Academy 1:72 AH-64D Apache

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:07 pm

I recently watched an excellent documentary on Netflix called Apache Warrior. It told the tale of an attack on Iraqi targets at the start of the conflict.

My entry will be a tribute to these wonderful machines it isn't anything political to do with the conflict in Iraq. Any of that non-sense popping up in this thread will be removed. I haven't decided on the livery yet depends on what aftermarket I can find.

Here is the box.

The kit is small at 1:72 which will be challenging for me. But at least it will fit in the spray booth! There are two main sprues with only a couple additional smaller sprues.

I have found a suitable aftermarket decal set!

I will be using the "19" scheme which is for the 6-6 Cav as flown on the Karbala Attack (which is what the documentary above is about). Super-happy that I found exactly what I wanted.

I also picked up a mask set and some colored PE for the pit!

Post by **Tomcat64** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 3:24 pm

I love the Apache - there's definitely something about the menacing silhouette that leaves you in no doubt that you are in serious trouble if you're on the receiving end.

Looking forward to seeing how this builds up and adding another kit to the "seriously no more new kits list"

jmurphy18 · Post by **jmurphy18** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 3:59 pm

Very cool Apache build

Quax · Post by **Quax** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 5:37 pm

Looking forward to following your build Matthew!

Paul

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:29 pm

Cool project

Kevthemodeller · Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 7:01 pm

Looking forward to this one, best of luck with the build mate

Post by **digger303** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:30 pm

The Apache is definitely one of the new iconic aircraft of the modern era.....doesn't it look truly dangerous..

Post by **Stokesy44** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 9:39 am

Looking forward to this.

I really like the Apache, its got that nasty brutal functional look about it. And it always looks dirty.

Post by **digger303** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 10:51 am

Stokesy44 wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2019 9:39 am Looking forward to this.

I really like the Apache, its got that nasty brutal functional look about it. And it always looks dirty.

Yes you see one of these suckers coming towards you and your first thought wouldn't be it's coming over for a friendly chat....

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 11:44 am

I was able to grab a few images from the documentary to show the kind of damage these aircraft were able to survive.

And no, I won't be attempting that!

Post by **digger303** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 11:59 am

bfrd wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2019 11:44 am I was able to grab a few images from the documentary to show the kind of damage these aircraft were able to survive.

And no, I won't be attempting that!

That's pretty cool....

Donkeywalloper · Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 1:35 pm

I fancied having a go at one of these roundy, roundy, winged things.
This looks a splendid little project chap

.
Shall pull up the

and prepare to be amazed.

DW

jmurphy18 · Post by **jmurphy18** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 2:38 pm

I was working at a base where the were stationed and got to watch them in action when I would go out the airfield to do a job. They are awesome.

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Tue Dec 03, 2019 9:53 pm

Excellent choice!

Good luck with the build!

Tommy

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Sat Dec 07, 2019 6:51 pm

Got the detail set and masks. Can finally get started!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 7:46 am

I had a watch of the Netflix docu you mentioned.
These kind of shows make me mad when I see the stupidity of military minds that put lives and equipment in danger.
Adaptation to a situation might be a good objective next time. Flying through a shitstorm of variety of arms whilst low to the ground is not wise. Then turning around and doing it again to go back to an unprepared rendezvous site is even stupider.
At the very least, I would have been lawn mowing my way back with every weapon at my disposal; Shoot at everything, clear a path, make them run for cover and their f’ing lives.
But then they are not allowed indiscriminate fire...which is BS when you are getting that from your enemy.
Amazing that those birds took all that damage and got everyone back safely. Amazing.

Post by **digger303** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 10:25 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2019 7:46 am I had a watch of the Netflix docu you mentioned.
These kind of shows make me mad when I see the stupidity of military minds that put lives and equipment in danger.
Adaptation to a situation might be a good objective next time. Flying through a shitstorm of variety of arms whilst low to the ground is not wise. Then turning around and doing it again to go back to an unprepared rendezvous site is even stupider.
At the very least, I would have been lawn mowing my way back with every weapon at my disposal; Shoot at everything, clear a path, make them run for cover and their f’ing lives.
But then they are not allowed indiscriminate fire...which is BS when you are getting that from your enemy.
Amazing that those birds took all that damage and got everyone back safely. Amazing.

.........

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Tue Dec 10, 2019 1:33 am

I got some of the cockpit put together. The PE requires that the molded detail be carved off.

Just about everything is painted NATO black.

The pre-painted PE looks great.

Post by **digger303** » Tue Dec 10, 2019 4:25 am

yeah I'm a big fan of the pre painted PE, fantastic stuff.

jmurphy18 · Post by **jmurphy18** » Tue Dec 10, 2019 3:28 pm

Sweet, the cockpit and PE look awesome

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Tue Dec 10, 2019 5:32 pm

Great stuff!

Tommy

Quax · Post by **Quax** » Tue Dec 10, 2019 6:19 pm

Looks great so far Matthew and a little familiar...

the pe certainly looks the part

Paul

Post by **Tomcat64** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 10:56 am

Lovely work on the cockpit Matthew

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 11:33 am

I got a little more PE work done. Below is a start to finish transformation. I had to remove a little bit of the plastic detail.

There is a PE replacement for the removed detail. It was on the tweezers then it wasn't. Looks like I will be scratch building that.

Donkeywalloper · Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 12:47 pm

Very nice work Matthew.
DW

RangerNeil · Post by **RangerNeil** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 6:18 pm

bfrd wrote: Fri Dec 13, 2019 11:33 am <snipped>
There is a PE replacement for the removed detail. It was on the tweezers then it wasn't. Looks like I will be scratch building that.

There are times - noteably a lot in the last couple of days when I'd swear the best way to build the fine details is in one of those funny cabinets medical places use where you put your arms in through sealed openings. The wife is getting a bit tired of frantic cries of "Grab the dog - I've lost a bit!!"

The PE does make it look good though - well done!

jmurphy18 · Post by **jmurphy18** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 7:50 pm

Awesome looking work on this.

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:22 pm

I am still waiting on getting the decal sheet in before I move to paint any of the exteriors. I don't think the decal sheet has any paint recommendations, but I don't want to risk it. The kit callouts are all over the place. I know my color utility isn't perfect, but I do think it gives a fairly accurate idea. Here is a screen grab using some of the kit suggestions on the paint color.

Obviously, Testors is out. Taking that range out the rest are fairly close. I think I might try Mission Models as the LHS just started carrying those in stock.

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:23 pm

@Quax What color did you go with?

Quax · Post by **Quax** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:32 pm

bfrd wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:23 pm @Quax What color did you go with?

The kit callout for mine is 60% Olive drab with 40% flat black, as I know that whenever they fly over my house (noisy b*****ds) they look black so its probably not far out. I think I'll mix it like this and see what I think when its on, I can always lighten post shade.

Paul

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Tue Mar 03, 2020 2:35 am

Finally picked this one back up. Got the fuselage halves together and a bit more PE.

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Thu Mar 05, 2020 12:48 pm

Added more PE to the ordinance.

Attached the engines.

This is kinda like a tank in the sense that it will practically be fully built and then painted. That is a little weird for me, but we will see how it goes.

Post by **digger303** » Thu Mar 05, 2020 2:00 pm

Pe is working the kit nicely.

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Sun Mar 08, 2020 2:55 pm

One step forward several steps back.

First off let me say the I have been impressed with the overall fit of the parts. However, there are exceptions. The very front of the fuselage has a large gap. This will require some filler and elbow grease.

Also while attaching some of the greeblies I snapped off one of the wheels from the front landing gear. Instead of trying to glue the part back together I just snipped off the other one as well.

I decided to use the tips from my syringes as a replacement.

First I heated up the tube with a heat gun and melted the ends of the gear struts.

I then cleaned up the joints to fit the tube.

Next, I used a diamond coated cutoff wheel to cut down the tubes. I should have been wearing safety glasses as one of the small tube pieces hit me in the face.

All that remains is to CA glue the tubes in place.

I will glue the wheels on after paint.

As an added bonus I accidentally burned the tail with heat gun. Fun!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Mar 08, 2020 3:33 pm

OOoooo battle damage.....Well done or medium rare?
Love the mod of the landing gear, it will look and function better

alextheblue · Post by **alextheblue** » Sun Mar 08, 2020 6:20 pm

Gotta agree, the landing gear looks really good!! Plus, all your patience with the PE is really going to pay off.

Heat gun!! Styrene!! Arrgghhh!!!

Like ,Scott says - battle damage!

Post by **digger303** » Mon Mar 09, 2020 5:07 am

Workshop field modification for fast left hand turns

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Mon Mar 09, 2020 9:42 am

Got a little worse later in the day. The "glass" doesn't come out very well. IMO it is a terrible design. While trying to get the glass out after a test fit I broke off one of the new landing gear arms. In the same maneuver, I broke off off a handhold and pitot tube. @Twokidsnosleep talked me out of Hulk Smashing and I drilled out a smaller hole in the gear arm and corresponding tube for a wire to help refasten. I can drill out the holes for the handhold and use a spare or make one from a wire. The pitot tube may just stay off. The heat gun damage is filled. I lost a bit of detail in the tail but at this point, I really couldn't care less.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:02 pm

Oh shite this thing is really fighting you
Keep battling, it will work out

Kevthemodeller · Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Tue Mar 10, 2020 7:26 am

Matt what a struggle you're having mate

The PE looks great though

Stick at it mate you'll get there

Donkeywalloper · Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Tue Mar 10, 2020 8:11 am

Crumbs Matt you're having a right old battle with this thing.
Its an interesting build though chap and it will eventually look awesome, I'm sure.
Look after yourself,
DW

Quax · Post by **Quax** » Tue Mar 10, 2020 1:12 pm

yes definitely keep going, I'm glad 2KNS talked you out of the stamp manoeuvre!

Its going to look great with all the pe once you get the paint on

Paul

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Tue Mar 10, 2020 1:55 pm

Grabbed a few pics this morning of the re-repair to the gear arms.

I plan to use a stiff wire with a 90-degree bend to insert into the open end of the tube. I drilled out an appropriate hole in the back of the wheels

Just to make myself feel a little better I popped on the rotors to give it a look-see.

jmurphy18 · Post by **jmurphy18** » Tue Mar 10, 2020 2:07 pm

I like your mods, nice work!

RangerNeil · Post by **RangerNeil** » Tue Mar 10, 2020 2:48 pm

Commiserations on having to fight the fight with this one. If its any help - the photos thus far are looking really good. The PE work really helps it.

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 1:26 am

Thanks for all the support.

I got some paint down this evening. It looks black, but is really a very dark green.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 1:27 am

Cool!

Post by **Tomcat64** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:55 am

Great work sticking with sorting the issues out on this one (kit-inflicted & self-inflicted) as the results so far look great - the PE work all adds a superb level of refinement.

Stick with it - it's looking great

Post by **digger303** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:43 am

I can see your getting on top of it as it is coming together nicely albeit begrudgingly.

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:11 am

Ok, Scott keeps telling me to keep my mistakes to myself. I am not listening because I am stubborn and stupid...

In a momentary lack of mental faculties, I decided to not prime the helicopter. I wanted to be done and skipped a step. That was not the step to skip. Paint adhesion is terrible. I love the paint, MMP is spraying and covering very well (it doesn't even smell). I think the lack of a primer coat is to blame. So, in order to try and offer some protection to the paint, I gave the model a couple of coats of Alcad II Aquagloss. I do not trust the paint holding up during the decal process. The aftermarket decals are from Print Scale and they do not look very good. I will only use the ones I absolutely have to use in order to make the correct markings. Other than that I will be using the kit decals (Cartograf and look excellent).

Until my next boneheaded move!