H-21C

Donald Dickson II
OK, so yes, another project to interrupt the A-6. This one is for a group build on another site. The pics I posted are the markings I will be doing once I order the decal set Friday.

Donald Dickson II
OK. The decals are ordered. I have been checking pics to see what the interior looked like. I have settled on interior green with medium-ish gray floor. OD seats with red backs.

For the exterior, the decals call out aluminum and florescent red orange. The color I used on my H-34. Which is fine, BUT...the only color pics with the same markings but different tail number that I can find is the single one I have in the album. And that CLEARLY is a funky red. And other USAF H-21s from different squadrons also have that same funky red. And even the pic of the real copter with the decal set looks more red than orange to me.

So what do you all think? And does the aluminum look more painted than BM? Im thinking painted.

Next. Is that a fuel tank slung under it in the B&W pic?????

Nathan Dempsey
Nice project Donald. I think that FS 28913 is correct. It's a sort of funky red. Yes, that is a fuel tank in the B&W photo. I believe it comes with the 1:48 kit, and I could swear it looks like the wingtip tank from a T-33 or F-94.

Donald Dickson II
I was thinking a wingtip tank myself. Now to see if I can scrounge one. To the spares container I go!

Donald Dickson II
And now I sit here with a tear in my eyes. I went looking for more pics. I stumbled across one painted in the blue and white of the USAF 1001st. It was kind of familiar, and the squadron number screamed at me. After doing a minor amount of clicking I found this site:

usafhpa.org/1001st/1001st.html

The reason for the tears? My father was a CMSGT and was in the 1st Heli as a flight mechanic on Andrews AFB from about 1970 on. He was one of the Air Forces premier NCOs and flight mechs and helped to write the tech manuals for the Hueys and H-3s. This was the original 1st heli. At the bottom of the page you will see that the 1001st was moved from Bolling and re designated the 1st. I did not know this. So this is history directly related to my dad. My father passed away on 16Dec12.

Łukasz Gliński
Following, very interesting topic.
Watch out as the Print Scale decals do not always fit the kits!
Fingers crossed, hopefully your set will be OK.

Donald Dickson II
Lukasz, I have used them once or twice before. I dont recall any great issues, but I will certainly keep your warning in mind. Wont cut down on my cursing if they dont fit, but at least I am warned. LOL

Donald Dickson II
So plunging in. Floor first. I used some 1000 grit sandpaper for the non skid area. I dont know why I never thought of this before. Aside from being a bit too raised, I rather like it. Will definitely use this from here on out. Then I did the cock pit stuff and weathered it. The interior walls are sprayed and the windows put in. Seats are next.

Nathan Dempsey
Looking nice Donald 🙂

Oleg Bogolei
Interesting! Following

Donald Dickson II
So I got all the interior stuff done. Seats and such. It all looks really good. I mean like it would make Slavo jealous. And you have to believe me because my dumb ass failed to take any pics before I closed it up. But here is a pic of it taped together while the Tamiya thin sets. Fit was really good though the panel lines dont match up towards the front. The fron glass is just sitting in place for the pic. Have to mask it before I glue it in place.

Clifford Keesler
Nice project Donald, I will watch this one with intrest.

Donald Dickson II
Welcome Clifford!

Donald Dickson II
So, as this comes up now and again, a brief but hopefully helpful tutorial on Parafilm for masking canopies.

Parafilm is semi clear film that is almost like stretchy wax plastic kind of stuff. (That is industry technical talk right there) Its made for use in labs to seal jars and test tubes and the like. It is not an adhesive, so it does not pull paint or leave scuz behind. It is awesome stuff.
To start, cut a piece off the roll that will cover the part with extra. Then gently start stretching it by pulling on opposite sides. You will have to do it in small sections. It took me a few tries to get the hang of it.

Pick a side on the part, tuck some around the edge, then start stretching it across the part. Get it as snug as you can. Tuck the excess around all the edges. Use your thumbs to press the film down. I often use a toothpick to press it into the edges of the framing. At this point, remove the excess by running a blade around the edges. Be careful not to cut the part. Once that is done, take a fresh blade and cut around the framing. Remove the film covering the framing. You will likely pull up the stuff on the window portions some. Just press it back down with a toothpick. Then check for spots where you didnt cut correctly and use a liquid masking product to fill in.

Thats bare bones basics, but maybe it will help for some folks.

Łukasz Gliński
Very nice tutorial, thx for sharing. I will come back to it for sure should I ever get hold of Parafilm.

Clifford Keesler
Thank you for sharing that sir. I will have to give it a try.

Wim van der Luijt
Stretching the parafilm before applying it helps get a uniform thickness and makes it easier to use......for me anyway

Donald Dickson II
Slight update. I ordered both the international orange and stop light red. I am going to go with the red, but figured having the int orange on hand cant hurt. I sprayed the Tamiya Silver from a rattle can. That was a disaster. As soon as it hit it did that crinkling thing. I have no freaking clue why. So now I am cleaning that mess up. *sigh* I have to wait for the red anyway, but sheesh.

And I am glad it may help you guys. This stuff is gold for canopies especially ones with lots of framing.

Martin Oostrom
Definitely following as I have the '11 reboxing.

Donald Dickson II
So, I went by the hobby store after work. I have traffic light red coming bt I like the brake light red better for this. Get home and get her all taped up annnnnnd... its a clear color. More like a glaze. I have to presume the traffic light will be the same. &%&$@!#^*()&😢 After much cursing, I decided to simply go with Testors dark red. Its not a bad choice and once I get it a bit dirty it should look good. It will sit for a couple days and then I need to tough up spots I jacked up along the way.

Clifford Keesler
I hate it when paint does that orange peel thing for no good reason. It did that on the gloss coat of my last F-111, I had to sand and re-paint the whole darn thing.

Donald Dickson II
Yeah, I stripped it and sanded it. And sanded more. Then had to redo the seam because stripping it pulled the Mr Surfacer out. So it does NOT look as good as it did originally. Which is usually the case when you have to go back over something repeatedly. *sigh*

Clifford Keesler
Isn't that the truth.

Patrick Hagelstein
Oh man Donald, what an ordeal on this last day! 🙁 I hope 2020 brings you unwrinkled paint, sealed joints and bright red! 😉

Donald Dickson II
Patrick, thank you sir! This is par for the course. I figure 1 in 10 kits I do will be without major issues and I will be overjoyed with. All the others, meh. LOL That way I dont dash my hopes and dreams.😉

Donald Dickson II
Oh holy dear Lord baby Jesus these decals! They are wrinkling, folding and just generally not cooperating at all. And the colors could be a bit more opaque. And you will notice that the checker markings are one long strip with no holes. I have to go and cut out each window. Got the first one done, but just barely. I need to let them dry out COMPLETELY and stick to the surface. So Lukasz, they ARE a pain, but they fit fine. LOL

I placed the props on just for the pic.

Patrick Hagelstein
Hmmmm..... That's not right at all! The reference picture shows some white trim around the windows. How weird that Microscale didn't take that into account.

Łukasz Gliński
I knew it!😉 Fingers crossed - so far so good 👍

Donald Dickson II
Patrick, I didnt notice that until you mentioned it. Good point. Not a lot I am going to be able to do about that.

Clifford Keesler
Sounds like you are having fun with this one. And it's a kit I want to build.

Donald Dickson II
Cliff, the kit is not bad at all. It went together just fine. My issues have stemmed from other things. If its not one thing, its another.

Donald Dickson II
OK, so let just say I will NOT be buying Print Scale decals again. These things are atrocious. They do not adhere. It requires multiple multiple applications of Micro Sol and or Solva set to get them to maybe stay down. We will see. They were inaccurate as pointed out by Patrick. The white is not nearly opaque enough and the underlying colors show through. So yeah, not at all impressed.

I was cutting the window portions of the right side checker decal. Got the second window done. I blew on it to get little bits off. Mind you, I had micro soled it TWICE yesterday and left it to sit for 24 hours. When I blew on it, half of it blew up off the model ad twisted into a unrescuable mess. The walkway on top also blew off, but managed not to twist up. That required another 2 applications of micro sol AND one of solva set to finally stay down. The checker strip was toast. Sooooo...

Command decision time. Just leave it without the checkerboard down the fuselage, or order yet another set and still have the same issues. I thought maybe I could make a template to pre cut the windows, but then these flimsy ass things would just fold onto themselves even worse than before. So I decided that it would just have to be without that feature. The decals were inaccurate anyway. And it looks good as is. I did not even try to use the stencils.

I did venture into the spares bin to find some fuel tanks or something close. I did find a couple tank looking things. Could be bombs, not sure. The sprue didnt have the ID tab so not sure what they came from. But they look close. So I will fiddle with those and see if I can figure how to hang them. But for now, I am gonna call her done. I will add pics if I work the tanks out.

Konrad -
Hey Donald I followed this one without any comment so far. Anyhow you did a good job on this one! Congrats to this uncommon looking chopper 👍!

Łukasz Gliński
Sad to read it Don, looked very promising. But we can all learn thanks to your experience😉 Once I'll go for their decals, I'm going to seal them with GX varnish before using. It usually helps to keep the old decals together and prevents too much folding. I have to admit Print Scale has some really unique sets.

Patrick Hagelstein
Oh man.... 🙁 Hadn't I known about the missing decals, the bird/banana looks awesome! 👍

Erik De Smet
Just an advice, Donald, for your future builds: Scan the special decals before using them, in case of trouble you can print a replacement on white of clear decal sheet.

Donald Dickson II
Thank you gentlemen!
Erik, I have tried that before. My printer wont print them clearly. Not sure why, but they just dont come out well.

Clifford Keesler
It still looks nice the way it is. Sorry to hear about the decals. I do not think I have ever used any print scale decals. After your experience, I sure hope I don't have any in the stash.

Clifford Keesler
OH crap, I do. A 1/32 set for my Mig-17 NVA Air Force.

Donald Dickson II
LOL Forwarned is for armed my friend. Just be prepared for anything that's long and narrow to curl on the edges at the very least. Make sure you have the micro Sol on hand

Clifford Keesler
Will do sir. LOL.