more Hydrocal.
Paint time. I used acrylics for the airbrushing and washing. Oils were used for dry brushing.
1st test fit of the 2 models put together as 1. I still have more fiddly bits to add and some touch-up to do. Then I will take some more formal photos.