AndrewR's Italeri Apache Longbow in 1/72 **Repaired***

[ShaunW]

This involved digital micromanipulation of malleable polymeric support materials, i.e. I pushed a bit of blu-tack into the undercarriage bay with a toothpick.

I'm so glad you translated that as otherwise it would have made the organ that I laughingly refer to as a brain, hurt.

This is looking very good, those Hellfire training rounds add a nice splash of colour. We like that here at Whirlibirds HQ, together with nicely coordinated soft furnishings and the other finer things in life......

[AndrewR]

This involved digital micromanipulation of malleable polymeric support materials, i.e. I pushed a bit of blu-tack into the undercarriage bay with a toothpick.

I'm so glad you translated that as otherwise it would have made the organ that I laughingly refer to as a brain, hurt.

This is looking very good, those Hellfire training rounds add a nice splash of colour. We like that here at Whirlibirds HQ, together with nicely coordinated soft furnishings and the other finer things in life......

I sometimes teach scientific communication, and one of the key points is, no jargon. I have a cartoon of a pig saying "I don't think of myself as a pig, I'm an individualized porcine unit"...

I was wondering about Laura Ashley curtains, and maybe some knitted bobble hats to keep the Hellfire warheads warm...

Some matt varnish on tonight to seal the decals. Remind me to mask the canopy first.
Also a bit more yellow on the rotor tips...

Cheers

Andrew

[AndrewR]

Canopy masked, Matt varnish sprayed, yellow rotor tips painted. I forgot the chain gun

[Jagewa]

Hmm sounds like a finish line check list.....

[ShaunW]

Hmm sounds like a finish line check list.....

I agree Jim, I think he's working the crowd and building up to a grand finale

[Jagewa]

Hmm sounds like a finish line check list.....

I agree Jim, I think he's working the crowd and building up to a grand finale

A silent hush of expectation has fallen across the crowd.........

[AndrewR]

Hmm sounds like a finish line check list.....

I agree Jim, I think he's working the crowd and building up to a grand finale

A silent hush of expectation has fallen across the crowd.........

And then someone says "The pub's open", and they all leave...

[Jagewa]

Hmm sounds like a finish line check list.....

I agree Jim, I think he's working the crowd and building up to a grand finale

A silent hush of expectation has fallen across the crowd.........

And then someone says "The pub's open", and they all leave...

Hey I'm not standing around yet.....

I'm sitting down

[AndrewR]

Well, the crowd can stay in the pub for the evening.


I was close to finishing, but one of the "Army" decals on the port side has silvered.

That hasn't happened to me in a long time. Obviously one of the Modelling Gods on Mount Italeri has decided that I haven't suffered enough with this kit yet and has intervened. Maybe if I offer to return that paintbrush...

Anyhow the offending decal has been stabbed and slashed at a few times and the area flooded with Pledge, so we'll see if that works. I'll wait until tomorrow, and then respray.

The undercarriage has gone wonky again too. The blu-tack will have to be replaced with something a bit more robust. Pictures to follow, when I find the time to upload to Photobox...

Cheers

Andrew

[Jagewa]

Obviously one of the Modelling Gods on Mount Italeri has decided that I haven't suffered enough with this kit yet and has intervened. Maybe if I offer to return that paintbrush...

Arrrrrgggh... The CURSED paintbrush!

Flash of lightning and roll of thunder follows...

You didn't have it near the P-38 did you?

Cheers
Jim

[ShaunW]

My God, isn't this finished yet!?!?! the tension is killing me - so near and yet so far

Might I suggest offering up the paintbrush as a burnt offering to the Italeri Modelling Gods.......

[AndrewR]

My God, isn't this finished yet!?!?! the tension is killing me - so near and yet so far

Might I suggest offering up the paintbrush as a burnt offering to the Italeri Modelling Gods.......

Pyromaniac!

More Matt varnish will be sprayed tonight!

[ShaunW]

Pyromaniac!

Well it was Bonfire Night last week

[AndrewR]

My God, isn't this finished yet!?!?! the tension is killing me - so near and yet so far

Well, I still can't put you out of your misery yet (Are you miserable?).

Here's the before picture from yesterday, with a completely silvered "Army" decal on the port side. A couple of the other decals looked as if they'd not had enough matt varnish on them to counter the Pledge glossy finish.



So I scored lightly over the silvered decal with a very sharp knife, to try and puncture air bubbles, and then coated with a generous brushload of Pledge again.

Once that was dry, then I reapplied the matt vernish.



Success!

So the only outstanding item on the list is to fix the undercarriage to make sure the Apache sits level. Then remove the masking on the canopy and that'll be it. What can possibly go wrong now?

cheers


Andrew

[Jagewa]

What can possibly go wrong now?

Flash of lightning and roll of thunder follows...

Beware The CURSED paintbrush!