ICM AH-1G 68-15012 "#1 Du Me Mi" - F Troop, 4th Cav, Phu Bai, 1972 (mostly) Finished!

[Out2gtcha]

Thank you guys. All the nice comments definitely keep the motivation up!

 

 

Well, fast forwarding here a bit, Ive now gotten the dirt wash on, all of the airframe weathering done and a matt coat added!  Pics in a min......

 

[Out2gtcha]

Things have not turned out perfectly, but I am pleased none the less. The TBE is now attached and weathered, a full flat coat is now on, the chin turret is painted and weathered and the XM-158 rocket pods are painted, weathered and now complete as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The XM-159s I had planned to add OOB were just plain BAD. Very hard to clean up, didnt look very good and would have detracted from the overall look I believe. 

So an offer from one of our own was just what the Dr. ordered!

 

Mikkel (aka our own "Mebo" on LSP) has given me permission to display his work here, which is great news as they are really looking special. Mikkel offered to make some XM-159s for me, and so far they are looking amazing!

 

Here are some 3D print previews. Really astounding work, with a variety of possible war-heads:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some first prints. Later the tubes will be represented with thin walled SS tubing:

 

 

 

 

 

The 2.75" rockets are also really turning out to be a things of beauty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loads and loads (no pun intended) of possibilities here for rockets:

 

M151/M156/M230/M274 (10 pounder):

 

 

 

 

M229 (17 pounder):

 

 

M257/M278 (Illumination Light/IR):

 

 

M255/M259/M261/M264/M267 (Flechette, Smoke,Submunitions,Training)

 

 

M247 High Explosive:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A first test print run of the rockets indicates just how small these things will be............but still amazing looking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again thanks to Mikkel for all his hard work on these!  They will indeed look spectacular when completed and on the model. 

 

More in a min! 

 

 

 

 

[Out2gtcha]

On to the meat of the deal............

 

The airframe has progressed continuously since I started (at my own slightly slow pace of course) as this kit has turned out to be just what the Dr. ordered as far as getting the modeling MoJo back.  Its also really nice to work on something besides an airplane, although I do love fixed wing and now have an itch to get back to my beloved........but that is another story for when the Cobra is finished. 

 

The MRP flat coat went down as usual, quite dreamily to a rock solid flat/ever so slightly semi sheen. I tell ya, you really do have to work to mess this stuff up! It goes on like butter and dries nearly instantly, but yet doesn't get brown or yellow, and you REALLY have to pile it on heavy to get the flat coat to bloom and get the sometimes tell-tale white marks.

I used far FAR less MRP paint than I have in the past, and continue to be amazed by their paints and clears.

 

On to the progress then!

Fast forwarding a bit here things have progressed to the point of not needing the engine tower rod any more as I am now done with paints, decals, the major weathering and all over clear coats. Overall assembly, chin turret and turret weapons as well as some minor weathering to go, as well as the 3D printed XM-158s.

Nothing perfect here, but a LOT of fun to be had, and things have overall turned out to my satisfaction.

 

An enamel grime was applied, chipping via silver pencil, and some enamel stains and leaks applied, along with some grease and oil stains around the fuel filler, main mast opening as well as heavily used areas. Did not get a chance to grab underside pics, but there is some weathering there too. The black basing work is also actually apparent with the Mk. 1 eyeball as well. Sorry about the Q-tip/cotton bud hair everywhere! Ill have done away with that before finish:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I swear the TBE looks way better IRL than in pics as well. The macro eye is an unforgiving mistress:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have since these pics were taken removed the chin turret masking and test fit the chin turret. It still fits great, but the main thing I wanted to mention is that if you can, I would highly recommend allowing a space for an aftermarket M-134 if you are using one, then filling some of the base with some kind of weight.

Although the ICM Cobra is not a "tail-boom sitter" the CG feels distinctly farther back than it should be, and when you set the model down without the chin weight, it feels overly light and has sort of a gentle rocking motion to it when set down. I'm sure with the rotors on and some of the main rotor more out front it may help with that feel, but that tiny bit of extra weight in the chin really helps give the model a more solid, balanced and purposeful feel.

 

I'm off to see how much cleanup and touch-up I have waiting for me in the cockpit after using the two open cockpit panels as masking!

 

Cheers,

 

 

[Marcel111]

Looking very good!

[Out2gtcha]

Thanks Marcel!

I'm working on a lot of piddly stuff tonight like the stub wing landing lights, engine tower upper red light, the rear facing clear lights and the helmet chin straps. 

The little stub wing landing lights were a lot more difficult than I first thought and probably should have added them prior to paint but hey ho, they're on and acceptable.

Pics later.

[MikeMaben]

Cool lookin' stuff Brian 

[Out2gtcha]

Thanks gents.  Small stuff here and there now.

 

Removed some canopy masking and got the stub wing lights and upper engine housing lights complete, as well as knocking out the cleanup of the two canopy parts removed so far.

 

I did have to do some touchup of some overspray right near the pilots seat here, but after cleanup it is no longer visible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chin turret is glued in as well

 

 

 

 

 

These stub wing tip lights were way harder to do than I anticipated, but turned out good except for my finger in the last pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not finished yet, but the two helmets are also coming along. I made some chin straps for them and have the gunners helmet strap fastened as I plan on hanging it upside down for some visual interest, and to be able to see the inside of the helmet.

 

 

 

 

 

More later, cheers! 

[Martinnfb]

Loving it !

[Out2gtcha]

Thanks Martin!

I'm getting closer and closer on this one, and will be fetteling the XM-158s onto the stub wings as well as finishing off the helmets.

 

I've been delaying removing the rest of the canopy masking as I wanted to wait until the 11th hour of the build, but I'll need to remove the rest of the masking soon so I can implement any needed corrections before moving on.

 

[Out2gtcha]

Well.....................sometimes you win and sometimes you dont.   Work has been a TEAR this week, as Im on-call and the entire weekend was shot to heck with work, so 0 bench time.

However, right before that I did get a chance to get a bit of progress. While its not a complete killer, my MoJo for this build has fallen off a cliff.   I decided to remove the masking on the clear parts, and got a bit of a let down. 

I'm not sure if the Future was not fully cured before masking over it, or maybe I just pooched the Future dunking of the clear parts from the get go. Either way, at least 1 section of the glass (rear port) is just utter crap, and really looks terrible.

 

As I stated many times over, I don't seem to have much luck with clear parts and this build doesn't seem to be any different. *sigh*.

I can NOT bare the thought of removing all the glass to re-Future it all, so I think I am going to try to remove the pilots armor plating and tackle it with some NOVA polish as best I can and call it good. It really did my enthusiasm for this build in, and took the possibility of a contest model away,  but I am close to the finish line, so will still finish things up to what degree I can, as Mikkel isn't quite done with the XM-158s are not quite done yet anyway, so will have some time to complete the rest of the build.

 

I will likely see if I can knock this one out as far as I can go, then I've been thinking a lot about the forlorn F7F setting across from me, and how that really needs to get finished!

[Dennis7423]

That's the pits Brian. My advice is, unless you have a show coming up soon that you want to get it entered into, set it aside before doing any additional work on it, and work out a good solution in your mind that will appease you. Don't rush it to get it done, this kit is a passion build of yours and you can get it back up to snuff. Let the disappointment pass, and then give it another go when the time is right.

 

- Dennis S.

   Thornton, CO USA

[adameliclem]

Hi Brian,

 

You made a superb recovery after your Toryu’s canopies bit you in the face, and I’m sure you’ll get the Cobra where you want it to be. Great work.

 

Cheers,

Adam

 

 

 

[brahman104]

Stunning work Brian!

 

Craig

[Grunticus]

On 11/16/2021 at 2:51 PM, Out2gtcha said:

Well.....................sometimes you win and sometimes you dont.   Work has been a TEAR this week, as Im on-call and the entire weekend was shot to heck with work, so 0 bench time.

However, right before that I did get a chance to get a bit of progress. While its not a complete killer, my MoJo for this build has fallen off a cliff.   I decided to remove the masking on the clear parts, and got a bit of a let down. 

I'm not sure if the Future was not fully cured before masking over it, or maybe I just pooched the Future dunking of the clear parts from the get go. Either way, at least 1 section of the glass (rear port) is just utter crap, and really looks terrible.

 

As I stated many times over, I don't seem to have much luck with clear parts and this build doesn't seem to be any different. *sigh*.

I can NOT bare the thought of removing all the glass to re-Future it all, so I think I am going to try to remove the pilots armor plating and tackle it with some NOVA polish as best I can and call it good. It really did my enthusiasm for this build in, and took the possibility of a contest model away,  but I am close to the finish line, so will still finish things up to what degree I can, as Mikkel isn't quite done with the XM-158s are not quite done yet anyway, so will have some time to complete the rest of the build.

 

I will likely see if I can knock this one out as far as I can go, then I've been thinking a lot about the forlorn F7F setting across from me, and how that really needs to get finished!

 

Brian, I've found ICM to have good customer service when I screwed up on my Bu-131 build. IF you bought from an ICM affiliate retailer they will send you free replacement parts. Set the Cobra aside and let your frustration wear off. One day, it i'll get finished!

 

Cheers!

[Out2gtcha]

Thanks again all for the kind words.

I set the AH-1G aside for a few days, and last night was the first time Id been at the bench since last week when I peeled the window masking off. I sat down and got started with the new replacement NOVA polishing set I had purchased last month. All of the boo-boos on the clear parts were all my doing with Future, so the clear parts themselves were not actually any issue.

Im still not sure what happened with the Future application, but it did not go the way I planned. I removed the pilots O2 hose, and his armor plating on both sides as to be able to get to the non-opening side on the pilots pit. After removing the masking on the gunners non-opening canopy side, I must not have put enough glue on it, as it came off when I pulled the tape off. This was actually a good thing, as it allowed me to more easily polish that canopy section without damaging the gun-site. 

 

I started applying the NOVA fine scratch remover with a soft polishing cloth and some Q-tips (cotton buds). Nothing came out exactly like I wanted and most of the glass still has some less than perfect smudges on it, but fortunately a lot of the worst of the mess on the clear parts polished out. 

This is far from what I would have liked, but still much better than it was right after removing the masking

I still have some finishing work to do on the clear parts before re-installing the armor plate and the pilots O2 hose, but the parts are substantially better than they were. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apologies about all the fine hairs still lurking on everything........the polishing process creates some static cling that attracts a lot of that, but is easily knocked down with some of the NOVA cleaner.  Looks like I still have some more cleaning to do after my final polishing round

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The opening sections are complete, and have just a bit of minor work left to be done. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also finished up the two ReedOak SPH-4 helmets as well. International coins for size reference:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More.............