I built this helicopter model for the first time in May 2015.
Recently, sometimes I’ve been making modern tanks and airplanes, but not yet touched any modern Japanese military forces. This time I choose to make this attack helicopter, the Apache of Japan Ground Self Defense Force. This kit was released in limited production from Hasegawa based on the US Apache kit.
Quite a large number of parts have jammed tightly in a box. I am accustomed to making a tank kit with many parts, so it’s not a big deal; still, I felt it’s many compared to the aircraft model.
Now I’m making a cockpit. I was surprised by the body size and took a shot of it.
The two figures are the same parts, only changed the right arm. There are many burrs, and hard to file them after painting and sitting them in the cockpit, good feeling.
I attached decals with decal-softer after gloss black paint.
I ignored the procedure and assembly of the helicopter wing first as I got the impact of this size. Tank kit space needs to be smaller after completion and become save space, but the airplane needs to be larger. Maybe I need to find some display space all over my house after completed.
(06-May-2015)
I painted the inside in black as an indication.
First, I thought it would be an easy position for using the instant adhesive, but not going well. It wasn’t easy to stick the left and right big parts. Hard to fix the location of the cockpit and the rotor. I tried to fit in only the rotor and the next fitting, only the cockpit, to confirm the gap; after some challenges, I could find the best position of total adhesion.
Initially, I used Tamiya pouring cement, but it is not as strong as Creos, so I changed it to Creos on the way. Firstly I tried to fix the parts cleanly, but in the end, I only mind to assemble stoutly. I wonder if other modelers feel these processes are complex. Well, I think there is something like tips. I’m apprehensive about reaching the goal at this stage.
The assembly of the machine gun position on the lower body was a complicated mechanism, and I could not understand the explanation. I checked three side pictures of paint indication and used my imagination to make it. Maybe I think there’s not so big a mistake…
There are lots of detailed rivet molds close to the joint. I’ll care as much as possible not to give damage the rivets. The best way is the fine-tipped file; something thin stick attached to sandpaper is best, I suppose.
I don’t understand how to mount the main rotor parts, especially the diagonal frame. I think the explanation of the indication manual is not good enough. I checked on the internet for real machine photos, but they were more complex… Mounting in the half guess, too. Anyway, this area good looking detailed mechanism.
It was almost completed after mounting engines, wings, and many large parts. There are many small remaining parts for the goal. The manual is compressed to a small space layout and is hard to read.
Maybe the only small work was left before outside painting. The photo is finished with all the parts in the cockpit and is painted in black. Now I’m masking the canopy. The canopy was polished with compound on the outside and inside.
(09-May-2015)
The base of the manual’s illustrated explanation of the tail rotor was also challenging to understand. I needed to attach many small parts in the final phase of the assembly, but the looks were not drastically changed, and my motivation was not kept high.
The parts located in the runner flame of this kit are complicated without any basic pattern. For example, tank kit all-wheel parts are gathered into one runner. This kit required a detailed plan as I needed to open many holes in the parts. It was my first time making a helicopter, and had quite puzzled feelings without basic structure knowledge.
I assembled it carefully to avoid damaging too many small rivets on the delicate parts while filing the gate.
There are a lot of yellow character decals on the missiles. It’s challenging to paste decals after mounting all the missiles; it’s good timing to blow black again.
Brown part of the camouflage paint, there is an indication that the No.12 olive drab and No.21 middle stone mixed color, but it wasn’t a good color taste. I adjusted by adding No.22 dark earth; I suppose it’s a reasonable conclusion.
Well, only painted masking sol and, like completed, good camouflage. This sol is sticky and hard to peel off.
Continuing camouflage, the next step is a small black pattern, masking over the green.
The camouflage paint was finished in good taste.
It didn’t make dirty inside the cockpit like my making Russian Flanker last time, but apparently, very little masking sol penetrated the inner on the cockpit panel rim. I’ll re-paint the frame thicker to hide it; I hope it’s almost no problem after attaching the window wiper.
(21-May-2015)
Japan Ground Self Defense Force began the deployment of AH-64D (Apache Longbow) in 2005. Unfortunately, this plan substantially failed. Licensed production was initially scheduled for 62 aircraft deployments in nine years but was suspended for only 13 aircraft procurement.
It is regrettable to hear this kind of story because it’s a high-performance machine. Only 13 aircraft are not enough anti-tank forces, even if it’s not one wing group.
1/48 scale modern aircraft is a large and robust impression. Oh, I have forgotten to place the object of comparison together in some photos. The overall length is about 33 centimeters; it’s also 33cm from the edge of the rotor blade to the other end. You can feel the size more when looking at the photo in the making section.
After assembling this kit, I could understand the shape more. Before making it, I have only vague images of this aircraft. The three-dimensional model helps our 3D sense deepen (only appearance).
Camouflage paint is large vertical stripes of brown and green. A pattern of tiny black enters here and there.
There are some lenses on the top, called the Arrowhead system; it is a device that supports all-weather combat capability. There’s no paint indication in this manual, so I referred to the box art and painted some lenses rim in red.
The top round object is the Longbow Fire Control Radar. This radar can instruct individual attacks within the 6-10km range. We can say it’s the biggest feature of this helicopter.
The missile is a guided missile called Hellfire II. The next tube-like beehive is the Hydra 70 · 70mm rocket launcher stores 19 rockets.
I did weather only washing in dark colors.
After washing in a dark color, small rivets show up.
A small blue warning light is on the right side (left in red). These small parts give a detailed impression of the kit.
Apache has an armament of an M230 30mm chain gun on the berry of his body. The whole cartridge is 1200 rounds. I suppose 1200 is very quick, with a couple of automatic fires.
On the left side of the window, I mistook attaching a blot of plastic glue. I felt so sorry.
I could recover the accidental point of the front window inside infiltration of the masking sol when attaching the wiper and painting the thicker frame. I relieved it…
I did hard work on the cockpit, especially some green CRT monitors. At first, my photo was not a good shot. This is using a flashlight to force lighten the inside.
The top of the rocket and missile has shining parts; it’s a nice accent.
The main rotor’s structure is complicated and mechanical, and good-looking. I dry brush on the edge of them in metallic color.
I show you this underside when displaying it’s almost hiding. The red sun is a tiny round.
One more shot of the underside of the tail.
Rotor blades are slightly hanging when the helicopter is on the ground. I bent these large blades in warm water and curved them very carefully.
Fragile parts are attached to the up, down, left, and right sides everywhere, and the holding position is minimal. It is a more delicate aircraft than I had been thinking.
This eye-level shot is best seen as and strong visual, I suppose.
This is my first helicopter plastic model, and I enjoyed it very much! This kit has many hard-to-understand parts, and I may make some mistakes. Eventually, it goes nicely with camouflage paint. I like it. There is one more Apache in my stock, which is the original US version. I don’t mind taking this so soon; someday, I would like to challenge it.
(25-May-2015)
