Doug's 1/48 - KA27 Helix by Hobby Boss

[Waspie]

Todays update. Maybe the last for a couple of days. (Family descending upon Fraggle).

Pic 1
Did a comparison with the Sea King to get an idea of size. (Both 1/48) Be interested now in seeing them both once Helix completed. Certainly will be taller than the SK.


Pic 2
I hated looking at the innards all pristine and 'new' looking. So I dived in there with an amalgamation of nato black, umber and a drop of sand colour and muckied the insides up to give it a used look. Crazy as 9-10ths simply won't be visible!!!


Pic 3
Then I started on the rotor heads!!


I started in the seats today, only managed to put paint on the seat bottom or!! The seat you place your Botton on!!! Eyeballed the colour from pics off the internet. (No pics). Prep'd the seat base and backs ready for a base coat then painting and weathering. Methinks I will be trying to make seat harness's from tape or foil or similar. Never done my own harness's before so a learning curve coming up.

I fitted the rear bulkhead but wasn't happy with the initial dry fit - way too tight. So I smoothed off a few areas that I thought were binding. Then dry fitted, happy with the fit so TeT applied and rear bulkhead now in place.

Well, that's all folks.

As always, C&C's all welcomed.

[Steve-the-Duck]

Crazy as 9-10ths simply won't be visible!!!

I'm sorry. Your point is?

[Steve Ski]

Wow, you are getting the hang of these egg beaters, sweet! Ruck On!

[Waspie]

Little bit done. Sprayed bucket seats x 4. Also, hand painted seat back inserts.

Added decals to IP. Only way was to invert, (back to front!!) the decal so it would fit the shape. (My only criticism to date). Also added some illegitimate decals to the co-pilots side IP. and also the deckhead switch panel. That was probably my best success. Used the Micro-set/sol - yeah - OK I guess. Certainly did wonders to the switch panel. The decal contoured itself to the undulating surface nicely.

Pic 1



Pic 2
Deckhead switch panel.


That was it for today. More than I thought I was going to achieve.

Question.
How do I go about making semi-realistic harness's for the seats. I have Tamiya tape, is there anything else I need for adjusting straps and buckles???

Thanks in advance.

Doug

[Gern]

Looking good!

I've found replacing the seatbelt straps in PE sets with Tamiya tape - suitably painted - and using the PE buckles and fasteners is easier than trying to bend and shape PE straps. If you've got any PE sets left over from another build, you could use the buckles etc from them. May not be totally accurate, but surely much easier than trying to make your own. Failing that, tape, silver paint and a tiny brush might work for you.

PS I'm sure I've looked at a build of this on t'web, and there's some sort of gear arrangement with that hex rod you mention that gets the rotors going in opposite directions. Is that right?

[Waspie]

Thanks for the harness tips Dave, I do have a couple of excess harness's from my Sea King build, both 1/48 so a good match there!!

Re the rotor heads, yeah, there is a couple of cogs which allow both heads to act independently of each other!!

Dia 1
Gearing


How it fits in with the heads.
Dia 2

[Waspie]

I'm enjoying having family visit!!! I'm actually managing to get slightly more bench time than I thought!!!

Today was a day for sitting around!! Well - assembling the seats and trying to make them look used! I utilised the harness bits from the SK to use on this, working on the basic principle a harness is a harness!!! I was getting tape all over my fingers so I opted for a cheat instead. I gave the interior a few coats of Russian AF light blue ready for the two fuselage half to go together whilst I was at it.
All the transparent panels have been masked, either liquid or tape.

So todays progress in pics.

Pic 1
Front three seats, I weathered the body of the seats with some wash and using my new 000 brush, dabbled with trying to add some additional shape/contours the seat backs. Taking the bland solid colour away!!


Pic 2
Back seat.


Pic 3
Front seat with harness's fitted!! I have no idea if the Russian use 5 point harness or 4 point but settled for 4 in the end.
Harness deliberately looking dishevelled!!!



That was it for today, I was surprised how long all that lot took.

As usual C&C's all welcomed and thanks if your following along.

(Now donning apron and become duty chef!!!!) Perks of enjoying myself today!!!

Doug

[scottie3158]

Doug, all looking very good with some great additions

[Waspie]

Doug, all looking very good with some great additions

Thank you Paul. I'm starting to regret not paying more attention to the Helix when I was in the RN. It's quite interesting and learning a fair bit from both the build and the little research I've done. The twin rotors still fascinate me.

[Guest]

This particular type of helicopter doesn’t do much for me (it’s so squat) but the Kamov attack helicopters with a similar rotor system have always looked so sleek and different to me. I only ever built one kit of one, though, 30+ years ago …

[Waspie]

Aghhhh - just noticed a blemish on the right hand seat pilots IP. (Black - just not all black!!!!):unamused:

[Waspie]

This particular type of helicopter doesn’t do much for me (it’s so squat) but the Kamov attack helicopters with a similar rotor system have always looked so sleek and different to me. I only ever built one kit of one, though, 30+ years ago …

As you're aware, they all built for a purpose. Carrying sonar equipment, active and passive sonar buoys so the squat look is OK for its purpose. If it was sleek and agile it wouldn't be able to carry its bulky equipment. My favourite phrase - 'horses for courses'.
As I mentioned, the reason I chose it was as a comparison to our, (RN), Sea King which carried out a similar role.
The rotor system is evidently a nightmare as it has to be rigged mechanically and electronically to achieve decent flight characteristics. If either is out of sync, it's possible to pull power and NOT get any lift!!

[Waspie]

Just a quickie!!!!

My aghhhhhh moment now corrected and innards mated with fuselage.

Pic
Another comparison pic alongside same scale Sea King.

Maybe more later!?

[Waspie]

More later time!
Loads done today and I now have something that resembles a Russian helicopter.
Had a couple of drama's that I could have given myself a good kicking!! Got ahead of myself and forgot to fit a couple of the clear windows, one an easy fix the other - thinking cap time but managed it. More later.

Pic 1
After joining the two fuselage half. Note the small window half way down - that was the problematic error of mine!!! No access at all from behind as its inside a cabinet!!


Pic 2
Rear port quarter problem window - forward of cabin door.


Pic 3
View from the stern


Pic 4
Problem window in place!! I filed off the edges that position the window behind the plastic. Then I chamfered the edges of the window. Next, I taped the window up. Made a small tab using cut down tape. Then placed a couple of strengthening strips to hold the tab securely in place. placed canopy glue on the opening in the fuselage. Using tweezers, I offered the transparent window to the hole and held it in place until the glue had 'grabbed' the transparent window. As you can see - it worked!!!! Phew!


Pic 5
Engine cowl/cover and exhaust fitted as well as a couple of fittings on the top.The small window aft of the front side window was also left out when I glued the two half together. Easy fix. Canopy glue on the window surround then using my angled tweezers, I managed to place the small window tin it's correct location.


Pic 6
Port side with rear cabin door in place. (I remembered the cabin door window!! )



Sprayed the canopy glass with primer and fitted the front section. The two side doors I will paint inside and out. (No pic).

That's it for today, if you're still here, well done and thank you - oh! and sorry for death by picture.

Thanks for looking in, Doug.

[scottie3158]

This is progressing nicely mate. Great fix on the window.