Tankers and Transports GB - Revell Mi-26 - Another update!

[Ben Montgomery]

Now this is one serious sized helicopter! Went out and bought it this morning, and I was immediately impressed with the quality of the kit. No flash, and lots of nice engraved panel lines. They have even moulded the rotor blades droopy! Also provided are "wrinkled looking" decals so that you can push them into the ribbed underside of the fuselage. How thoughtful - look stupidly hard though!

Ill be building this in the markings shown on the box:



Sprues:



And just to give you some idea of how big this thing is:





Looks to be a very good kit - cant wait to get started!

Just need to find a 1/48 scale one now!

Ben

[Charles022]

Argh you stole my bulid! Cant wait to see you crack on with this! That scheme are you doing it in?

Cheers

Charles

[Ben Montgomery]

Sorry! Could always do two Halos, that would be a good GB!

Yeah the scheme on the box is the one I am looking at, the only other option in the box is another Russian one, but without the Sharkmouth and white nose.

Ben

[Seamus]

Excellent choice Ben

I have the Zvezda boxing in the stash ( won't mention it was a tenner cheaper than the Revell kit ) and it really is a beauty. I thought about building it for this GB also, but I'll probably save it for the Red Star GB on BM. I'll be very interested to see how you get on though

[Ben Montgomery]

I think the Revell kit is exactly the same as the Zvezda, just with a different decal sheet?

£10 cheaper


While I remember, does anyone have any photos of the inside of an Mi-26 as I cant seem to find many.

Ben


First update to come later hopefully.

[Ben Montgomery]

Ryto, its update time! What with RIAT and my 18th quite close together, I havnt had much of a chace to get any modelling done. However, I sat down tonight and made a go of it, and now have the fuselage stuck together. Its a rather nice fit, if you can get all the various roofs, floor panels and side walls to stick together.

Anyhow, here is where I am at (nothing has been sanded yet, I;ve only just got it together):



And some nice floor panelling, which will be covered up when finished, but "at least I know it is there"
And yes, the inside is painted, I didnt just leave it. It just happens to be almost the same shade of grey as the plastic!



Quite a hefty beast for a 1:72 :



More to come soon hopefully

Ben

[Deacon]

Looking good Ben.

Err, did I read right and it was your 18th Birthday? If so, happy birthday, you certainly produce models beyond your years mate .

Suddenly I feel old .

Can't wait for the next update.

Deacon

[Ben Montgomery]

It was indeed my 18th, thanks Deacon! Didnt get any models though (hint hint Monty )

Next update should be tomorrow, Ive got the canopy and roof on now. I seem to have got one of the problem canopies that some people complain about on the Zvezda kits, where it is much too wide. Squeezing it to make it fit leaves gaps along the top and bottom. Time to break out the filler

Ben

[Seamus]

Good stuff Ben

Aside from the canopy, any other fit issues?

[Ben Montgomery]

Another fit issue Ive just found now is the panel that slots behind the two main intakes seems to be a bit small, quite a big gap either side. Aside from that, nothing major so far, although with so many pieces making up the fuselage there are inevitably some fit problems due to me perhaps just misaligning two pieces, which means the next doesnt quite fit etc etc etc....

More to come later.

Ben

[Ben Montgomery]

Well, Ive stalled on this one. My airbrush is effectively dead. there is a lump of paint stuck in the tube that draws paint into the airbrush, just outside of reach from needles, wires or anything else. Ive tried everything I can think of to get it out, including blasting pressurised air and water down it, but the lump just wont move. Any suggestions?

Ben

[Deacon]

Sorry mate wish I could help.

Would a photo of the blocked item give us an idea of how it could be sorted?

Deacon

[Jamesv9820]

Have you tried giving it a good soaking in Airbrush cleaner?

PM me if you want any advice on this, had plenty of practise with my Aztec brush!

Well, Ive stalled on this one. My airbrush is effectively dead. there is a lump of paint stuck in the tube that draws paint into the airbrush, just outside of reach from needles, wires or anything else. Ive tried everything I can think of to get it out, including blasting pressurised air and water down it, but the lump just wont move. Any suggestions?

Ben

[Ben Montgomery]

James,

You sir, might well be a genius. I didn't even think of airbrush cleaner! What a muppet!

Hopefully some updates this evening if I can sort the thing out.

Ben

[Ben Montgomery]

OK, I tried it but this blockage is just too stubborn, doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it. A new airbrush (or at least a new part) for me I think.

Ben

[Seamus]

Sorry to hear about your airbrush woes, been there a few times myself

What airbrush do you use, and where exactly is the blockage? I'm sure it must be salvageable

[Jamesv9820]

You might need to soak the part - I am sure that it will come out - as Seamus said, what airbrush is it? - I am sure it will come out - like I say its only paint and airbrush cleaner can get rid of most things!

If you are struggling, drop me a PM and see what more I can do

OK, I tried it but this blockage is just too stubborn, doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it. A new airbrush (or at least a new part) for me I think.

Ben

[bimmerboy]

Well, Ive stalled on this one. My airbrush is effectively dead. there is a lump of paint stuck in the tube that draws paint into the airbrush, just outside of reach from needles, wires or anything else. Ive tried everything I can think of to get it out, including blasting pressurised air and water down it, but the lump just wont move. Any suggestions?

Ben

hi ben have you tried soaking it in cellulose thinners or gun wash it should soften the paint enough to fall out just give it a good soak make sure it contains no rubber because it will swell up if it does just leave the air brush to dry throughly afterwards

[Ben Montgomery]

All tried and failed guys!

I've had to order another airbrush, which turned up today (ordered it yesterday!) so at least now I can just get on with it

Ben

[Deacon]

What brush did you go for mate?

Deacon

[Ben Montgomery]

Its a BD-134, can't remember the manufacturer! This is my third one, the other two broke but it's a good brush so I stick with it. Mi-26 is half cammed up now (just realised the green is too vivid!), so pictures this evening probably.

Ben

[Ben Montgomery]

Yes indeed, progress! I had an airbrush blitz-a-thon today, to make up for my lack of airbrush-ability over the past week or so.

Photos up till now:

(Not quite sure how those fingermarks ended up on the model )





Im really trying to go for a worn and faded look here. I did preshade the kit, but I didnt like the look of it when I airbrushed over the top, so I thickened up the paintwork. Any tips on oil stains, smoke stains etc would be helpful!

Thanks,

Ben

[Deacon]

Halo, halo, halo, what's been posted on here then?

Clever, clever. There was nothing wrong with your airbrush at all, you were just buying yourself time to get to this stage !!!

That looks cracking mate, well done.

Deacon

[davidm]

Thats looking supurb matey. What method do you use for doing camo with an airbrush? It's something i'm yet to learn!

[Ben Montgomery]

Cheers guys!

David, the camo scheme on this is a mistake that went right. I sprayed it in a lighter green shade that was too vivid to start with, and just oversprayed with a darker green. Some of the light green is still showing under the dark coat and around the edges, which makes it look slightly worn.

Deacon, very clever pun that, gave me a good chortle!

Ben