Starfighter Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 (edited) Here's a quick look at the first and probably only model I have finished in 2020, Academy's excellent 1/35th scale AH-1Z Viper. Probably the best kit I have ever built - excellent surface detail (raised rivets!!), perfect fit. The cockpit is a bit of a letdown detail wise, but nothing that can't be fixed with a bit of effort. Clear parts are a bit of a disappointment as well. The model was published in issue 6/2020 of German magazine ModellFan, so I can just post a minimum of photos at the moment. I am working on a little diorama which I'll show you once it's finished. Just a quick summary of the materials used: Blade fold & blade fold rack by Legend Productions, some PE from Eduard's AH-1W set, Master Model gun, Flying Leathernecks decals, Werner's Wings stencils. MSR/SAIP pod, ground handling wheels, Sidewinder seeker head cover and FMV pods on the tail boom designed & printed by myself. If you have comments, critique or questions, please do not hesitate! Edited July 1, 2020 by Starfighter Tolga ULGUR, blackbetty, Bil and 36 others 37 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbetty Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 that looks awesome, Ben! glad i allready have the kit. is the Eduard PE a must? JeepsGunsTanks and Starfighter 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfighter Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share Posted July 1, 2020 Cheers mate! I have used the AH-1W PE parts for the pedals and seat belts as nothing else was available when I started the model. No idea about the dedicated AH-1Z sets to be honest, but the Eduard cockpit masks are totally useless as perfect masks are included in the kit... Correct seat belts are included in one of the AH-4Z crew sets from Legend as well if I remember correctly. blackbetty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Hi Ben, Very nice kit!!! I like the way you reproduced the weathering effects. Are you going to release the parts on your Shapeways account? I would also be interested in 1/35 four branches pad eyes as used on the LHA ships if you intend to produce them. BTW the Eduard set has some interesting parts for the cockpit (mainly the floor parts) but most of the set parts are far from being absolutely required. The belts are not included in the set but they are part of the DEF seated pilots set. Cheers Thierry Starfighter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfighter Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share Posted July 1, 2020 Hi Thierry, thanks for your kind comment! If you need the FMV parts and MSR/SAiP pod, just drop me a message and I will print a set for you. The ground handling wheels are not for sale at the moment as I would have to slightly revise the files first to make sure they fit without any modification. It's only the axle height of the rear wheels but it has to be done... I can upload the "+" type padeyes, no problem. I have printed them myself for my diorama and did not think about uploading them; the problem is that there is no drill to make correctly sized holes - I think the padeyes have a diameter of 6,4mm in 1/35th scale and I doubt there is a 6,4mm drill available... it was no problem in my case as my carrier deck was CNC machined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfighter Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share Posted July 1, 2020 No seat belts in the Eduard set btw? That's pretty ridiculous. Can't understand why Academy included them in the first place - they could just have added it to the PE fret included in the kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seiran01 Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 2 minutes ago, Starfighter said: No seat belts in the Eduard set btw? That's pretty ridiculous. Can't understand why Academy included them in the first place - they could just have added it to the PE fret included in the kit. It’s Eduard’s latest money grab - it seems all their aircraft sets in recent years have belts as an entirely separate item to get you to spend extra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem37 Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 I love that! There's so much to see. Great show, Ben. Sincerely, Mark Starfighter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greif8 Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Wow, that is a very nice build! Ernest Starfighter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Looks super Ben Starfighter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Very cool Starfighter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck540z3 Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Perfect weathering again Ben. Your models always look very realistic and convincing. Congrat's! Chuck Starfighter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZPetrP Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Very nice VIPER with nice surface. Congratulation Starfighter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Wow super nice! I have the kit in my stash too, but doubt it will turn out this good. Well done! Starfighter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcel111 Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Wow Ben, trust you to take a great kit to another level. Beautiful all round with perfect finish and weathering! Marcel Starfighter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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