DoogsATX Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Lost interest in the Lightning. My Mirage 2000 was betrayed by not-fitting Eduard PE. Third time's the charm, right? I love the AH-1Z. While deep down I will always prefer the AH-1W, the Zulu to me is sort of an anti-F-35. Instead of trying to replace a bunch of still really capable aircraft with a ridiculously expensive boondoggle, the AH-1Z thoroughly modernizes a 50-year-old platform. Better engines, state-of-the-art avionics and electronics, larger pylons for more ordnance, a rotor system that's better in every conceivable way. The Z is faster, has better range and can engage targets from further away than the W ever could. It also has 85% parts commonality with the UH-1Y Huey Venom (which KH also has on the way). It's like this is how upgrading the force should be done. Anyway...the kit looks incredibly complex, kind of. But it's spread across a shockingly small number of sprues. I think three total. Detail is good, but being honest it's not to the standard of Tamiya, Wingnut, or some of the most recent Trumpeter/Hobby Boss releases. Last night was mostly getting the major cockpit elements together. There's not really all that much - but the Zulu's pit is pretty spartan anyway with those big MFDs dominating things. The kit provides decals for a lot of the control surfaces, but I'll probably trust to paint instead for most of them. More to come - have to deal with some ejector pin marks in the armor panels flanking the pilot and gunner and creating some seat padding, then it'll be on to priming and painting some things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Matt Great start on the Viper and best way to bounce back and forget a bad kit, dig into a new one. Keep 'em coming Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Wow cool..................... Im not normally a helo guy (save the S-64 in ANY large scale) but I saw this kit on SB.com and was thinking how cool the Zulu looked VS the TOTALLY different looking initial Nam version. This will be cool to follow along with. Id love to see something like this come out in 32nd (No 1/35th, as I refuse to contribute to that invasive and unnecessary scale). Looking forward to this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogsATX Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Got some primer thrown at the cockpit bits last night. This one's going to be a bit tricky, since much of the cockpit is black, but made up of different materials so they are "different" blacks. I'll be tackling it with a few different blacks and a few with some drops of brown or green or whatnot to give some very slight distinction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 This may sound silly, but that's an awesome looking black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Cool helicopter. I had the Academy kit, but sold it some time back. I always liked the two tone schemes, and is what I'd intended to do. Have you picked a scheme yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogsATX Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Cool helicopter. I had the Academy kit, but sold it some time back. I always liked the two tone schemes, and is what I'd intended to do. Have you picked a scheme yet? Well the Zulu is pretty limited in terms of schemes compared to the old AH-1W. Basically a dark gray over light gray thing. They've left themselves room with this kit to release an AH-1W without too much trouble, so...I'm hoping! The Whiskey is definitely my favorite of the Cobras, but even the Academy kit is no great shakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usmcski Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Looking great so far! My Z is about 65% complete, but I'll definitely build another. And I'll most assuredly be following this thread to see how it SHOULD be done! Semper, Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogsATX Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 Started getting into cockpit paint work last night. Kitty Hawk calls for the entire tub to be Dark Gull Gray, but every reference pic I have shows predominantly black, save for the cockpit floor (and I'm guessing the aft bulkhead). Bit of masking and some Gunze 317 and blam: From there I got started on the "shades of black" work. Tamiya XF-1 for the seat "cushions". Vallejo Game Color black for the electronics rack on the rear bulkhead and around the armor panels. XF-1 + XF-22 RLM Grey for the armor panel surfaces. I'm planning on bringing in some Liquitex acrylic ink as well, and a few other options, before moving into the drybrushing and detail work. Out2gtcha and 109 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otis252 Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Looks great, hopefully we'll see a 35th scale kit soon. Question, what are those 2 binocular looking things on top of the amour beside the seats? Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Matt Aces on the front offcie and whoever said; Black is Black? Keep 'em coming Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogsATX Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 Looks great, hopefully we'll see a 35th scale kit soon. Question, what are those 2 binocular looking things on top of the amour beside the seats? Chuck I have no idea! I don't see them on the in-depth AH-1W cockpit photos I have so they're new to the Z I think? But not many good outside-in cockpit photos to study. At least none I've found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogsATX Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 More black shading tonight - this time with Liquitex Acrylic Ink on the seat frames, instrument panels and control sticks. I also discovered much to my joy that literally everything in the cockpit - save the aft bulkhead, which is already glued down - can be installed after the fuselage is closed. That's going to make masking so much easier down the road! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 That's looking really good Matt. How's the kit so far? Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogsATX Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share Posted February 8, 2015 Last night I encountered my first real point of frustration with this kit. The intakes. The ejector pin marks are one thing, But the pins and mounting holes ruin basically any hope of a correct interior intake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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