Israeli AH-64A Peten from Academy 1/35 Kit.

[al49]

Very recently Takom has issued very nice and update kits of the AH-64 family of helicopters, but when I started my project the only product I found was the one from Academy.
First reaction after opening the box was: that's big! 45 cm in lenght!
But the main challenge here was that Israeli machines have been deeply modified almost everywere.
To follow.

 

[al49]

So I started to scratch-build! Unable to find any sort of drawing, I had to base my work on photos with and a lot of guess!
I hope you like it! More to follow.

 

[fubar57]

Looking forward to the build Alberto

 

[Vic Balshaw]

I do like these mods Alberto, you've done a great job.

 

[al49]

Hi, many thanks for your comments!
One more steps concerns an other big challenge (at least for me): how to make new a uxiliary tanks that aren't included in the kit.
Again, based on pictures, I made a drawing and from it I tackled this job.
First I provided a wooden rod of suitable diameter and started turning it on my little lathe.

 

[al49]

When I feeled satisfied with my job, I covered it with liquid putty and, once dry, I sanded it smooth.
My master was ready, but there was a problem: this tank is nearly 65 mm in lenght and I thought it was too long for a single print, therefore I I cut my master in two an I made two silicon moulds, one for the front half the other for the rear that finally were glued together.

 

[al49]

Sorted out, at least for the time being, the issue regarding drop tanks, I spent some time on the office.
Dials are from decals while safety belts are home made.
All those pictures have been taken aprox one year ago.
More to follow soon.

 

[Gnomey]

Nice work so far!

 

[SaparotRob]

I'm blown away by the amount of detail you guys put into into the cockpit. Great work, al49.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Lovely work Alberto, it's a joy to look at.

 

[al49]

Hello! One more step forward was a new challenge: cut the transparent cabin plastic to separate right end windows with the goal to leave them open.
I used a rotary tool, hold by a support and my free hands, as steady as I could.
Result came out not too bad, witha few little rework to be done at the end.
White matt areas on transparent are putty used to fill 1 mm holes intended to insert door handles; these will be replaced with much thinner copper wire.

 

[al49]

Next was to overcome one of kit shortcomings: there were no rivets all around windows and this wasn't correct!
I solved using 3d decals and, again, a lot of patience.

 

[fubar57]

Rivets look great

 

[Wurger]

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Love the detail and as Geo says, rivets look great.

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far!

 

[al49]

Hi everybody, let me continue, after a ten days pausa due to various reasons. One of above pictures shows a cable cutter on the cockpit roof. This has been a little project as well. Started first on the internet to search for good pictures to refer to. Based on what I found, I started drawing several options that I cut in plasicard with my plotter.

 

[al49]

Next all these cable-cutters, plus various antennas and other details were glued in their respective position.

 

[al49]

Unfortunately I lost all pictures taken during priming session as well as first base color, so I show what followed next:

 

[Wurger]