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I
picked this kit up a few years ago, not realising at
the time how inaccurate it was. When I started on it a couple of years ago I
realised I had to do some serious work to it to make it look like those operated
by the Australian Army.
The
underside of the aircraft was first - I sanded smooth the oil cooler exhaust
area and removed the cargo hook.
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Next
I attacked the interior. While the passenger seat rails are too thick, the
amount of work required to reduce them wasn’t worth the effort. Seat belts
were added from masking tape. A new interior-mounted hoist was scratch-built
using the kit supplied item as a base. The pilots’ seats were given belts,
inertia reels and headrests. Two fire extinguishers were built and added.
Avionics equipment was added to the chin window area and some areas blanked off.
First aid kits were constructed from tissue paper soaked in PVA glue, painted
and mounted to the side walls and under the cabin seat.
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jerry can and role equipment box were scratch-built and fitted under the
seat, too. A litter was scratch-built from wire and masking tape,
painted dark green and fitted to the roof.
A box section was
constructed to enclose the rear section of the cabin, so there were four
sides to the forward ‘hell-hole’. The fuselage halves were then
temporarily joined to drill the cargo hook hole. |
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The
fuselage came in for some attention next. The engine access panel screens were
drilled out and filter screen added. The oil cooler exhaust was repaired and
opened up to accurately represent an aircraft minus the IR screen. The cargo
door window frames were removed and refiited so that both windows were the same
size. New windows were made from an old Oakley goggles box. The top air filter
area was removed and a new filter screen fitted. The anti-collision light was
removed and a base made for the strobe light, which was fitted after painting.
Air deflectors were made and fitted to each forward quarter door.
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The
main transmission required too much work to be properly modified, so I
restricted myself to adding a pair of collective levers and fixing the location
of the servos and elevator push-pull rod. The mast and head were modified
slightly to allow the main rotor to tilt, so I could show it tied down. A grease
(or oil) reservoir was added to each blade grip, too. Tip weight covers were
added and a rotor tie-down made up from wire and masking tape. The fuselage
halves were then joined.
Rob
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