Viper 02 - AH-64D Apache, 1-3 ATKHB B Company "Warlords", Iraq 2003 ,OIF

Villiers de Vos
Nice work on the cockpit.

Daniel
Thx Villiers!

James C
Following 👀👍

Alexander
Count me in as well

Treehugger
Btw, styrene rods are nice for replacing round parts if you want to consider that, that way you don't have to deal with flash. Finding the 100% correct Ø styrene rod might not be possible, but ususally I find something that works ok.

Daniel
Welcome mates! Was a bit lazy with the progress pics but will update soon. Huge recommendation for the kit btw, really accurate+enjoyable

Slavo Hazucha
Joining the party - big helo - big show - unfolding already! 😉

Guy Rump
Looking good. 👍

Daniel
Thanks guys for stopping by, some porgress was made. Still no big issues I can share, builds quite uneventful - in a good way 🙂

Daniel
primer down . only some cheeky mould lines appeared, the rest is ok
Next up: mottle mottle mottle

Juskifo
and mottle
you have already started on an exhaust
why is it not assembled like the other?

Stephen G
@Juskifo
Leaving the engines off might not be the worst idea! I guess because of the wing stubs, it might make it difficult to freely mottle/spray the underneath? Also could help prevent the 'blowback' of paint particles that can happen when you spray in tight corners... And I guess if the fit is snug, then attaching them later is no problem.

Juskifo
@Stephen 👍👌

Mark D
Following!

Slavo Hazucha
The big assembly primed black, the Parmigiano cheese wheel up & solid - looking for the fun to begin!! 😉

Daniel
Yep, stephen is correct, its mainly for handling and the fit is so good that I can attach the box later without problems. I Installed the right engine as I need to preserve the interior color (open engine) and using it as a "mask" if you will.

Going now from the Parmegiano to the Gorgonzola - I mottled the whole thing with RAF Sky

Erik Torp
Looking good!

Daniel
Thank you Erik!

Daniel
first layers down

Michael Kohl
Really looking good.

Daniel
Thx Michael!

Alexander
Agreed, patchy appearance looks really good already!

Stephen G
Really cool effect!! Haven't seen anyone do it like this before.

Jos Jansen
Incredible nice painting/patchy work...👍!

Slavo Hazucha
One cool loking patchy Apache!! 😉

Michael Kohl
Absolutely

Villiers de Vos
The paint effects are building up nicely.

Daniel
Thx dear mates, glad you like the apatchy 🙂
I went over it with several shades and then sealed in gloss.
I am now decaling, started with the soft stuff, went quickly up to the heavy hitter: mark fit super strong. Now they bow to my will😬

Juskifo
👍

Daniel
So a little heads up in between: raised rivets and super rigid decals are no good match. So if you plan on building this kit, also plan for Aftermarket decals as the inbox ones just hate you and you start to hate them...moved on to X-20A instead of ordinary decal softener, the lacquer paint starts to peel but the decals still just laugh in my face and give me the finger...😵

Stephen G
Ah, that is disappointing to hear. I've just started building mine and getting ready to paint the cockpit - I'm really hoping aftermarket decals are released soon. And hoping they include things like the 'Do Not Grab' markings for the cockpit.

Daniel
Yeah, disappointing is also that the stencil application leaves you in a bit of a head-scratching as they mixed up a lot of the numbers in the instruction, left some out, called out for more than they provided on other parts and so on... You need very good reference photos and work along these if you want to stay true to the original. Instructions are really the weakest part of this kit.
But it seems that a lot of stencils are also oversprayed on the original over the time, so you have a valid excuse if you do the worn down patchy style 😉

Oh thats right, AM decal situation is difficult, I thought there would be some out there for the academy apache -but nope.

SO if you work with the box decals my experience is that your first requisite to get them soft is really hot water. I made it so hot that you want to pull your finger out after 1 second 🙂 But that helped.
(I have a high power coffee mug heater pad and a stainless steel cup)
Then I pre-trimmed them, as they all come in big rectangluar pieces. The less rivets you have to cover the better. Then I applied some mark fit super strong on the location, put the decal on it with tweezers and let it sit for some minutes. (Theres no wrinkling at all) I use a soft but sturdy synthetic brush to dab it into its place, removing the excess mark fit in the process. Then covered it carefully with more MF super strong, some minutes rest and then a solid roll over with a Qtip pressing it down into the structure, removing the liquid. Then carefully cover it with X-22A, as the last stage dab it down again with the brush, maybe another Qtip
The decal never gets wrinkly or sticky, its indestrucable. Only thing that suffers is the paint below and around (AK RC with GX 112 over it in my case) But I can repair/explain it with the patchy look.

So thats what I did the last days, going to put the semi gloss coat on now and update some pics later 🙂

Chan Li
Almost there, really promising 😎.

Stephen G
I could not agree more on the instructions. They are atrociously bad. The section on the transmission was bewildering. So hard to get angles right.

Also think I've noticed the first real accuracy issue - the PNVS appears to be from the AH-64A, not the -D. Certainly every -D Apache in my Wings and Wheels reference book has a completely different PNVS. Looks like we'll need an aftermarket set for that as well.

Daniel
Thanks Chan! Naah, I wouldnt say almost...I am saving the avionics bay, engine compartment and rotor head for later 😅

@Stephen:
According to my reference books they updated the PNVS after 2005, so for the depicted OEF/OIF versions the old school PNVS is correct.
They also added the upgraded PNVS in their E-Kit. Question is if you can also build a post-2005-D-Apache out of the E kit or if you would need to buy both 🤔

Stephen G
I guess that's the reason! A bit frustrating they didn't include it in the -D kit as well. I'd assume the cockpit parts are different between the -E and -D kits, so you'd need both as it stands. Hopefully it's in the Saraf kit as I plan to build that afterwards.

Slavo Hazucha
C'mon, admit you took a pic of your room & photoshoped in a real Apache! 😉

On a serious note - even with my sluggish building pace I had all kond of decal-issues, appears that manufacturer, model surface and decal age can mix a furmula which always works a bit different... 🙂

This looks great so far, totally looking forward to the next stage & finish!

Daniel
Next Stage reached!
Thanks a lot Slavo, true, I mainly trust cartograf, the rest is always a more or less pleasant surprise 😉 Need to test these peel-off-eduard decals as well one day, they look pretty awesome 👍
@Stephen: Cool, didnt expect the other versions this quickly when I preordered...otherwise I might have switched to the Saraf, such a cool Apache version. Maybe if I make room.... 🙂

Alexander
Looks really good with the shading Daniel, coming along very nicely! (<)

Daniel
Thanks a lot Alexander, yep, slow but steady progress.
This time the open avionics bay. I also worked on the weathering.

Villiers de Vos
The wiring that you added is impressive.

Alexander
Wow, indeed impressive - this model becomes better with every single picute! 👍

Michael Kohl
Absolutely

Zsolt Czegle
Awesome work so far.... 👍

Neuling
Wow, dieser Kabelsalat! 👍

CarlosTomcat
fantastic! 👍

Vincent
This looks great. Very nice paint work!!!

José Pires
Great look so far!

Gary Kitchen
Marvellous paintwork. 👍

Spanjaard
Excellent job so far. Love the details and paintjob on thise cables in pic 23. Lots of work, but certainly paid off

Daniel
Thank you mates for your very nice comments+likes! 🙏🏻Great motivation for the next hill climb being the engine compartment🙂

Saeed Jamali
excelent kit , and excelent painting 👌👌, they published Saraf too , we are waiting for idf vesion dude 😍

Daniel
Hey mates, its finished!! Sry for not updating the build, but this was all stop and go - I needed to save every precious free second for building not for photo stuff 😉
Anyway, it was a true pleasure to build this amazing kit and I am happy with the result. My first weathering on dark green, so I learned a lot about that on the way. Still prefer gray 🙂
I will also build a simple desert airfield diorama with some busy GIs. For now I borrowed a 1/48 base for some photos, hope you enjoy.
Thanks again for stopping by and your kind words+likes! 🙏🏻

Alexander
Amazing result Daniel, truly awesome weathering! 👍👍
WIP pics would have been nice, but we are satisfied with the end result as well 😉

Juskifo
wow he throws this apache
Well well done Daniel👏

Rui S
Impressing work 👍

Villiers de Vos
Very nice work.

CaptGPF
That's it, I'm using your kit as a reference when it's time to do mine.

Neuling
Excellent result!

Daniel
Thank you very much guys!!

Stephen G
Fantastic end result! I think it's hard to do an Apache/this colour of camo and not have it look like a brand new toy... but you've achieved it!

Out of interest - did you modify the cockpit in any way to accommodate the carbines? A little disappointed they weren't included in the kit. Pretty standard on combat missions.

Daniel
Thanks a lot Stephen! Yeah, I really tried to avoid the toylike and move towards the used look 🙂 Some spent ordnance, some open hatches helped a lot in that in addition to the patchy paint job.
I was also a bit disappointed in the missing M4s and scratched the gun rack from sheet. But did not need to modify the cockpit itsself, only dry fit and adjust the rack.
Now I found out they will offer some extra stuff in their block II version: AH-64D Block II Late Version (Takom 2608, 1:35)
Would have loved some pilots for mine as well!

Mark D
Yeah, you have to buy about 4 Apache kits to get everything combined, smart job from Takom. You don't have to email Takom for extra sprues because they totally neglect every email 😬

CaptGPF
I think you should go for the late version - and round it out with the other editions. That way, you can do a modern diorama of Apocalypse Now. Make sure you have it play the Ride of the Valkyries as well! 😍

Daniel
Yeah, the Block II comes with resin cockpit parts+equipment, 2 pilots and rotor fold parts for the same price as the "normal" D... all you need...sometimes it's better to wait.🙈
Also I am sure there will be more AM for this kit series after some time.

Michael Kohl
Yeah, but sometimes you just wanna HAVE it. NOW! 🙂

Chan Li
Haha, real thing!

Guy Rump
Beautiful! 👍

José Pires
Great work!

Daniel
Thank you very much!
@michael: exactly, I saw their screenshots and wanted to give them my money. Still dont regret it 🙂

Dave Flitton
Holy Jehovafats!!!! This is an awesome build! I like weathering very much.

Michael Osadciw
Awesome weathering! It looks like a workhorse!

Daniel
Thank you very much Dave and Michael! Workhorse is what I had in mind, great you like it 🙂

DuperScale
Looking outstanding. The paintjob is on point and the wirering is perfect.

Daniel
Thanks a lot duperscale 🙏

Neil
Wow 😲 that weathering is EPIC mate 👏 as is the whole build too of course 👏💯🔥

Daniel
Thank you very much neil, very kind!

Cristian A
best AH-64 D I have ever seen <3