Italeri 1:72 UH-34D Sea Horse

[SqzMyLemon]

What's a Vietnam Group Build without an iconic helicopter of some kind?

My entry is a kit from the stash bought on a whim earlier this year. This will be completely OOB as my model calendar is rather full at the moment with other commitments. The kit does not include any Vietnam era colour schemes so an after-market decal set is on order, and the only exception to the OOB build. On a side note, this is my first group build on ISM.

Here is the box art and the part trees:

[grover]

Love this helo, and its derivatives ever since seeing Riptide in the 80s. Good luck mate.

[snappercity]

Get some, get some. Full Metal Jacket.

Anyone who runs is a VC - Anyone who stands still is a well disciplined VC.

[LudvigN]

Nice choice on this iconic helicopter and good luck to your first GB here on ISM!

[felisbarcinonensis]

Cooool!

[SqzMyLemon]

Thanks everyone.

I've ordered after-market decals by Print Scale and against my better judgement will track down an Eduard photo-etch set. So much for OOB.

For inspiration, I watched Full Metal Jacket last night after the movie was quoted in this thread and I'd forgotten the Sea Horse was featured in it, rather than the Huey.

I need to make a paint run on the weekend to get Model Master 'Field Green' and an 'Olive Drab' as neither are on hand.

I've washed the kit sprues in a dishwater soap bath to remove any molding residue and have begun removing and sanding parts, but will hold off on construction until I receive the photo-etch. Once the decals arrive I will choose my markings and try to provide some background info. I'm not keen on simply copying Wikipedia or any other source verbatim on specs or aircraft history. I'd rather find out specific information based on the markings, where did it serve, who flew it (if possible) and some of the unit's operational history.

Stay tuned, hopefully an update soon showing some progress.

[LudvigN]

Im really curious about the kit itself. How is the mold and details?

[SqzMyLemon]

Im really curious about the kit itself. How is the mold and details?

Hi Ludvig,

For an old Italeri kit, I'm impressed with the moldings so far. There's very little flash to clean up. I've dry fit the fuselage halves together and they look good. The two front nose pieces look to be a problem with fit issues leaving a gap visible in the centre, but maybe some tactical sanding and such will alleviate the problem. Ejector pin marks don't look to be too bad and should be easy enough to clean up if I model the doors open. There aren't a lot of pieces and at 1:72 some detail is oversimplified, but overall it's a good base to start from and can easily be improved.

I'll take pictures and point out any fit issues I run across for you.

[SqzMyLemon]

My decals by Print Scale have finally arrived. I should receive the Eduard photo-etch any day and then I can finally get started on the kit. Catch you soon with some progress.