My first commissioned job. Ok, so in-progress pix of it hehehe



It's Academy's 1/48 AH-64D Longbow Apache kit, modified to be the IAF's Saraf. Hence the spheres on the wings.



Thems spheres (I reckon they're ECM...?) are made of epoxy putty (couldn't find any spheres within reach).



The Academy kit wasn't really accurate they told me (it was really a prototype LBA). And my client (wow - client. hehehe) doesn't really mind about accuracy. But since he picked the Saraf due to its cool paint job (showed him several pix of Apaches to choose), I just couldn't leave the kit as it is. So, the vents on the sponson-whatever-you-call-that. However, the cockpit didn't get its modifications since I had already cemented it and didn't want to risk further surgery.



Bare Metal Foil was used to mask the canopy. Yes - what a waste. But hey, it works soooooooooo much better than liquid masks or tape. And I suck at masking canopies (I really don't do aircraft), so to avoid having paint creep under the mask, BMF was used.





Interior painted. Seatbelts are lead foil (haven't made the buckles yet - suggestions on the buckles?).



The Saraf, after its bird bath, letting it dry right now, in preparation for the second major phase - painting. Finally.



It was supposed to be a touch-up on the underlying interior colour for the canopy, but decided to paint the whole thing in this dark colour to make the surface uniform, serving as a "primer" for the desert yellow paint.





The Saraf with the desert yellow paint. Ran out of clear gloss so I didn't continue with painting the brown colour to finish the camo pattern.



I love BMF. Makes masking so crisp.

For the spheres, I guess you could use jolens. Great job so far!

Hi BISIGI,

No wonder you have been silent for some time....hmmm...SpecOps pala..... :-) . How nuch did you charge you client for your services....just curious.

Regarding the kit, although I'm not an AC modeller, it really looks good...I'd love to see the finished product

GI, if you have some empty Tamiya Spray rattlecans open them and get the spheres there; there's a couple of them. They may be close to the size needed for that helo model.

Im impressed you went some lengths to add details such as modfying the rear section of the sposons and adding the sensors on the engine pods. Will use them as another reference when I get to building attack helos.

Tell us how the model construction went, okay?

Good job.

BT6

Thanks!

Warthog: In this case, I'll be doing the "No Bullsh1t, Your Conscience Method" of charging the client (if he asks how much he owes me - after seeing the kit, the base, and the reference document I made, I'll say straight to the point "P500.00." :-) )

BT6: The sensors on the engine pods are styrene rods and stretched sprue. Quite easy to do really. The toughest part in the construction was the canopy affixing to the body. The photos DO NOT show the flaws for that one. Also the engine pods were problematic - proper dry fitting would partly fix it. And the main gears broke off a lot and were not level. Otherwise, the kit is ok. The sponson modifications were done AFTER affixing them to the kit - oversight on my part, should've done it before. Thanks for the spheres tip. I gots several empty spraycans and will check them out, but I'm concerned about the pressure - won't it "explode" when I start opening it?

The Saraf looks good with the olive [helo] drab weapons contrasting with the desert yellow of the helo. I'll have to get clear gloss and figure out how to do the masking before applying the second colour (brown).

If I were to build another LBA, I'd use TWO kits - the Revell and the Academy 1/48s. I know - expensive, unless I go through the scratchbuilding route for either kit. The Revell kit looks nice, but some detail is sparse (such as the tail gear). Meanwhile, the Academy has the incorrect sponsons (rear ends), bad instruction sheet (what the hell were they thinking?!?), and incorrect interior. Theoretically, though, the Academy kit's flaws can be corrected by scratchbuilding.

BTW, anyone knows where I can get a 1/48 Cobra? I see only 1/35 and 1/72. Strange that there isn't a 1/48 AH-1.

I like commission jobs. I get to build, enjoy doing so, and get paid. Also, I find that it sharpens my skills because I'm "forced" to build it good rather than taking shortcuts when I'm building for meself (2-Bravo being an exception).

WOW! Buti ka pa may commisioned build na... hehehe... sabihin mo sa client mo, pag gusto nya ng WW2 aircraft, pde ako gumawa... hehahahahahahha....

BTW, how about your chally? Will it be ready for Dec?

regards, arch

GI, just make sure the rattlecans are depleted of propellant. Use a can-opener (the claw type) and slowly but carefully make a hole in the bottom of the rattlecan. From what I remember, a slight and quick hissing will happen as a result of the gas escaping. Thats just about it.

Hmmm...I should play safe and add that I'm not responsible for injuries you may incur whilst conducting this operation - after all I should not mess with a lawyer...

If I may suggest, go for the most accurate 1/48 Longbow available - Hasegawa. You'd be adding around P500 more compared to purchasing both Academy and Revell AG offerings, but the Japanese kit is magnificent.

Italeri produces 1/48 AH-1W Cobra and AH-1Z Viper helos. Here are some reviews of the former:

http://hsfeatures.com/ah1wrr_1.htm

http://hsfeatures.com/features04/ah1wwc_1.htm

www.aircraftresourcecenter.com should have several articles as well.

Hope this helps.


BT6

Hehehe it'll be cool though seeing a can fly hehehe instant munition!

Aye, will keep an eye on the Hasegawa kit. Me likes that Italeri Tzefa.


Some more in-progs. I hate masking using tape. Peels off the paint. Any ideas on avoiding that? I already "used" the tape prior to masking. Inching closer and closer to finishing this one. I still have to print the custom decals (not much - just two stars of david, a yellow thingamajig, and two danger signs in hebrew).

BISIGI,
what kind of tape are you using? if it's magic tape from scoth then it will really result to that even if you try to lessen the stickiness.

i learned this the hard way, while working on my p-40b...

I suggest you use the tamiya tape. it's one of the best for masking...

HTH,
arch

Went to STC Festivall Mall this morning. The 1/48 Hasegawa Apache and Longbow kits are available...costs about P1,600.

This serves as a heads up...


BT6

Thanks for the heads up BT6. 1.6k... ouch!

Archer: I'm using Scotch magic tape. Odd. I thought that was better than the usual tape sold in stores. I had Tamiya masking tape but found it so gunky that I thought it wasn't what I needed. Guess I'm wrong.

Here's more pix:












Camo scheme is DONE! All that's left are the clear parts, decals, gloss and flat coats, metallic grey for the engine exhausts, wash, the doors, and dry brushing (I still don't know how to dry brush properly). I'll deliberately ensure that the flat clear coat will result to some whitening because as of now the colour shades are too dark.

How will you do that, pre? Based on my experience, applying a gloss or flat coat will darken the colors applied.


BT6

Now why wouldnt you post that on the IPMS-BA forums, GI? Afraid to add to the Flyboys' tally? Hehehe!

No matter how hard you deny it, by building a thing that flies, youve become a SEAL!

Great job so far! The IDF variant is really cool! So happens Ive got a 1/72 Longbow kit ...

Have you tried Tamiya masking tape? So long as you make sure the surface is oil-free, it wont peel off paint.

Black Thor,

Check your clear paints. Many clear paints, like Model Master and Humbrol, arent really clear. Theyre amber. And this will definitely darken the paint hues. Tamiya and Gunze provide really clear gloss paints.

I use Johnson's Wipe And Shine as a gloss coat; for a matt finish, I mix it with some Tamiya Flat Base.

I use acrylics exclusively, except for washing.

Come to think of it, I may have been wrong...I just completed an SR-71 Blackbird a week ago...when I applied gloss clear to prep it for decals the paint darkened; the final top flat coat then lightened it up...so I rubbed baby oil all over the finshed model to achive the finish I wanted...a not so black Blackbird.

:)

BT6

BT6: Clear gloss darkens, clear flat - in some situations - lightens (especially when the humidity, distance, alignment of the stars ain't right)

Buck: Me? Afraid? Nah. Depriving the Flies of a thread. Call it sanctions. Or embargo. Hehehehehe :-) Thanks! Yeah, the IDF paint scheme is cool. A relief from the drab helo, uh, drab. :-)

I'll give Tamiya tape a chance again next project.

Any ideas on how Microscale's inkjet-compatible blank decal sheets perform?

In my experience, Gunze clear neither darkens nor lightens the paint color. Of course, too much flat base will create a lightening effect but thats because of the flat base diluting the clear paint too much and dries in a powdery form. A snowing effect if you will, that can usually countered by overcoating the model with clear gloss. Insufficient mixing of clear flat paint (paints with flat base incorporated in the mix) can also create a snowing effect.



As for the decals, nada. Sorry. I leave the decal printing to Bossman, Lieb and the rest of the Decal Team. #:-)

Say, you got pics of the IDF Apache? A link to a website maybe?

Yeah, got pix. I can email them to you. As for the website, google the IAF's official website. Some of the Peten and Saraf pix came from there.

nice project.what are those spheres for? i haven,t tried my hands on a 1/48 helis..i did a kangman apache 1/35 before kaso i wasn't satisfied and the landing gears were all wrong.

Thanks. I reckon the spheres are additional ECM or radar for the Saraf. AFAIK, only the Saraf has these. The other LBAs have different sensor/ECM suites and they don't have thems spheres. The Israelis would probably say it's classified if you ask them or just give a general answer of avionics or ECM, of what type exactly it's classified I guess. Considering the IAF having an ECM "fetish" and that these are mounted on the stub wings, I reckon thems spheres are ECM.

Go to Megamall sa lil's, Academy Longbow na 1/48 is only P380 =) well most of the heli na 1/48 scale is about the same price

Archer: Completely missed your reference to the Chally 2. 2-Bravo is sadly where it was three months ago - still no appreciable progress. AND IT'S BLOODY SEPTEMBER ALREADY EEEEEEEEEEEEK! December na ba ang Nationals? I still need two or three more crucial photos THEN I can finish construction and do painting.

BB: Same price (IIRC) as in JMN. However, the Academy LBA has accuracy issues if accuracy is a main concern, particularly the sponsons and the cockpit, not to mention the awful instruction sheet....

Any idea of a 1/48 Kiowa? Been reading "In the Company of Soldiers" which says alot about the Apache in OIF (lots of problems/accidents) and the Kiowa (lots of good stuff).

OBTW, I used the four-year old Tamiya masking tape I have - AND IT WORKS! I shall hereby henceforth shower praises and regularly offer burnt sacrifices to Tamiya for such a good product. :-) Used it two days ago when I was painting my celphone. Works as advertised by you guys.

No progress with the Saraf. Still haven't printed the decals. No wash, no nothing. Although antennae have been added. And I need a wooden base. And I have to finish the resource document. And....

IT IS DONE































The final pic shows what the customer gets - the Saraf on its base, a reference document I compiled, a "guarantee letter" :-) , a "brochure" :-) , and a "warranty/survey form" :-)

Great job, GI!!

That is one hell of a job! It's beautiful!

Angela

Wow ganda ganda, complete with specs pa. Why not submit it to PAF now that they retires all our F5s maybe they could build one homegrown ika nga... :-).

Seriously it was well executed. Bravo