Italeri UH-1B "Huey" Vietnam War - build progress

I have seen the Vietnam Huey in real life last year 2023 in December visiting Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) at the War Remnants Museum there and thought about building it since. 

Building this basic Italeri kit takes me back to my childhood in Bucharest, where I built it before in my family's old apartment. It brings back some beautiful memories. 

Interior is coming together beautifully with colors closely matching recommendations. US Gull Grey for the interior is spot on—I'm really pleased with how it's turning out. Planning to use Yellow Olive/Gelb Olive for the exterior, inspired by a helicopter I saw at the War Remnants Museum in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)—it feels like the perfect choice. Painting with enamels is a breeze since no primer is necessary, making the process much smoother. 

Before applying US Gull Grey for the interior, I used Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black. Unlike enamels, acrylics require a primer, but Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black can be tricky to apply with an airbrush as it tends to clog the Airbrush easily. 

Work result of the second day, interior of the Huey almost done. I painted the instruments panel and the buttons/switches with a needle. I think 40% of the work for this kit is the interior.
 

Cockpit fitted into place, many details painted which I hope will be still visible at the end. 

Seating: Painted the pilot chairs and passenger seats in olive drab to match military specifications.
Seatbelts: Painted the seatbelts pale green for added realism.
Displays: Used green and blue for the displays to replicate an authentic cockpit look.
Buttons and controls: Painted the buttons white with a needle.
Windows: Masked the windows to prepare them for painting later. 

First painted the top windows with Tamiya clear green. After they dried up I masked them and the front windshield and then positioned and glued them to the model.

Did some filling and sanding on the gaps afterwards. 

Masked most of the windows. The ones bellow and on the side sliding doors are next. 

As you can see near the engine, the Italeri kit doesn't fit so well. I have applied Humbrol Model Filler for the gaps. 

 

Painted top windows with Tamiya Clear Green.

Masked all windows and engine in order to prepare the model for primer. 

Mr. Surfacer 1500 black applied along with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner 40% + 60% 

A couple of hours work well spent, including airbrush cleaning which is very important after using this primer. 

I have painted the model with my airbrush (Harder Steenbeck Ultra Solo Airbrushpistole 125503 - Double-Action Düsen-Ø 0,2 mm), using Revell Enamel Paint colour Yellow Olive/Gelb Olive, code 42 (32142). The paint is still curing, but looking at my reference pictures from Vietnam, I like the match.
 

I have painted the model with my airbrush, using Revell Enamel Paint colour Yellow Olive/Gelb Olive, code 42 (32142). The paint is still curing, but looking at my reference pictures from Vietnam, I like the match.
 

I placed a small sponge on the right door entry to keep paint out as I'm planning to build the model with one door open so that the interior can be seen. 

 

Gloss varnish applied. Tail section painted yellow where the “Danger” decal pointing towards the tail rotor will be placed. 

Masked the Huey’s nose before applying MRP-005 black. 

Black nose result, the MRP paints are very forgiving and think when applying, only downside is the strong smell. Also the first decals have been applied. 

More US Army decals set. The small decal on the front is spelling “Big Train” 🙂  

Tamiya Mark Fit Strong is my go to product for working with decals. 

I find it appealing.  

Rotor assembled and decals on. 

Ready for weathering. 

Weathering with my Italeri black wash and a brush. 

The result of the work, model is finished. 

Looks like a Huey 🙂