1/18th Scale Mi-24 Hind Retired

[YT]

Looking great Matthew. I'm getting really excited for this!

[normandy]

Wow Pickel that looks absolutely fantastic!! I can see the hours of design and work that gone
into it already. Well Done!!

[pickelhaube]

5 days working on the wing stubs and I am not done yet. Probably another 2 or 3 and I will have them wrapped up.

Next I will start working on the landing gear.

Setting the anhedral .

[YT]

NICE!

[pickelhaube]

Thanks guys .

Does anybody know when were and at what time the Russians started and stopped using the Russian star on the belly of the Hind ?

[pvanroy]

Beautiful work!

Actually, I don't think they ever stopped using the star on the underside - even the latest Mi-24PN/Mi-35M, Mi-28 and Ka-52 helicopters have the star on the underside (although the new VVS markings introduced in 2010 now feature a thin white and blue trim to the star instead of simply white as used previously).

[pickelhaube]

Thanks Guys

Moving right along I have mounted the front gear. It will have to function because the wheel and strut are visable when retracted.

The main gear will be plug and play and will be static.

[normandy]

Dang Pickel, this chopper is gonna look great! Nice job!!!

[maritime96]

Pickle this is gonna be a big sucker and one of your masterpieces my friend! !!

[Studly]

Matthew Old Chap, that is looking Bloody Awesome . Well Done Mate.

Cheers
Studly

[pickelhaube]

Thanks Guys !!

Got here up on her feet !! Lots of work for these small steps. I almost have the gear ready to ship to get them casted in metal.

Rotor update . I made a skeleton of the rotor hub out of brass and used some kind of JB type epoxy to hold it together . Failer I am kicking around the idea of having the rotor cast in metal as well . Or if the cost is sky high I will try to soldier the brass inner skeleton .

I have made casts of the blade with a brass tube cast inside of it and hand them outstretched fo about a week. The blade sagged at about the half way point on the blade at about a half inch . I have made the blades so they can be tunred upside down to bring them back or simply bend the blade back into shape.

pics of installed gear.

[pickelhaube]

Beautiful work!

Actually, I don't think they ever stopped using the star on the underside - even the latest Mi-24PN/Mi-35M, Mi-28 and Ka-52 helicopters have the star on the underside (although the new VVS markings introduced in 2010 now feature a thin white and blue trim to the star instead of simply white as used previously).

Thanks for that info . The belly star will be provided

At this point she is a major tail dragger . Let us see with all the rotors and interior if her tail comes up.

But I think not. I see some lead shot in her nose in the future to keep her nose down.

If I do it now I fear that she will snap her gear struts . So I need to try once her new metal gear is on.

About 3 weeks to get the metal gear.

[pickelhaube]

Hey Guys time for a semi update .
My real work took a turn for the better and that takes priority over everything.
I also have almost cleared out my back orders of kits and only have 2 more full build HUMVEES to finish. Hopefully this weekend.

Then it is back to the Hind .
I am still having issues with the main rotor hub that need to be worked out . I need to try at least 3 experaments on the core support to see what will be the best support.

I have received the nose arrangements and they look fantastic !!!
Jay has done it again !!
No time yet for pics but the parts and front gattling gun look perfect.
The gun will swivel and levitate !!

The Crocodile now has it's teeth !!!

As far as pilots go , the Russian pilots used a jump suit similar to plain grey overalls ( Mikael Myers ) and a 60 era crash helmet similar to the American helmet . Looking like a Bell type motorcycle helmet. So I will make the helmet but you guys will supply the figure having to only paint their clothing a dark to light gray .

Simple !!!

[/quote]

[slogan]

Glad to see some movement on this. I suspect this may be my favorite piece when's its assembled and painted.

[slogan]

Check out the 'Alien' Hind...

http://zpravy.idnes.cz/nove-prestrikany ... domaci_jkk

[pickelhaube]

That is WAY COOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pickelhaube]

I did get something done and we are moving in the right direction. Hopefully I got things worked out with the metal caster . He can cast silicon tubes in the rotor hub which will make the blades set up that I did , work !!! He should get the rotor hub Monday.

I also solved my issue with the landing gear . I was losing time and hair ( by pulling it out ) trying to make the connections like the kit . I canned that idea and will make it screw in to the wheel wells. That way if needed they can be adjusted . The landing gear will ship Monday.

He is not sure if he will use non lead pewture or zinc as the metal . He said the zinc will be stronger and cheaper.

[granch]

Slogan, thank you for showing the Alien Hind. Terrific beast

[pickelhaube]

I have been working on the interior and it looks like I can keep the floor in the rear cabin as is but I need to raise the ceiling.

As I stated before it will be near impossible to set up figures through the cargo hatch so I am designing the turtle deck to be removable .

I almost have the cockpit mounted and have noticed a problem .

The gunners seat is about 1/2 of an inch thick . This makes the gunners head ( depending on the figure ) stick up and out of the bubble canopy . I can cut off about 1/4 - 1/38 of an inch off of the bottom of the seat . This may not be enough for the figure to sit inside of the glass . So there is a good chance that you all will have to sand or shave the figure's ( seated ) back theighs and kiester to get him low enough.

It look likes the pilot will be fine but I am not 100% sure of this .

[pickelhaube]

I have sent the main rotor and landing gear to the caster. The landing gear is no problem but we are going back and forth on the rotor. I may have to cut all of the arms off of the rotor and make them so they bolt onto the stub. Kind of like the real one .

I will talk to the decal /sticker stencil guy today or Wends. to see how they are coming along.

I have just spent 6 full days on the Hind and will spend most of the week working on it as well. I have spent a whole day trying to mount the door to the frame and canopy . These little details take so much time with nothing to really show.
The door hinge has proven to be perplexing . Then I have to design the hinge for the WSO canopy hatch .

Progress with no picks

canopy 90% mounted
cockpit 95% mounted
door 90% mounted.

After those are done I need to rework the pass through from pilot's seat to rear cabin .I have the floor worked out in the crew cabin . There was usually a rubber mat used on the floor . What do you think of me using the diamond anti skid plate on it ?

I have the doors cut out along with the windows in the crew cabin.

Input needed........Input needed.........Input needed

1. What do you guys think of me using diamond anti skid on the floor in the crew cab ?

2. Once I get the canopy all worked out and mounted. It will be EXTREAMLY DIFFICULT to insert the pilot and WSO figures so I am thinking of trying to make the canopy and frame " click " into place . A good bit of engineering will have to be done to get this to work.
I have already cut out holes to allow the figures' feet to fit in.

[granch]

Pickel,
The diamond anti skid plate would be a tactical better choice. I'm not sure they would have put a rubber mat on the floor in case of a fire in the cabin...

[Nick_Karatzides]

I have the floor worked out in the crew cabin. There was usually a rubber mat used on the floor. What do you think of me using the diamond anti skid plate on it ?

@ Matthew,

Few years ago, I had the opportunity to see (and shot few hundreds pics) some Russian Army operational Mil Mi-24s. As far as I remember, none of them had rubber mat or diamond anti skid plate on crew cabin floor, nor in cockpit area.

I have sent the main rotor and landing gear to the caster. The landing gear is no problem but we are going back and forth on the rotor. I may have to cut all of the arms off of the rotor and make them so they bolt onto the stub. Kind of like the real one.

If need any additional work on rotor blades, feel free to let me know.

[pickelhaube]

The Verlindun picture book has a mat on the floor .
I was asking the guys who are getting this kit if they want the diamond plate.

Hey Nick would you have any pics of the tunnel walls ( pass through ) behind the pilots seat ?

[Nick_Karatzides]

The Verlindun picture book has a mat on the floor . I was asking the guys who are getting this kit if they want the diamond plate.

To be honest, I am not aware of the Verlinden book pictures. I say again that the operational Russian Hinds I've seen, had no rubber mat or diamond anti skid plate on crew cabin floor. Maybe the helicopters I've seen were an exception or maybe Verlinden book claim is not a guarantee for all the Mil Mi-24s - as you understand, in such things, we can never be absolutely sure.

Hey Nick would you have any pics of the tunnel walls ( pass through ) behind the pilots seat ?

Ofcourse! I hope the following pictures help - it shows exactly the area you are interested.

[slogan]

No issue here with rotorblades that screw in. Nick's photos show that your fine with a plain floor.