Hi folks!
I´m still building my 1/35 Apache (darn thing will be decommissioned until I finish it!) and wonder, which color I should paint it. I want the olive look, not the actual Helo Drab. I´m using Tamiya acrylics, so maybe You can give me some advise, which colors to mix…
Greets,
Theoden
According to the US Army TM 55-1500-345-23 (PAINTING AND MARKING
OF ARMY AIRCRAFT):
Figure 9-4. Tactical Paint Scheme. AH-64.
Theoden,
Unless you’re going for an Israeli Apache or a fictional paint scheme, I’m afraid “Helo Drab” is pretty much your only option for the AH-64. While desert tan has been authorized as ewc2003 has pointed out above, all of the Apaches I’ve seen in-country have been in the standard Helo Drab. Of course, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t interesting paint schemes. There are a great deal of shark mouth variations, unit markings and aircraft names on modern Apaches. I’m working on 99-5135 from 1/227th ATKHB, the Longbow that was shot down on the Karbala Raid.
Just out of curiosity, what’d you think of the 1/35 kit? I’m not too pleased with it. It will come out to be a nice model, but I’ve had to do a LOT of modification to get the main gear to sit right.
It would be interesting to see US Army Apaches in that desert camo scheme, especially the Delta model. The Israeli Apache looks killer in that new Yellow/Brown/Gray scheme, more interesting than plain ol’ FS 34031. I have four or five photos saved to the ol’ hardrive of some US Army AH-1S Cobras painted in an overall desert sand scheme that was used during ODS.
Speaking of the IDF/AF, have you guys seen the Israeli AH-64D Longbow [:D](they are calling it ‘Sharaf’, Hebrew for Serpent)? It has the same desert camo scheme as their Alpha model Apaches. I’ll post a couple of pics when I upload them to my photo-hosting site. Another note, it has more lumps and bumps than it’s US counterpart (like most IDF/AF aircraft), though not as many as the British HIDAS suite.
Cheers,
Albert [:o)]
Here’s the IDF AH-64D pics I mentioned;
Cheers,
Albert [:o)]
Nice shots Alby!
Why can’t we use cool paint schemes like that?
Thanks for all the advice, guys!
I think I prefer the helo drab then.
@cobrahistorian: The kit. Hm. The decals are incorrect, the fuselage halfs don´t fit too well, the controls are totally wrong, the laser designators are missing completely… no, I´m not too content with this kit. But I guess from a distance of several feet, it will be quite an impressive bird… So I´ll put it in some far away corner, where You can just IMAGINE how great this kit COULD be…
At the moment, the Trumpeter Hind is waiting for me in my closet. I think this will be definitely some other league of kit!
Theoden,
Amen brother! I’m hoping Cobra Company will come out with the laser detectors and the correct aft ends for the avionics sponsons (you listening there Chris?). I’m printing my own decals for it (the best approximations I’ve found for the United States Army is “arial narrow” and the tail numbers are “arial alternative”) . I agree completely with the controls. I’ve completely rebuilt the collectives to get that “stick on top of a stick” look. Its closer than what the kit comes with. Thankfully my fuselage halves fit together alright. Just have some sinkholes in the top of the fuselage over the canopy, but those should clean up pretty quickly. It won’t be too bad once its together… that is, unless the main gear decide to be a pain in the butt… we’ll see. Good luck with yours!
Thanks a lot cobrahistorian!
And thanks for the tip about the main gear. Could have been an unplaesant surprise…
Unfortunately I still lack the skills to improve a mediocre kit, but I´m constantly working on that [:)]
I´d love to see some pictures of Your Apache when it´s finished! Just to see what´s possible!
Greets,
Theoden