Boeing (Fuji) AH-64D Apache "JGSDF" [1:35 Meng] - RFI

[Alex]

I decided to take a little detour and build out the main rotor before starting in on decals for the fuselage.

 

It is quite detailed.  It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but the rotor blades are a darker and slightly shinier color that the central hub is.

 

Like every modern military aircraft, the Apache has a bazillion stencils.

 

I've gotten the top, bottom, and port side done; starboard yet to do...

 

I need to stay focused on this thing - I'm reminded that November 30 is one month away, and there's still a lot of little stuff to complete here...

[Alex]

Here it is with (almost) all the decals on and sitting on its landing gear.

 

It's ready for a coat of clear flat this afternoon.

 

I said (almost) all of the decals because I was hasty when I unmasked this nose sensor array:

 

 

Not checking that it of course also has stencils that go on it.  So it needs to be re-masked, shot with clear gloss, etc.  As long as I have to re-mask, I think I'm going to paint it a slightly lighter shade of grey, per photos of the real thing.

 

Also on the masking front, the tail rotor blades need to be a shinier, darker grey than the rotor hub is, just like the main rotor.  Unfortunately, they are not made as separate pieces, so I'm going to have to come up with custom masks to follow that wavy line between the layered stiffener plate and the rotor blade itself:

 

Lots of stuff still to do here.  Haven't even started on the pylons/weapons.

[Alex]

And one note for anyone who wants to build this kit as this Japanese aircraft.  Some (not many) of the stencils are replaced by Japanese text ones.  This is not indicated on the "universal" stencil decal directions.  Led me to having to remove some (well-adhered) decals.  The solution is just to do all of the JSDF specific decals first; then it will be obvious which of the generic stencils you don't need.

[themongoose]

Love your attention to detail 

[LSP_Kevin]

Lovely work, Alex.

 

Kev

[Alex]

13 hours ago, themongoose said:

Love your attention to detail 

 

9 hours ago, LSP_Kevin said:

Lovely work, Alex.

 

Kev

Thanks guys!

[DugyB]

As a former rotor head I’ve loved following your build. Keen to see the end … 

[Alex]

The final frontier here is weapons.  I'm using a combination of kit (M261 rocket pods, AIM-92 ATAS):

 

And AM parts (pylons, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and launch rails):

 

ResKit is going to need to rename itself "3DprintKit" here pretty soon.  Very little of what I've bought from them lately has actually been cast resin...

 

Still hoping to finish this beast by the end of November, but it's going to be down to the wire.

Edited November 13, 2024 by Alex

[DugyB]

15 hours ago, Alex said:

The final frontier here is weapons.  I'm using a combination of kit (M261 rocket pods, AIM-92 ATAS):

 

And AM parts (pylons, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and launch rails):

 

ResKit is going to need to rename itself "3DprintKit" here pretty soon.  Very little of what I've bought from them lately has actually been cast resin...

 

Still hoping to finish this beast by the end of November, but it's going to be down to the wire.

Impressive looking bit of kit there, I like it.   

[Alex]

18 hours ago, DugyB said:

Impressive looking bit of kit there, I like it.   

Thanks!  I’ll admit that I’m looking forward to seeing it done and sort of questioning my compulsion to hang as much armament on models as I possibly can.  I’ve still got 4 Hellfires and one launch rail to crack out of the 3D print supports, and then I can start painting them…

[DugyB]

5 hours ago, Alex said:

Thanks!  I’ll admit that I’m looking forward to seeing it done and sort of questioning my compulsion to hang as much armament on models as I possibly can.  I’ve still got 4 Hellfires and one launch rail to crack out of the 3D print supports, and then I can start painting them…

Sounds like the norm for an Apache though, another thing which I’ve never seen replicated on any model of helo is correct exhaust staining. Usually they become pretty filthy after a few OPs and no wash. Though I’m not certain about Apaches or any hello with heat filters installed. Exhaust collects more on the lee side of the aircraft. Example would be if the rotor spins to the right then staining is heavier on the the left, and vise virsa ….if that is of any help.  

[geedubelyer]

That's a great scheme and a new one on me. I can't remember seeing another Japanese Apache model in this scale.

The finish you've achieved is exemplary. Well done.  

[Alex]

6 hours ago, geedubelyer said:

That's a great scheme and a new one on me. I can't remember seeing another Japanese Apache model in this scale.

The finish you've achieved is exemplary. Well done.  

Thanks!

[Uncarina]

Truly impressive work Alex! I’m really enjoying seeing this build manifest.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Alex]

After furiously painting and decaling ordnance this weekend, I was able to shoot a coat of clear flat on everything this morning.  I swear that this is my single favorite step in the model-building process.  Seeing everything blend, even out, and look so much more "real" versus "plastic toy".  Anyway:

 

What's left now is painting the tail rotor blades (I did get those masks made), assembling everything, and applying the decals that represent the gaskets/seals around the cockpit glass panels (these are white and pretty obvious in photos).  I should probably do the window decals first, so I'm not trying to handle the thing with all that ordnance hung off it...