Hawkwrench

I guess us helicopter guys got left out in the cold. No helicopter parts! BUMMER!!! Tim

Those lights look pretty cool. Can't wait to see it finished. Is it a commission build? Tim

Really nice. How about some modern helicopter cockpit IP stuff? Tim

In the first pic, everything you're looking for is shaded in green. We called that the "bridge". This is what you need. In this Sikorsky archives pic, if you look closely, you can see the 3 servo links sticking up in the air. (forward, aft and lateral). They connected to the swashplate From underneath. Hope this helps, my friend! Tim

I think I used .020 Styrene strips for the links inside the swashplate. Is that what you're talking about? As far as the pics, let me look and see if I got some. Tim

Thanks Oliver! I know you could do it alot better than me though! Tim

Like you really need inspiration, you ARE the inspiration brother! Tim

Great job so far Oliver! She's coming along nicely! Tim

Finally some more work done. I scratchbuilt the mast/uni-ball assembly that the lower pressure plate and the mast extension sit on. The pressure plate and mast extension will be built next. I'm trying to make the swashplate to where it can be cast in resin as a whole assembly. That's all for now! Tim

Love those H-60 wheels. I'll be ordering a set here soon! Tim

Some more progress. I finally have the rotating scissor mounts done. I still need to drill the holes on the mounts. Next up, drawing up and making the lower pressure plate and gluing on the nuts and bolt heads. Tim

This build is just absolutely beautiful my friend!!! Brilliant scratchbuilding!!! Tim

Here's a diagram showing the proper up angle of the rotor hub spindles: Tim

While working on my swashplate, I also began redoing/scratchbuilding the main rotor hub. The kit part shows the hubs flat while on the real H-60, the hubs actually point up at an 8 degree angle. So here's what I've got as the beginning of a new rotor hub. Here's the hub in the main rotor shaft extension for comparison Tim

That is the only difference between the two. Everything else is all the same. Tim

After a while of shaping and sanding and stopping to look at my reference pics, one of the scissor mounts is finished. Here's a closer look And yes I plan on fixing the gouge mark on the inner ring. That was caused by cleaning up where I had dremeled and sanded. Until next time! Tim

Started to work on the rotating scissor mounts. The swashplate is about .080 tall and I didn't have any .080 strip styrene, so I glued together 2 strips of .040 and then glued those pieces to the swashplate in their respective places. Above the piece is a 1/35 scale drawing of the swashplate with the scissor mounts drawn into the graph paper for size comparison and mount location. In order to find the mounts, I layed the model piece into the paper and made my marks on the model piece where they needed to go. Now to just let them dry and then I'll begin sanding to shape. Tim

Thanks Jim. With my MH-60M build on hold for a little while, I figured I'd turn my attention to another build still related to hawks. The H-60 kit is nice, but the rotor head is pitiful and is screaming out for attention. So I figured that being an ex hawk mechanic, that I could possibly scratchbuild and create a new rotor head assembly that more looks like the real rotor heads on hawks! Tim

Ok, now I have a better backdrop I think. Well, I finally finished modifying the lower PC rod attachment points and scratchbuilt the 3 connecting link rod ends inside the swashplate. Next up, the rotating scissor mounts! Tim

I did manage to work a little bit on the detail set while on lunch at work. 1- The swashplate on the real H-60 only has 3 connecting links, but on the model there are 4. ( The small oval holes in the inside of the model piece). So I got out my handy fancy Dremel and ground away 1 of the links leaving the correct 3. Sorry for the bad lighting and backdrop, Its a table. I also began reshaping the main rotor hub as the kit piece is a poor representation of the real main rotor hub. Until next update, thanks for looking. All comments/critiques welcome. Tim

The 1/35 scale H-60 Hawk family of kits are pretty nice and with aftermarket PE and detail sets, it builds into a good looking model that's looks realistic except for 2 areas: 1) HIRSS 2) Rotor Head I've always wanted to build a better detailed rotor head, but never tried until now. Please be patient with me as I don't get much time to model as I would like but I will post in-progress pics as I move along in the build. Here's all the kit parts minus the PC rods. Hopefully I can make it turn out something like this: Cheers for now! Tim

Man, I'd kill (just kiddin) to get to see your models in person and finally get to meet the man behind the masterpieces! Tim

Really nice, how about some modern helicopter instrument panel goodies??? PLEASE! Tim

That hole is actually for the IPS blower exhaust pipe. The dirty particles of air are expelled through this exhaust before it goes into the compressor section of the engine and mixed with fuel. Tim

That is just plain crazy detailed. Those pics look so real, like you're looking at a real B-17. Well done, well done!!!!!!!!! Tim