Academy AH-1Z

[Dave Williams]

Going to make a go at the Academy AH-1Z.  Plan to add some extras like the Quinta cockpit and DEF Models gun.

 

 

[themongoose]

You'll enjoy the hell out of that one!

[Dave Williams]

Some progress.  Added the Quinta set to the cockpit.  Still have to add the belts to the seats.

 

 

 

[Dave Williams]

Seats and TSS optics completed.  The TSS internals is a 3D printed part from the Quinta set that goes in the clear nose sensor ball, which is completely empty in the kit.

 

 

Edited June 8 by Dave Williams

[Dave Williams]

Got the front fuselage closed up.

 

 

 

[geedubelyer]

She's taking shape Dave. 

 

Was the fit good?

[Dave Williams]

53 minutes ago, geedubelyer said:

She's taking shape Dave. 

 

Was the fit good?

Yeah, pretty good.  I spent some time dry fitting and getting things aligned before glueing the fuselage together.  Also opened up the locator pin holes in the fuselage half since they were a little smaller than the pins on the other half.

[KiwiZac]

Those Quinta bits and decals really add something. I'm enjoying this!

[Usmcski]

Nice! I’ll have to check out the Quinta set for the TSS internals.

 

Keep up the great work!

 

Ski

Edited June 25 by Usmcski
Technical error

[Dave Williams]

Still plugging along.  Don’t really like that the elevators are just a butt joint.  The kit is really tail heavy.  I put in about 8 grams in the ammo bay (recommended is only 3 grams) , but it’s a little marginal after adding the elevators and later adding the tail rotor is going to make it worse.

 

 

[geedubelyer]

Perhaps you could sculpt a crew helmet bag or kit bag for the front seat around a fishing weight? 

Any ordnance on the stub wings that you could load up with weight in it's nose? 

Edited July 1 by geedubelyer

[Dave Williams]

I think I’m OK.  Added an egg sinker behind the front IP and a couple of small ones under the cockpit above the gun turret.  If I push the tail down all the way, it will easily rock back onto the skids.  I’m planning to leave the turrets off until last, so I’ll have access to the area in front of the front IP and under the front cockpit until the end.