AH-64A Apache (US Army)

1
July 10, 2022
Reference photo of the subject
2
July 30, 2022
First photo is a little late in the game... it's been on my shelf of doom since joining Scalemates. Primary assembly is done, but the fit of this Italeri offering is going to require quite a bit of filing, sanding, and filling!
3
July 30, 2022
Cockpit using Airwaves photoetch. I'm not convinced I like photoetch yet, might be a bit beyond my skill and patience levels. But I'm satisfied with this interior.
4
July 30, 2022
"Before" shot of the heat dissipators. This would look pretty unsatisfactory out of the box.
5
July 31, 2022
"After" shot, with Airwaves photoetch applied. Better than before, but the metal parts didn't conform to the shape of the molded part as well as I had hoped.
6
July 31, 2022
Main assembly and pre-painting done! Yes, I am one of those philistines who doesn't prime first. I've never had a problem with peeling because I use enamels and lacquers.
7
August 7, 2022
Put down the base coat of paint and finished some assembly.
8
August 27, 2022
Applied gloss lacquer and decals, then applied a "dirty helicopter" wash made from Vallejo acrylics.
9
August 29, 2022
The Italari AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (green) looked a little too "pointy," so I compared them to the ones in a Hasegawa kit (gray). The nose of the Hasegawa missiles looked much more accurate, but the tail kit was wrong (middle). I corrected by filing off the square edges (bottom). I'll be using the Hasegawa missiles on this build.
10
August 29, 2022
I used a pin vise to drill holes for the rocket motors (left is before, right is after).
11
August 29, 2022
I used white glue to attach a toothpick to each missile for painting and decaling.
12
August 29, 2022
Letting this dry overnight before I start spraying!
13
August 29, 2022
Used Vallejo back acrylic wash on all grills and the exhaust vents, and touched up the base paint. This will dry overnight before getting a coat of matte lacquer.
14
September 3, 2022
Decaled the helicopter, gave it a matte coat, then did some final assembly and painting. Painted the weapons and gave the missiles a gloss coat for decals. Getting close to the home stretch!
15
September 4, 2022
Assembled the photoetch canopy frame, then decaled the missiles. Without Microsol, these thick Hasegawa decals would have been impossible. With it, they will look great (some are still wet in this photo). Definitely a must-have product!
16
September 5, 2022
Two big lessons learned on this step. First - don't glue a Hellfire missile rack to the helicopter before attaching the missiles. What was I thinking? Second - if you purchase photoetch canopy frames, put them on after attaching the canopy to the fuselage. I did it before, and the fit ended up being terrible. Now I'm hoping Mr. Dissolved Putty will save this build from the hammer!
17
September 6, 2022
Thankfully, fumes from the Mr. Dissolved Putty did not craze the clear plastic. I'm still not satisfied with the canopy, but at least I can say the build as a whole doesn't deserve the hammer anymore! I painted some clear acrylics over the sensors, lights, and countermeasures. Last step, attached the photoetch hand holds and cable cutters.
18
September 18, 2022
Finished model
19
September 18, 2022
Finished model
20
September 18, 2022
Finished model
21
September 18, 2022
Finished model
22
September 18, 2022
Finished model
23
September 18, 2022
Finished model

Коментари

40 10 July 2022, 23:00

Cuajete
Looking so good so far 👍

28 August 2022, 17:34

Finn
Looking good, hope to see more pictures

29 August 2022, 07:36

Robin (WhiteGlint)
Looking very good

2 September 2022, 06:42

Martin Curwen
Also looking forward to more pictures 🙂

2 September 2022, 09:08

Guy Rump
Looking good 👍

2 September 2022, 10:49

Łukasz Gliński
What a nice WiP 👍

4 September 2022, 21:25

Cuajete
Good progress 👍

6 September 2022, 17:54

Dean Harpster Автор
Thanks very much for the encouraging words everyone! I'm calling this done and moving on to phinishing my Phantoms for the group build!

18 September 2022, 21:35

Neil
Great work! 👏

18 September 2022, 22:38

Mona
Looking great 👍

19 September 2022, 00:24

Guy Rump
Very nice build 👍

19 September 2022, 07:15

Łukasz Gliński
Nice finish, pity the PE canopy fit was so bad, I think it looks better than the kit part 👍

19 September 2022, 07:57

Robin (WhiteGlint)
Turned out real nice. 👍

19 September 2022, 08:25

Cuajete
Nice job. Congrats!

19 September 2022, 20:05

Album info

This model represents the AH-64A Apache that was being introduced into 4th Aviation during my tour of duty at Fort Carson. Because the AH-1F Cobra gunships used by 4th Aviation were among the most modern in the US Army, the AH-64 supplemented them rather than replacing them. During exercises, AH-64A Apaches operated with OH-58D Kiowa scout helicopters in a hunter/killer configuration. In large scale exercises at the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, I frequently saw AH-64A Apaches operating in conjunction with USAF A-10A Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft.

AH-64A Apache (US Army)

23 снимки

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Завършен

1:72 AH-64 APACHE Canopy Detail Set (Airwaves AC7244)

McDonnell-Douglas AH-64A Apache

US Army Aviation Branch (1983-now)

all round green

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