AH-64A Apache (US Army)
![](/albums/img/8/9/3/1273893-81643-25-p.jpg ""Before" shot of the heat dissipators. This would look pretty unsatisfactory out of the box. | View full picture")
![](/albums/img/0/7/6/1274076-81643-23-p.jpg ""After" shot, with Airwaves photoetch applied. Better than before, but the metal parts didn't conform to the shape of the molded part as well as I had hoped. | View full picture")
![](/albums/img/9/4/0/1291940-81643-93-p.jpg "Applied gloss lacquer and decals, then applied a "dirty helicopter" wash made from Vallejo acrylics. | View full picture")
![](/albums/img/7/6/5/1292765-81643-23-p.jpg "The Italari AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (green) looked a little too "pointy," so I compared them to the ones in a Hasegawa kit (gray). The nose of the Hasegawa missiles looked much more accurate, but the tail kit was wrong (middle). I corrected by filing off the square edges (bottom). I'll be using the Hasegawa missiles on this build. | View full picture")
Comentarii
Dean HarpsterThanks very much for the encouraging words everyone! I'm calling this done and moving on to phinishing my Phantoms for the group build!
Łukasz GlińskiNice finish, pity the PE canopy fit was so bad, I think it looks better than the kit part 👍
Album info
AH-64A Apache
Operator: US Army 4th Aviation
Location: Butts Army Airfield, Fort Carson, CO (USA)
Timeframe: 1991-1993
Loadout: Close air support
- Inboard: 8x AGM-114 Hellfire
- Outboard: 2x M261 rocket launchers (19x Hydra-70 each)
Personal Interest:
This model represents the AH-64A Apache that was just being introduced into 4th Aviation during my tour of duty at Fort Carson. Because the AH-1F Cobra gunships used by 4th Aviation were among the most modern in the US Army, the AH-64 supplemented them rather than replacing them. During exercises, AH-64A Apaches operated with OH-58D Kiowa scout helicopters in a hunter/killer configuration. In large scale exercises at the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, I frequently saw AH-64A Apaches operating in conjunction with USAF A-10A Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft.
The AH-64A was first used in combat during Operation Just Cause in 1989. The Apache was used to strafe various Panamanian Defense Forces targets, mostly at night. I was serving as an Air Force ROTC cadet in the Air Forces Reserves during this operation, which impressed upon me the importance of joint Air Force and Army operations.
