Tom's Mini MiL

[TomW]

So the first kit that I'll be building for this GB is the one that I'll probably get finished because its nice and little





I picked up three of these kits at Telford a few weeks back and it looks quite nice in the box, engraving is a bit on the heavy side but brush painting will tone that down acceptably. The decal sheet is worth the £3 I paid with 5 different options on it






Roll on Sunday!

Regards

Tom

[Sissel]

That looks nice and cute.

[splash]

That's tiny compared to your other build.

[TomW]

That's the idea guys, a real comparison to show how far Helos have come. Plus this ones small enough that I can guarantee at least one completed model at the end of the GB!

Regards

Tom

[Old_Tonto]

Good choice Tom & you got yourself a real bargain at that price.

I built one last year and it was a little gem IIRC.

[ShaunW]

The little and large MiL show then. This looks very nice and has been a bit of a bargain by the sounds of it.

[TomW]

A much simpler cockpit for this little MiL, again lots of Hu65 and then I'll paint the seat cushions once its all properly hardened up:






Regards

Tom

[TomW]

Starting to look a bit like a helicopter now, though a bit of a pint-sized one. Almost like I shrunk it in the wash . Spent the last couple of evenings fitting the cockpit glazing and really taking my time over it because the large amount of glassware on Helo's is always a distinctive feature:






So far no major issues to report, in fact this is one of the nicer eastern european kits I've built recently and bodes well for the stack of Su-17/20/22's that I have from the same manufacturer.

Regards

Tom

[TomW]

Right then, time to get the fuselage together methinks:










Fit was generally very good though I did need to resort to surgery to get the cockpit to fit neatly, and I did find it easier to remove the location flange provided for the tailboom to get a better positive fit and alignment. Next up I'll attack with a bit of filler and wet & dry to sort the seams.

Regards

Tom

[splash]

That looks like a nice kit Tom.

[Dazzled]

I agree, it does look like quite a decent kit. Of course the builder is helping to bring out the best in it.

Is it a KP repop?

[TomW]

Sorry for the long gap between updates, real life as usual getting in the way , to answer your question Dazz the kit isn't a KP, its been available through lots of manufacturers and apparently was originally tooled by MPM about 15 years ago.


Not too much in the way of filling, just around the tailboom, and a gentle sanding session dealt with the join lines. First coat of Hu150 Leaf Green is on and drying:







Regards

Tom

[TomW]

Three thin coats of Hu150 Leaf green later and I'm finally happy with the main fuselage colour:






Next is to mask and paint the light blue undersurfaces before sealing it all and getting the sticky out bits attached.

Regards

Tom

[Old_Tonto]

That does look like an excellent finish Tom. Is it brushed or sprayed on?

[TomW]

Brushed as always OT , I'm going to be trying the new humbrol hellblau for the light blue instead of Hu65.

Regards

Tom