1/35 Trumpeter Chinook HC.2

by Thomas Neuss

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The Chinook is a well known transport helicopter, so there is no need to say much about it.

The Royal Air Force also received Chinooks, the first arrived in 1980 as Chinook HC.1, mostly a CH-47C. The Chinooks now in UK service are Chinook HC.2, that are CH-47D with some British equipment.

As I wanted to build a Chinook HC.2 the CH-47D kit from Trumpeter was the kit of choice. 

The kit 

Trumpeter has two Chinook kits in his program, the "A" and "D" model. The problem with the "A" are that wrong engines are included, the one in the "D" model are correct.

If you plan to build a 1/35 Chinook, make sure there is enough space in your showcase, as it builds into something really big, especially if you plan to show it with rotors attached. 

Construction 

Starting with the cockpit I added some plastic material and wire to make the wiring of the instrument panel and hydraulic system of the paddles.

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The electronic rack was also wired, then I started to examine the interior of the hull.

That was where the decision had to be made to build the Chinook with closed cargo ramp or doing a lot scratchbuilding, as the interior lacks a lot of detail and the arrangement of the cargo ramp is totally wrong in the kit.

I decided to start scratching, beginning with the inside structures, using Evergreen profiles and Magic Sculp.

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In the rear area it is most important to add details, as it is well visible on the finished model.

I also added seats, they are not included in the kit, but I like the red colour they add to the model and they bring some life into the huge cargo compartment.

After completing the interior and fitting the fuselage halves together there was some sanding necessary.

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Then it started outside, as I wanted to build a British helo I had to scratchbuild most of the details, including most of the antennas, the winch, RWR, counter measures and the big sand filters. Those are not absolutely necessary as only fitted in sandy areas, but I like the bulky look of it, so I made a master and resin copies.

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After completing the painting (Airbrush and Gunze Colour) I started to fix the smaller details, such as scratchbuild wipers, lights and the machine gun.

At last I made a display, a sandy road somewhere in the desert and a crew member standing beside the aircraft. The crew member was made using some parts of Dragon figures and Magic Sculp to form the flying suit.

And that’s it, after 3 months of building, I've got a really big helicopter model.

Hope, you like it, 

Thomas

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Photos and text © by Thomas Neuss