Bell OH-13H

[Jim B]

Here is an update on the progress on my Bell OH-13H Sioux that I started on 12 SEP 15.  This is the kit I'm starting with:

I wanted to do it as a MASH helicopter, but the Revell kit is an H-13H, not the H-13D that was used in Korea.  I didn't know this at the time that I purchased the kit, so the Revell Marketing Department did their job in capitalizing on the popularity of the TV show "M*A*S*H".  I bought it to do a MASH helicopter, so it worked!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this kit, the framework of the main body is molded in one piece:

Yes, it's molded way out of scale, but what are you going to do?  I was at the American Helicopter Museum in West Chester, PA, yesterday; and they have an H-13D in MASH colors.  I checked the main parts of the frame (while no one was looking) & they are about 1" in diameter.  The kit's scale out to about 2.1" in diameter.  I realize why Revell did this, though.  If they molded it in the correct diameter for 1/35 scale, the main support members would be 0.7mm & would be very weak.  Conversely, of they did the main structure in brass, the kit would be very expensive & probably wouldn't sell well.  Balance.

Here is the Lycoming VO-435 engine (or at least it's supposed to be):

Overview:

Cockpit close-up (well sort of):

Edited May 21, 2017 by Jim B

[Snake45]

Very cool! Drive on!

[Jim B]

Thanks.  Just finishing up the cockpit, so I should have some more photos soon.

[Jim B]

So I managed to get some work done on the Sioux in the last few days between work & the rain.  The cockpit is just about done:

And here's a shot of the WIP instrument panel.  Does anyone know what that ring is supposed to be?  Is it a gun sight?

And an overall WIP shot.  The engine & cockpit are not permanently mounted yet.  They're just "posed" for the photo.
 

More to come!  Soon, I hope.

[Jim B]

Starting to look like a helicopter:

 

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Wow that looks great Jim! I've always like these helicopters. I even tried to build one years ago, but the tail was warped and I never could get it to suit me. Yours looks awesome.

[Jim B]

Thanks.  It has some issues: the fit isn't great, took for ever to get the white paint to cover, the boom is way out of scale, & the plastic is very soft.  I'm really hoping to finish it up here soon.

Edited August 6, 2017 by Jim B

[Arjay 396]

That's a swell looking model, Jim!  It reminds me of the aircraft on the flightline at Fort Rucker back in the '60s (the orange-and-white training colors).  I learned to fly in a Hughes TH-55A Osage (we called it the "Mattel Messerschmitt") painted in that same scheme.

[Jim B]

Thanks, Roger.  Hopefully I'll have some additional updates soon.

Isn't the Hughes TH-55A (Schweizer 300) the same helicopter the Cousteau used on the R/V Calypso?

Edited August 16, 2017 by Jim B

[Arjay 396]

I believe it is. 

I've only built a few choppers thus far and I'm working my way up to trying an old Aurora H-21 Shawnee that I picked up on the cheap from Ebay.  Here's a UH-60 I finished a few years back, wearing "dust off" markings......

 

[Jim B]

Sweet!

Someone is building the Italeri H-21C here: http://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=258749&page=1

[Jim B]

Not the neatest job on masking the main rotor, but it's closer to done. Tail rotor is in paint right now.

 

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Looks Great!

[Jim B]

Thanks.

[10thumbs]

Hi James, I like it.  Starting to really look like it'll fly.  Nice and clean work!

Good lighting on the pics too, I like bench pics during a build project.

[Jim B]

Thanks.  It's now done.

It's not perfect, but I like it.

[10thumbs]

Looking good James!

Nice and clean build.

How did you keep the glass dome so clean?  I'd have had glue everywhere and a zillion scratches.  I always get glue where it's not supposed to be.

Well done.

[Jim B]

Thanks, Michael.

I was just really, really, really careful.

This is really in international kit.  It was molded in Poland, printed in China, & packaged in the US.