Experimental GB Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne Finished 30-6-11

[ianf]

My last build of this GB will be an injection molded kit at last! and to be honest one I've wanted to build for a long time. I managed to pick the kit up a few years ago at Kemble's show, and as the kit is 1/72 model by Aurora, its fairly rare. The kit belongs to another era in terms of detail, but the shape of the Cheyenne has always interested me. How much detailing I will do depends on time and to be honest like deacon did with his Barracuda sometimes you just want to build it for fun!

The obligatory box shots


You can see it has a lot of rotors as the rear rotor was supplimented by a pusher prop at the back and the main rotor arrangement looks complcated.


The shape looks so cool


Hopefully I have enough time to build this. I'm curious to see the end result.

Thanks for looking

Ian

[A40-BP]

Bugger me thats a big box! Not sure wether i like the helicopter itself or not, but looking forward to seeing it constructed.

7

[ianf]

Hi with 2 days left of the Gb this is going to the wire, but good progress has been made, the kit is fairly simple but the fit is good.

The rotor head was one of the first attempts at a rigid rotor head and to say it substantial is an understatement! I've put the Lynx's modern blades against it to give you an idea of size and complexity.


The helo is big


The rotor shaft wont be visible once the rotor is on so its simple shape isn't a problem


Head on showing how slim it is.


Size comparison against my Lynx


The kits isnt to bad and most features don't lok to bad, except the tail rotor central hub, I may after its done scratch build a new one. So far its has built quickly and now needs cleaning and paint applying so with some luck it should make the deadline.

Thanks for looking
Ian

[Deacon]

The clocks ticking mate. I should know, I need to finish my Seahawk by tomorrow night!

Alan

[ianf]

Well it's the final day and I have achieved my goal of all the kits I entered have been finished. This was a really fast build only 3 days took to complete it. I did enjoy this one a lot its not the perfect kit as it definitly belongs to another era and some of the bits are simple, yet I enjoyed not worrying about accuracy to much. I did mod the kit a bit I added seat belts and undercarriage doors. I crystal cleared the sensor turret and I added an exhaust pipe.



I had worried the decal sheet would be useless as its 40 years old but it went on supprisingly well abliet it did have silvering in. which for once I'm not bothered about.






One of thegimmicks in the kit is the undercarriage can retract and I wanted to do that as itshows the sleek lines of the fuselage.




Head on shows the sleek fuselage and the huge rigid rotor head!




Finally I dusted down 2 other attack helos to compare size (so forgive the dustiness on them) Namely the Comanche and the Augusta A-129


Thanks for looking.

Ian

[Deacon]

Well done Ian.

You certainly put a lot of work into your builds for this GB.

Alan

[tommercer]

great build but what an ugly, ugly helicopter

[Fumbles]

Ugly helo... But neat build.. They should make more kits with retracts. Good job.

[Craig]

Great job, but without wishing to repeat, that's one ugly machine!

[Tonka2009]

I agree the panels on that weren't beaten with mallets, rather beaten with the ugly stick. Nice build

Marc

[jag636]

Now thats what I call a very powerful looking purposeful aircraft, I love it and would love one in my helo collection, well done