Looking great, my friend @uscusn!
Looking forward to the decals!

With the emphasis of Pearl Harbor come and gone, time to get back into the Falklands RAF Hc1. Using the excellent Aztec decals for the RAF "Bravo November" markings, and the kit decals for the stencils and base markings.

The Aztec decals worked perfectly, the Italeri decals were hit and miss.

The stencils at times would disintegrate, but the black wing walk markings worked out fine and settled with some coaxing from Solva-Set.

So the process was a mix of elation and frustration mixed in with patience, and took 2 days to apply them.

The Aztec decals worked well with the Micro Set and Micro Sol process.

Next up to install the wheels and flat coat the finish. Then to start another round of small details to attach.
more to follow

Amazing decaling job, my friend @uscusn!

Thanks John and Spiros I am quite satisfied with the outcome of the decals from both the kit and from Aztec. First time using the Aztec decals. Nice set. Italeri can be hit or miss on their decals. For the most part they worked out, only some of the stencils were prone to break and had to piece some together.
Thanks Colin, this turned out to be a much better kit from Italeri.
Now to add some detail before applying the flat coat. Don't remember the last time I added details until after the flat coat has been applied.

First to install the wheels. I am using a very nice set of resin wheels from Armory. Weighted and well detailed for this scale. You can read "Goodyear" on the sidewalls and a very nice brake caliper detail on the back side.

The hubs are painted Lifecolor Gloss Black, the tires are Testor Rubber.

While drying I went ahead to start to assemble the rescue hoist. Painted the same Grey as the scheme on the helo.

Now to carefully attach the wheel. Using a slow drying cyno cement. Making sure the weighted part rests squarely on the deck. Taking into account that the Chinook has a nose up stance.

What a difference with the Chinook now having it's wheels attached. And without breaking off any of the antennas under the fuselage.

The wheels make quite a difference once installed.

Finally 3 cooling scoops are attached on top of the fuselage.

With the scoops painted. She is ready to have the flat coat applied.

Next to apply the flat coat and continue to add the numerous final details.

more to follow...

Looks really great, Chuck @uscusn
Good to she her on her feet. It does however look very fragile to me.

Thanks Spiros, seems like now with the wheels now installed the end is near but really tons of little details too add.
John, not fragile, but just got to be careful how I handle the model from here on out to the end. The fragile details will be what to watch for with some more handling yet to be done after the flat coat is applied.
Thanks Herr Erik, still a ways to go.

Looking great so far, my friend @uscusn! I am impressed by the looks the Vallejo matt varnish offers.
Nice work with the antennas and the rotor blades, great remedial action for the broken one.

Superb results, Chuck. The Vallejo matt coat really brings out the quality of your decal work - flawlessly blended in with the paint finish. I love this moment when the flat coat is done and the masks come off. I usually have one model at this stage the day before a model show and I end up adding little details far into the might to finish it up. It will be worth the patient effort to get all the delicate bit attached at the end. No other way to do it. BTW, I am really impressed with the momentum of the build now. This should be done and in headlines very soon.

Thanks for the tip about Vallejo flat finish. I've been looking for something to replace the MM Acryl Flat I've used up to now. As the bottle gets old. I tend to get splashed of white here and there in in my finishes. Vallejo looks much better.