Supercobra-
Thanks for the info. The various squadrons moving around make it hard to figure out. My list of squadrons and tailcodes comes from a 2003 issue of Naval Aviation News which devoted a whole issue to USMC aviation. That and a 2004 issue of Air Combat International which did a special issue on Naval aviation including the Marines. I also found a couple websites which list tailcodes, but I’m never sure how up to date or reliable websites are.
Phil
Baseball playoffs and a sudden relapse of CivIII addiction have conspired to take me away from the bench. I still need to get some photos taken of my “Dragonfly” (I think that’s what I’ll call her) so you all can see what’s going on.
I just remembered that this weekend I’ll be camping with Son of LemonJello for Cub Scouts…no real chance until maybe Sunday to post any updates, but I’ll get them done.
Wow ,this is an interesting thread !
CFR
Some progress pictures. I painted it in a Marines Harrier-type paint scheme. I thought the rotor blades would stand out too much if I painted them black, so I used Gunship Gray. I couldn’t resist painting some sort of decoration on the tail, so I painted some stripes on the rudder like an early WWII Navy aircraft (my other area of modelling/historical interest) I have also finished the landing gear. I took an easy out and depicted the landing gear bays to look like the doors close after the gear is down, like a Harrier. It looks good and save a bunch of work making gear bays. All the landing gear are on aluminum tubes and are removable so I can display it on a stand in aircraft mode If I want. It looks a lot sleeker in aircraft mode.
Next up is decals. I’m working on a decal sheet for it. Mostly I plan to use markings from a Harrier kit, but I need a few extras like squadron numbers and tail codes, etc. I have also started on weapons. I’m not sure what the final configuration will be, but at least one rack of Hellfires and one LAU-61 rocket pod. Not sure about the third pylon.
Comments and suggestions welcome.
Phil
Looks like it could take to the air, great job Phil
Excellent as always Phil! I got a couple of binders full of decals so if there’s something you’re looking for, give me a shout.
Looks great. I hate to mention this because it is probably too late but if that is an M-197 20mm gun it looks like the turret is too small to house the breach, feeder, drive motor, and elev and azimuth motors. It should be deeper (taller).
supercobra-
I would agree that the turret looks small. But since i didn’t want to take parts from the only Whiskey Cobra on the shelf, the gun is from a Commanche kit. I reshaped the turret slightly to make it fit better (and disguise its origins), but I didn’t make it any smaller. The Commache was supposed to have an XM301 gun, which from what I can tell is an improved M197, purposely designed to be smaller for the Commanche (the cost of stealth). The link below is to a PDF file with a good comparison between the XM301 and the M197, although it is only the gun and not the turret controls.
www.dtic.mil/ndia/2001gun/Talley.pdf
You’re correct in that it’s probably too late for me to make any significant changes. But thanks for the comments, it will give the others who are still in the design phase something else to think about.
Phil
Awesome! That bird is incredible! I love how you added the outrigger wheels to the engine sponsons. that was a stroke of genius!
At long last, as promised, I’ve gotten some mock-up shots to show you guys. Let me start by saying, she’s never going to win a beauty contest…And I’m going to really work on my puttying/filling/sanding skills with this one.
So, here we go…
Side View:
Nose-on:
From Above:
The Osprey nose will be faired into the Mohawk to give me a forward gun bay, and a longer overall nose to the bird. Like I said, there will be a lot of putty on this one to fill some of the holes and gaps, but at least you all can see what I’ve been doing and give me some welcome advice or ask some questions to keep me thinking through this project.
Edited to add:
Phil,
I knew yours was looking good, but dang! it really looks sharp. I’ve got to work out my landing gear situation, I like the solution you went with, but I think I’ll try to adapt parts from my donor kits to work for mine.
LJ, will wait nad see how your’s develops, looks good so far
Ah-nold said it best. “(that’s) one ugly [censored]”
Where are you planning on hanging rockets and Hellfire from?
I haven’t worked that out yet, I may be going back to an internal bay of some kind. I’ll know more when I get the engine nacelles and rotors put together and hung on the wing…centerline seems the best bet right now.
I’m kinda stuck on having a couple of rotary launchers…just because I think they’re cool.
LJ-
Looks pretty good, although you sure are going to get lots of practice with the filler. With the sponsons you should have plenty of room underneath for weapons. Looks like you can use the existing gear bays, and just add some taller landing gear struts to make room underneath.
Great start, keep us updated.
Phil
I’ve got a drawing I’ll e-mail to you tonight that might help you make up your mind.
WWWWWWOW, these look NICE!
I can’t help but visit this thread 2, 3, 4 times a day…or more!
Keep it up, fellas!
Oh, it’s measure twice and cut once. I lost my camera, but you guys would really get a kick out of seeing this beast right now. The Apache cockpit didn’t quite work out like I thought it would. Landing gear I think will get worked out in the end though.
Phil & LJ-
Both looking GREAT!
Mac
The hardest cut was that first one for me. After that, I figured “Well, it’s already chopped, may as well keep going!”
I think I’ll get the cockpit put together and painted and then go back to the fuselage and all that gap filling. Oh, maybe get the engines assembled as well…
It’s very, very quiet in here. Anyone have any progress?
Phil
Sorry, none here still. House and work are getting most of my attention right now.
