WIP Tree Phrog - Academy CH-46A/D Sea Knight 1/48

Modeling Subjects Helicopters
21

Hi,

Your build looks amazing so far. Can’t wait to see more [:)]

Pat

22

Thank you Pat,

I fixed the remaining seams tonight, and I reapplied some primer. I’ll try to lay some Marine Green tomorrow night.

23

I’ve been adding paint, a little at a time. The black basing technique has delivered good results in the past. I started by lightened my base color, Tamiya Olive Green (XF-58), with Yellow Green (XF-4). This mix was used to make airbrush squiggles.

20180411_013300 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180411_013316 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

I layered over the squiggles with thin layers of XF-58.

20180412_014605 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180412_014614 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180412_014624 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180412_014635 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

This is the point where I’m happy with the result.

20180413_010536 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180413_010546 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180413_010551 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180413_010558 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

Thank You for Looking

24

Definitely starting to look like a 46. It really looks good so far.

Tom

25

Chris,

Wow! That interior turned out really nice. I’m looking forward to seeing this one finished!

Just curious, who makes the engines on the 46?

26

Thank you Bruce,

I didn’t work it much this weekend. Family came to town, and the 1:1 scale auto needed attention. The car will likely cost me more build time when the parts come in on Tuesday or Wednesday, but I enjoy swinging wrenches occasionally.

-Chris

27

I’ve been working on painting details. The ramp got some attention, so did the blades and the tires. The primer for this project was Rust-Oleum, which was a new thing. I don’t know if the primer fell short or if I didn’t clean the parts thoroughly. I was using Tamiya masking tape.

20180417_025437 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180417_025401 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180417_025352 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

Academy’s instructions indicate that the undersides of the blades be flat black, and the upper sides of the blades be olive drab. This didn’t strike me as correct, so I asked a facebook group of Marine Corps helicopter veterans. Most of those gentlemen said flat black all over is appropriate. However, two gentlemen said that their unit had OD blades. Several Marines said that their aircraft had at least two blades painted with white stripes on the upper sides (one on the forward head and one on the aft head). This was to prevent one aircraft from landing in the rotor arc of another in a landing zone.

I also painted the black area aft of the exhaust.

20180417_040014 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180417_040006 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

Just little bits at a time. Thanks for looking,

Chris

28

I found a little problem with Academy’s kit. The kit blades have fillets on the leading edge-outboard and trailing edge-outboard corners. However, all pictures I’ve seen show them as flat across the outboard tip.

30688708_2069285830016026_2689178022705379939_n by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

I had already painted the blades, but I couldn’t leave them like that. So, I chopped off the ends. I don’t know if building up the outboard profile would’ve been more accurate, but it looks more correct now.

20180420_225056 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

I’ll be working to correct my blades and their paint.

29

Chris,

Sorry hear about the paint peeling. But, I’m confident you’ll bounce back quickly. Nice catch on the blades.

30

Thanks Bruce,

I missed your question from before. The -46 uses GE T58 turboshafts. They were probably all made in Lynn, Massachusetts.

31

The decals may take a while.

20180424_012341 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

32

Wow, really impressive build so far. Love the interior details and experior paint.

Looking forward to seeing it completed.

33

Thank you Modeler#1. I’m going to be doing decals for a while.

34

I’m just slowly adding decals. The left side stencils are done. The non-skid panels are applied. There’s still alot left to apply. The stencils and service markings add a great deal of visual interest.

20180427_023256 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

35

Seriously?? That is all you have gotten done?? LOL

It looks great with all those stencils! I applaud your effort. This build is really shaping up nicely.

36

Thank you Bruce,

I thought I’d give an update. I’m done applying decals, but I think some of them will need more setting solution. Academy decals are OK, but they are a bit thick. They tend to need a few applications of Micro Sol along with some strategic slits from a blade. The decal placement instructions for this kit could use some improvement. The general aircraft markings and stencil instructions are on page 9, and the specific aircraft marking instructions are on page 10. The panel lines on page 9 are inaccurate. Page 10 appears to be more accurate, but all of the little stencil decals aren’t called out. Overall, I’m happy with my decals, but some of them will take some extra effort to lay flat without silvering.

20180427_023256 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180502_025041 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180502_025052 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180502_025057 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180502_025103 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

It may be some time before I show any progress. It’s time for a vacation.

See you soon,

Chris

37

It’s time to call this one done. The decal battles lasted a very long time. I had to take a vacation from them. In the end, there was no working out the silvering. I’m quite happy with the model despite the silvered decals. If I were to build it again, I’d add some detail forward of the instrument panel. There’s a little area that can be viewed through the front windscreen.

20180515_010821 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180515_010832 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180515_010838 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180515_010852 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180515_010901 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180515_010912 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180515_010917 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180515_010924 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

The display base is from www.coastalkits.co.uk. I thought it was worth a try.

20180515_011143 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180515_011204 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

Marine medium helicopters of Vietnam.

20180515_011336 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180515_011401 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

The Rotor-heads of my Marine Air Wing. We’ll call it the 48th MAW.

20180515_011643 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

20180515_011654 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

Thanks for looking,

Chris

38

Turned out really nice! Nice collection you have going there of the big ones. I have couple helo’s in the stash. You’re inspiring me to build one. Great job.

39

Thanks John,

You should definately build the helos. They have a majestic look about them. It’s like they have halo’s.

I think this will be my next project. It’s not a helo, but it keeps with the MAW theme.

20180511_122159 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

40

Well done. Did you apply the decals over flat or gloss?