More work done on the Mi-24. To start with there are some screened areas on the tail. After a quick search of my spare photo etch stash and I was able to locate some. I then worked on the engine exhaust. The seams were smoothed out using putty then painted with Model Master Jet Exhaust. Once dry I weathered the outside with brown and black pastel chalk and the inside was done with just black. I did not paint the lower engine section as these will not be seen. The upper section was painter and detailed with wire for cables and hoses. The tail rotor was then detailed with some wire for the hydraulic lines. Finally, the fuselage was assembled.
After reviewing reference photos, the kit did not include the IR sensor on the dorsal behind the engine and the CHAFF/Flare housing under the tail. I scratch built the IR sensor using scrap styrene and formed it to the fuselage. Next I was told that the main rotors will hit the tail rotors on the kit and that the fuselage needed to be extended. After some research on the measurements and some scaling, I found the fuselage is correct for the scale. (57ft 5in in 1/48 = 14.35") The problem is the main rotor is too large. It should be 56ft 9in diameter which would be 14.18 inches in 1/48 scale. The kit rotors measure 14.61 inches or 58ft 3in at full size. It is not the fuselage that needs to be lengthened it is the rotors than need to be shortened. I then cut the section near the center out by 0.3” on each rotor then pinned the rotor blade to the base. A test fit shows the rotors will not hit each other and the main rotor matches reference photos.
With the rotor corrected I then looked at the missile/rocket rails. To match the reference photos I drilled out the holes and then added the wiring for the launch pad. With the wings and gun pods attached it is now ready for painting.
You can see all the photos and details from the start in my build log at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mi-24-hind-helicopter/
10 attached images. Click to enlarge.
