Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 Hi All it's been a while since I've posted a build on the forum, as I've been mainly building other manufacturers products for the last few months. To change that, and for a relatively out of the box build, I pulled this kit out of the loft. I brought it when it was newly released, and as the stamp on the underside of the cabin floor says 'CPG CORP 1983' that's been in my stash for a long time./media/tinymce_upload/60ed980b9fb827a655c45888970cb24c.jpgThis boxing of the kit provides parts for the Hormone A (Ka-25BSh) anti sub warfare version in Yugoslav air force service grey, and Hormone C (Ka-25PS) transport/ search and rescue version in Soviet red and white. I intend to make the 'A' version in grey, but in Soviet markings. However I may change my mind later./media/tinymce_upload/8d6226e2c745de3cce29fc05064a2d18.jpgDecals are very old and yellowed. I will try to rescue the Soviet Navy Flags, but the rest of the markings will come from the spares box. The colour call outs are given in the old Airfix paints, with a Humbrol conversion provided, and are slate grey or red and white all over, black tires and gun metal rotor head and blades, and that's it, apart from the crew faces in flesh! For a kit brought out in 1983, with no assistance from the manufacturer of the helicopter I would think, it's not too bad at all. The cockpit is nicely detailed with instrument panel with moulded on dials (though I think the aircrew would probably needed more than 5 instruments!), and the sticks and collectives are very finely done. The main cabin on the other hand has a floor and a seat for the electronics operator and that's it. You can model the main cabin door open, but I think it will stay shut. Surface detail is finely raised lines, no rivets, and is quiet nice. The main transparencies for the cockpit are okay, but for all the other windows they are over thick and all have sink marks in the middle. A winch is included, as well as a dipping sonar, search lights, buoy dispenser, and some weapons scabbed onto the side, which could be small torpedoes, depth charges or more sonar buoys. Anyone with details of what these are, and colour call out for them please let me know. The first issue I had on checking the parts was that half of one of the main wheels had gone missing in the years since I purchased the kit. A hunt through the spares box for a likely replacement found an old Airfix Spitfire Mk I half wheel that was approximately the correct size./media/tinymce_upload/aebb1c7a09b3935d0fc06197a34a219b.jpgThe remaining kit wheel is in the middle, with the replacement Spitfire wheel on the right in light blue. /media/tinymce_upload/761a4be4e52f4ae6dac3b560864ccc39.jpgThe Spitfire wheel was glued in place, and sanded to shape, the bracket was made from plastic card, and the bolt on the end from a small piece of plastic rod. It's not perfect, but it will do./media/tinymce_upload/e8f67aea93ce8a0fc588cd580a0bf003.jpgThe internals were constructed next and fitted together well. The next thing will be to search the internet for some internal colour ideas, so far I've found out that the cockpit floor and crew cushions are brick red and the rest a medium grey.More to follow soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2B Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 It will be interesting to follow your build PMM. I've never owned or built this kit so will be nice to see it done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted June 18, 2020 Author Share Posted June 18, 2020 The internals have been painted in a basic scheme of medium grey, with rust red cockpit floor and back cushions, khaki seat cushions and details picked out in black. I haven't bothered with any weathering or embellishments, as not much is seen anyhow. I might put in some masking tape lap straps later, no shoulder harnesses were fitted. Some sections of fuselage had to be cut out for radar and sonar fittings specific to this version, but these were marked on the inside, so not a big issue./media/tinymce_upload/f03466dab9d6d0624d3ab17f73e91eaf.jpgThe nose radar and weapons pannier were also prepared at this point. The fuselage went together pretty easily with a few clamps. The weapons pannier has covered up most of the under fuselage join, so that's saved some sanding. That thing on the side with 3 holes is a sonar buoy dispenser I think./media/tinymce_upload/21291f2cecf0b3912ac27f179bf10551.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/2cea7e385c7200a940c5b46ed564ef32.jpg Next task will be cleaning up the joint lines and adding the tail and undercarriage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2B Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Good progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted June 21, 2020 Author Share Posted June 21, 2020 I seem to be making pretty rapid progress for me on this one!The seams were sanded down rapidly with wet and dry, and only a little filler was needed on the top of the engine compartment. The worst fitting parts of the whole kit by far were the engine intake and exhaust at the rear of the engine compartment. A fair bit of fettling had to take place, especially around the intakes.The main undercarriage was tricky to fit, but went on okay in the end, and is stronger than it looks. The tail was next, and these were fine to assemble./media/tinymce_upload/3c9a0bf83cfb0eec6209beeb85faf957.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/032d6920044ada614ee77d236813b977.jpgA bit of filler around that top radome, but that was down to me. Intakes still need blending in in these photos./media/tinymce_upload/442896bc1e561fc0e6b086cb2363c078.jpgThe rotor mast was also assembled, without rotors, 12 parts in this. Unfortunately it cannot be made to rotate ☹️I'm ready for the painting now, will post again when the main scheme is on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 I’m enjoying this post, as I always do with yours. I too have never owned or built this model. While watching progress, I was tempted to think that if I had built one, I might have finished it as a 22 Squadron RAF ‘what-if’. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted June 22, 2020 Author Share Posted June 22, 2020 A 22 Sqn 'what-if'? Well I suppose it does look a bit like a Whirlwind with that undercarriage. It sort of has the feeling of an insect to it, a bit like a fat bee! Anyway, basic painting is done, a few more bits added and ready for decals (all 6 of them). The colours on the weapons on the sides are completely made up, as I could find no reference to them on the 'net./media/tinymce_upload/67e37e3ebff98ca906b050a3f0e6f18b.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/d5766126ded5580b9c285379e90bbf58.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/f6f05ea477e78babc7a86cb89fc1203f.jpg I shall be searching my decal bank this evening looking for suitable replacement red stars and bort numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Earth Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 Nice work Modeller !Very nice surface finish - both the detail on the kit itself - and the work you've done in assembly and painting. Looking good so far !Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted June 24, 2020 Author Share Posted June 24, 2020 Thanks Chris, praise indeed from yourself!I had a look through the decal bank and found these, the original kit decals are bottom right./media/tinymce_upload/d95cb0707b5abf1d2649b75695a5986d.jpgI chose to only use the Navy flags from the kit sheet. These were trimmed as close as possible to the design to hide the yellowed carrier film. When I put them on however they were still very brittle, and great care and much decal softener was used. The rest of the markings (the yellow 15 and red stars) came from a Hobby Boss YaK-3 kit I think./media/tinymce_upload/b9e91cf84bccf015d1afeb2bee43fc68.jpgThe last of the aerials and pitot were then attached and painted, leaving only a little weathering and a matt coat for the main body of the Kamov. I must finish painting up the rotor blades now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 My 'Hormone' is now complete. The rotor blades took some painting and masking, with the lower blades being black on top and grey underneath, while the upper ones were grey on top and black underneath. I had to be careful i was working with the correct set! To start off with the tip of each blade was painted white then a thin strip masked off, then the main blade colours painted, and finally the leading edge masked off and painted aluminium. Luckily when all the masking came off there was not too much touching up to do. Lastly the cockpit doors went on in leaving them slightly open, and the lights were painted in./media/tinymce_upload/45fbc0668cad7aef398aea155c5d0ac5.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/a0aec3b2e7b13d5eb2b38e977f76772f.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/e157f55a4cc3ff536cf6c462deb65487.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/2ab6fd3ca9c6aff876e9c6d36502c355.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/194e93565b3e41460b30f90f24d1b145.jpg I've been really pleased with the way this kit has turned out straight from the box, except for the decals. it's a good basic model for something that first came out in 1983. There's plenty of scope if you wish to super detail it, but it's still nice as it is. Maybe a candidate for the vintage classics range? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 I enjoyed this build - well done on a good finish, and thank you.Be nice to see a yellow one though :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Earth Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Impressive job Man !An intricate little helo that I rarely see built. Nicely done !Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter s Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 That suddenly went together and made a really nice little model! Great job.I saw a real one in Newcastle when I was a student. Some Russian sailor had fallen off his mast and smashed his legs up and the Russian Navy asked if they could transfer him to a British hospital. This huge twin rotor helicopter with red stars all over it was NOT what I expected to see land next to the medical school! That was Yeltsin era when we were clearly being nicer to each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomek22 Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Nice build! Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2B Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Another good build PMM. Well Done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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