AH-64D Apache US Army

I was building 1:72 Apache for the fourth time which is not typical for me. First it was Zvezda from old Italeri moulds, and then Hobby Boss. Certainly Academy kit is the best among others.

The kit has more than hundred tiny parts, and if you like cutting, sanding, and dry-fitting, it will pay off. Besides, it is 100% precise, as far as I can tell from the reference photos. But the technology has its limits, so most of antennas, handrails, knifes and etc. are too thick for the scale. This is why I decided to replace the missiles with rails, the gun, and the wheels with 3D-printed parts from ResKit.

The kit will disappoint those who likes painting the interior, because its canopy is a one-piece part (and too thick as well). But for me it just made my life easier.

In a spirit of full disclosure, I don't have enough patience and motivation for weathering, so I made the chopper as clean as it was when it was born. I've used AK Interactive paint "US Helo Drab", and I found it quite accurate - not too bright, not too dark, a bit on a green side which is up to the photos I have.