Zvezda 1/48 Mil-24N Hind

[BarryW]

My first Zvezda kit so it should be interesting.

The box


The aftermarket, Eduard masks and a Quinta Studios set.

I have labelled the sprues and set them in order on my rack and I also spent most of today cleaning up my work area.

Here is a pic, all ready to make a start tomorrow.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Barry
I look forward to it. I think that many of the recent Zvezda kits have good reviews. That clear canopy looks challenging. Those 3D Quinta decals are excellent.
Jim

 

[Ian M]

One of my favourite Russian helicopters. I will look forwards to this one.
Hide the super glue !

 

[BarryW]

I have spent the morning on the cockpit interior.

First impressions are overall good.

The plastic is similar to ICM, perhaps a little softer, definitely a better quality than Airfix. The parts are crisply moulded. For the most part the fit is good but I have had some issues with vague fitting which is only an problem in respect of the engine section in the picture below. The two slanting rods should fit the small posts in the corners. I really don’t know how this went wrong, it all looks right as to how these parts were fitted together, but it does not matter as I intend to ‘button up’ so none of this will be seen. I will be able to hack it around if need be. It would be a problem if you wanted the hatches all opened up though. There are some anomalies with the instructions not matching the parts but nothing major, mostly things like locator pins missing on the parts that appear on the instructions or different shaped pins.


Here are the interior sub assemblies so far completed. At this point I need to paint before proceeding further with them. There is no raised instrument detail, relying only on kit decals for this. That is fine with me, it saves sanding it off, the Quinta set will deal with this raising the interior to the next level!

 

[BarryW]

I have sprayed some colour into the cockpit and rear compartment plus some black.

I do like that strange turquoise colour the Russians used in their cockpits. The MRP version is a good match for the Quinta set.

I decided not to black base the internal areas so any shading will be down to washes.

Technically I should have used a slightly different light grey on the transmission block but, to be honest, little, if anything will be glimpsed through the small windows I don’t think it will make any difference.

I will be hand painting some detail next before applying some Quinta details.

 

[adt70hk]

Nice start Barry.

ATB.

Andrew

 

[BarryW]

I am getting a lot of time at the bench today despite popping out for lunch and a pint….

I have painted what detail needs painting then I sprayed a semi-matt varnish.

In the pictures it all looks curiously lacking in detail……. That will soon change but first I need the varnish to harden.

 

[BarryW]

On to the 3D Decals. I don’t think calling them ‘decals’ does them any favours. I got into a discussion on social media about these and one person could not believe that ‘decals’ could possibly look better than etch. He was fixated on the word decal and imagined them as some kind of cleverly printed, well, decals. I am not sure that I convinced him that they are not actually decals in the accepted sense.

These are 3D printed flexible plastic material carried, for convenience, on paper from which they are released by soaking in warm water.

Here are the parts for the instrument panels released from their backing. You would not get away with this using decals…..


I attach these parts using Gator Grip but any white pva type glue will do. You could use c.a. but you do need time to get the part into position.



Here is one of the side walls done


now I got a bit concerned because looking at the above from the other side…

The 3D Decal extends beyond the side wall. I did a test using the outer cockpit panel and found that there is no need to worry it all fits in perfectly.

More done


I particularly like the seat belts as they can be set to hang more naturally than etch and do not drive you mad like the fabric ones. These are the best seatbelt solution available. Incidentally, while this set is a Quinta Studio one a lot of other companies are producing them like Kits World and Red Fox.

I

I will do a light brown wash over the belts to give them a used look.

To summarise, 3D Decals provide a better looking result than etch while being a lot easier to use.

Incidentally, I made an ordering mistake with these 3D Decals and have a spare set. I don’t expect to build another Hind so if anyone is planning to build one of these kits then pm me and I will send you the spare set, no charge.

 

[Tworrs]

That is a fine looking model Barry, I particularly like those 3D Decals, they really enhance the look.
Nice start.
Garry

 

[BarryW]

All the internals are going together well, no issues at all.

I am attaching the cockpit sides,





I will do the other side once this is set.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Barry
Those 3D decals really do look superb.
Jim

 

[Dave Ward]

Barry,
those 3D decals really look good - it also shows that the pilot/observer must have a hell of a workload!
Dave

 

[BarryW]

I really have forged ahead today. I don’t think that I have ever progressed a build this quickly before.

I finished attaching the main fuselage sides

Then the nose sections and a few other fuselage areas. The fit is really excellent specially given the complex shapes.

I have also been pulling together some other sub assemblies.


a close up of the cockpit


All I all this is turning into a really good build.

 

[Mickc1440]

Making great progress on this Barry. It's nice to see the 3D in use, I've seen sets for sale and wrongly assumed it was the way they were printed to give a 3D effect but they look superb.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Cockpit looks really good Barry. Those 3D decals really sharpen the finish.

 

[Tworrs]

Stunning details in that cockpit Barry.

 

[yak face]

Decals look excellent barry , shame they werent around when I did my Hind F a while back , I ended up having to scratch most of the details. As for the offer of a free set , very generous but unfortunately the one im doing for the GB is a D model , completely different front office plus ive already got the Pavla resin cockpit for it . Cheers tony

 

[BarryW]

I mentioned that the instructions are quite poor. Look at this.

This page identifies ‘two versions’ one with open hatches and one with closed hatches. You follow which one you want, obviously.



On this page you can see that the engines are supposed to only be used for the version with open hatches


just to make things more interesting there are four colour schemes referred to as versions 1-4…. So two different versions of the use of version…….

Now wanting hatches closed I did not install the engines….

So I then find that to install the exhausts on the ‘painting version’ I was building needs the engine to fix them to and I have no way to fix the exhausts to the airframe…….


So, I am going to have to build a different ‘paint version’ to what I intended that has a different exhaust system that can cement direct to the airframe……. Specifically ‘painting version one’, as all three other ‘painting versions’ need the engine installed.

This does not detract from this being a good kit, it’s just these awful instructions.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Barry
Excellent looking cockpit. The decals are worth every penny.
I wonder if the problems with instructions, which we see far too often, are down to poor translation
Jim

 

[Ian M]

That kind of sucks Barry but that kind of thing is why I closely study the instructions on eastern block models, not that I have built many, just enough to know there will be surprises further on.
Looking at the last photo you posted I think you should be able to get the main parts of the turbines in so you can continue with your intended plan.