As in the past you have seen the
progress on this helicopter. I have totaled parts and collected information on
all the parts I have used.
Academy MH-60K Special Services Blackhawk Kit number 11623 In
all from the kit I figured I used a total of 37 parts that were changed, cut or
modified to complete the MH-60 I wanted.
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Cobra Company
MH-60K Blackhawk superdetail set #CC48002 I used most of the parts from
this set, The only one I can think of that I did not use was the upper half moon
shaped instrument panel.
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Eduard
HH-60D/H interior #48 094 Primarily from this kit the only things used
was the tail rotor peddles and the rear cabin roof detail piece.
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Eduard
UH-60 Blackhawk exterior #48 081 From this set I am using the windshield
wipers, misc. antenna, wire strike devices and misc. screens and panels.
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High Flights US Army Pave Hawk Conversion # 4804 From this kit I used only the
IR jamming device on the top of the helicopter.
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I also used some fiber optics from AMT's Fiber Optic Kit.
The rest of the helicopter is evergreen strip, rod, quarter round, half-round,
sheet styrene, brass and aluminum tubing, sheet brass, misc. sizes of wire and
scraps from the scrap box I keep around.
I used several different types of paint while working on this kit, I used Model
Masters enamels, primarily but added some Poly Scale and some Model Masters
acrylic and Tamiya clear's as well.
I started working on this helicopter in August of 2002 and am just about completed
now. |
I have a power source plugged to the outside of the helicopter to operate
the LEDs for the navigation lights. A micro connector was added to the bottom of
the helicopter to power the LED, in a low profile area. I used pieces of fiber
optics from the AMT kit for the navigation lights placed in the small wing stubs
of the fuselage. I then made small lenses made with gel superglue for these
illuminated nav lights. I used larger fiber optics for the strobes on the rear
fuselage of the helicopter.
The formation lights on the top of the aircraft were painted with some craft
"glow in the dark" paint. I mixed some yellow and green, thinned and
applied it in multiple coats through an airbrush.
In this photo to the right I
used a black light to illuminate the formation lights for photography. |
Click on
image below to see larger image
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The decals were made using my computer and printer, due to the kit decals being
brighter than needed for this helicopter.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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Start
of HIRSS “Hover Infra Red Suppression |
Final
HIRSS “Hover Infra Red Suppression |
Between part 3 and
this final article on my MH-60K I rebuilt the HIRSS "Hover Infra Red
Suppression Subsystem" engine exhaust. I constructed it with styrene,
aluminum tubing, brass shims and brass rod. This took some trial and error
but when it was finished I was much happier with the newly built parts rather
than the kits.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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I also reshaped the intermediate gearbox screens located at the top of the
fuselage where the vertical stabilizer raises from the fuselage. The kit and the
Edwards detail set has an improper shaped screen.
I rebuilt the wing fold of the horizontal stabilizer and constructed the stabilizer
actuating arm.
I Re constructed a
rack antenna for the rear fuselage with styrene, brass rod and a slightly larger
telescoping brass tube.
There are a few
things about my helicopter I am a little disappointed with and the first is the
fact the decals did not turn out as well as I had hoped but overall I am pleased
that the helicopter turned out the way it did. I put a lot of time into this
project and I am joyed that it is finally to this point. I still have some
weathering to complete on the wheels and rotor head and some other very fine
detail work. I wanted to get everyone an update on the helicopter and like I
said before. I want to thank everyone whop helped me with this kit and a special
thanks to Ted Carlson @ Fotodynamics for his help
and for the photos he had sent me. After he had sent me some photos I
realized that detail I had added was incorrect and I made the necessary changes
and corrections. THANKS AGAIN TED!!
I ordered an acrylic case from Bill's Boxes, which turned out more beautiful
than I expected, built a stand for the helicopter and soon the helicopter will
be on display at the Colorado National Guard High Altitude Training Site where
student from the 160th come in for training frequently.
I hope everyone enjoys the update, I started a new project that I have wanted to
build for a while and when I get a chase I will update everyone on the progress
of my U.S. Coast Guard HH-60J
Bob
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