Nigel a truly fantastic build. Never boring or too much detail in my world. You have brought the kit to life. I enjoy all your work, tips and tricks to build a better model. Thank you.
Great video my friend the sky crane is coming along nicely really liking how this is coming together going to be a monster of a build when finished thanks for explaining everything you doing it’s greatly appreciated 👍👍
Aloha Nigel from Hawaii, Your video build is so informative. I just got my CH-54 a week and a half ago. Just what you have posted, I've learned a lot from and had me aware what to look for. Thank you for your suggestions. Maybe you may have suggestions on how I may add treads to the tires in later part series as you move forward to undercarriage build. Again Nigel, keep up the excellent posts.
If you need a largish accurate flat area to build on, a very good substitute for a surface plate is to get along to your local glass merchant and ask for a piece of float glass about 8-10mm thick cut to whatever size suits you. It's quite cheap and surprisingly accurate for flatness.
One tip with superglue as a filler, use a "chemical sand": so after you put the glue on a seam, wipe off the excess then clean up later with debonder. I use a combo of debonder on a cotton bud and very fine steel wool to finish the seam. This avoids having to sand at all and so preserves surface detail. Also, it doesn't affect the plastic.
I have to agree with you Nigel about the paint. I know you said color pictures are subject to many variables but the OD with the slight brown tint seems to be the predominant color. The Tamiya green you excluded definitely was not in the pictures l found. The joys of olive drab. I am expecting my kit to arrive middle of next week
Hi Nigel. Found a ref that lists FS 34088 as the the color used on Army rotorcraft from 1966 and on. Found a ref that Tamiya mix for FS 34088 is XF-62 Olive Drab - 6 parts and XF-49 Khaki - 4 parts. Hope it helps.
Thank you Dudley, I thought it 34087?? Still, I have used the Mr Hobby 304 and added a little OD2 to it, so it must be very close. It's definitely on the brown side of green...
One of the things i like about modelling is that no matter how long you have been building models , you can always pick up good tips from others. I must get some rounded blades!
Someone just posted pictures of this Helicopter on Facebook and all the color pictures were the brownish shade color you had. Several panels were a bit more yellowish than the one next to it if that makes sense sense. They were from the vietnam war era it said.
For the correct color, Testors Modelmaster US Army Helo Drab is probably the most accurate. I don't recall the FS number but it's a dark olive brown with a touch of red to it. Edit FS 34031
Thanks, I'm not a fan of modelmaster paints, not even sure if we can get them in the UK? TBH, the colours of these birds seem to vary from Olive drab to nearly black over time??
@@NigelsModellingBench I understand that, but I was thinking of the paint chip as a guide. In my opinion most available US olive drab colors until around 1980 are too green and look like European or Soviet greens.
I agree 100%. Its like the Vietnam era choppers, they were nearly brown!! TBH, looking at pics of Apache's, they don't weather well and there are some that look like they just got dragged through a sand blaster!
Loving it, Nige. Engineering in miniature. There was a recent conversation on The Interesting Modelling Co about US helicopters' olive drab which, if I remember the discussion correctly, suggested that post-wwII it was definitely at the green end of the spectrum then tended towards brown in the Vietnam era then turned more green again in more modern times. I don't think it was ever Japanese Army green though 😛
Thanks John, that's exactly what I've read, so I've gone for the Mr Hobby 304 and added a touch of the Mr Hobby Olive Drag2 as I thought it looked a little too brown.
Hi Nigel…I don’t how to message you so am using the comments section - I hope this is okay. My husband is an avid watcher of your videos, enthralled with your tips and expertise. I wonder if I would be able to obtain any stickers or such like - this would make his day.
The US Army changed its colours and markings in the mid -60’s and helicopters in Vietnam were painted in a lighter OD, in 1974 (?) this was designated FS34088 so maybe you should try a paint matching FS34088? (There are threads in the Britmodeller forum about this.)
@@NigelsModellingBench They did introduce a new lighter olive drab, and for a while there were two FS34087 OD but the new one was later called FS34088 and FS34087 was removed. There is a US Army document about this linked in a thread on Britmodeller. A site called Replikator Club has matches for Tamiya paints.
You used to be able to get paint cards for all the Federal Standard colours from each period (as many of the FS colours were changed slightly decade to decade while remaining the same name and FS code). With the scale effect, a lighter olive drab might work better for accuracy in the finished piece, but it's the builder's choice really isn't it (there's no right or wrong answer). Half the problem with Vietnam era stuff is the photos from back then were rarely that good. I'm told that XF-62 is quite close for FS34087 during that era though.
In my opinion the XF62 looks too green when dry, but the Mr Hobby 304 looks too brown? So, I mixed a drop of OD2 into my 304 and went with that... As you say, the colours probably didn't reflect what we see today in photos, then we have to consider fading, oil stains, dust, grime.. just look at how the colour of your car changes depending on where the rain came from.. now imagine if your car was painted with matt paint.
It looks like it has been made slightly oversize? Its easier to tell the builder to leave it out rather than trim it. I have now skinned the fuselage and fitted D11, with approx 1mm trimmed off its top edge.
Good evening Nigel, found this video of the external views of a Tarhe, thought it might be of interest, the sound is annoying but there are some very good close ups of the external. th-cam.com/video/riGgO-359K4/w-d-xo.html Keep up the great work, really enjoy your videos and learning your how you go about producing great models, and I have this kit. Hope you’ll find the video of use. Steve
Hey Nige. This just popped up on my TH-cam homepage. Thought it might be useful when you start detailing the flight deck. th-cam.com/video/FEpQZyf8Yug/w-d-xo.html
ICMs step by step video makes it look so easy
Extremely important assembly of the kit, it's great
Nigel a truly fantastic build. Never boring or too much detail in my world. You have brought the kit to life. I enjoy all your work, tips and tricks to build a better model. Thank you.
Awesome, thank you!
Great video my friend the sky crane is coming along nicely really liking how this is coming together going to be a monster of a build when finished thanks for explaining everything you doing it’s greatly appreciated 👍👍
Thanks 👍
Aloha Nigel from Hawaii,
Your video build is so informative. I just got my CH-54 a week and a half ago. Just what you have posted, I've learned a lot from and had me aware what to look for. Thank you for your suggestions.
Maybe you may have suggestions on how I may add treads to the tires in later part series as you move forward to undercarriage build. Again Nigel, keep up the excellent posts.
Glad it was helpful!
If you need a largish accurate flat area to build on, a very good substitute for a surface plate is to get along to your local glass merchant and ask for a piece of float glass about 8-10mm thick cut to whatever size suits you. It's quite cheap and surprisingly accurate for flatness.
One tip with superglue as a filler, use a "chemical sand": so after you put the glue on a seam, wipe off the excess then clean up later with debonder. I use a combo of debonder on a cotton bud and very fine steel wool to finish the seam. This avoids having to sand at all and so preserves surface detail. Also, it doesn't affect the plastic.
I have to agree with you Nigel about the paint. I know you said color pictures are subject to many variables but the OD with the slight brown tint seems to be the predominant color. The Tamiya green you excluded definitely was not in the pictures l found. The joys of olive drab.
I am expecting my kit to arrive middle of next week
The internal structure is a good place for adding more bracing on the corners using strip plastic it seems for a really strong structure.
Hi Nigel. Found a ref that lists FS 34088 as the the color used on Army rotorcraft from 1966 and on. Found a ref that Tamiya mix for FS 34088 is XF-62 Olive Drab - 6 parts and XF-49 Khaki - 4 parts. Hope it helps.
Thank you Dudley, I thought it 34087?? Still, I have used the Mr Hobby 304 and added a little OD2 to it, so it must be very close. It's definitely on the brown side of green...
One of the things i like about modelling is that no matter how long you have been building models , you can always pick up good tips from others. I must get some rounded blades!
Absolutely!
Looking great Nige😉👌👏👏👏👏👏 Gonna be a beast of a model once done.
Hi Nigel, Nice progress on the Tarhe today. I picked up a couple of tips today. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day. Jeff
Thanks, you too!
Someone just posted pictures of this Helicopter on Facebook and all the color pictures were the brownish shade color you had. Several panels were a bit more yellowish than the one next to it if that makes sense sense. They were from the vietnam war era it said.
Nice progress Nigel this is going to look amazing when you finish it would say your going to need a large display case to keep the dust at bay 👍👍
Luckily, the kit is designed so we can lift off the rotors.
Lovely bit of progress on the tail boom Nige
Thanks Phillip.
Yeah another great video from Nigel
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it Brian.
@@NigelsModellingBench i all way's look forward to your video's unlike some other people channel's .
Thank you for your support Brian. much appreciated.
Just ordered a set of clamps from Rebel!
For the correct color, Testors Modelmaster US Army Helo Drab is probably the most accurate. I don't recall the FS number but it's a dark olive brown with a touch of red to it.
Edit FS 34031
Thanks, I'm not a fan of modelmaster paints, not even sure if we can get them in the UK? TBH, the colours of these birds seem to vary from Olive drab to nearly black over time??
@@NigelsModellingBench I understand that, but I was thinking of the paint chip as a guide. In my opinion most available US olive drab colors until around 1980 are too green and look like European or Soviet greens.
I agree 100%. Its like the Vietnam era choppers, they were nearly brown!! TBH, looking at pics of Apache's, they don't weather well and there are some that look like they just got dragged through a sand blaster!
Hi Nige
I've just placed an order with premium hobbies, sanding sticks are back in stock. Can't wait to receive my delivery. Keep up the good work.
Have fun
Loving it, Nige. Engineering in miniature. There was a recent conversation on The Interesting Modelling Co about US helicopters' olive drab which, if I remember the discussion correctly, suggested that post-wwII it was definitely at the green end of the spectrum then tended towards brown in the Vietnam era then turned more green again in more modern times. I don't think it was ever Japanese Army green though 😛
Thanks John, that's exactly what I've read, so I've gone for the Mr Hobby 304 and added a touch of the Mr Hobby Olive Drag2 as I thought it looked a little too brown.
@@NigelsModellingBench Judging by what I've read about the way O.D. fades and weathers you've got a wide target to hit.
Conforms to what I have managed to find out.
Love this kit Thankyou nigel
You're welcome!!
Any weight being added to the front. I may have missed this information
MRP does a correct color called Helo drab
Hi Nige...nice build! Could it perhaps be that leaving that piece out would prevent it tail sitting? Just a thought.
It appears that it is a little too tall.
Nice progress. How is Jess doing?
Hi Nigel…I don’t how to message you so am using the comments section - I hope this is okay. My husband is an avid watcher of your videos, enthralled with your tips and expertise. I wonder if I would be able to obtain any stickers or such like - this would make his day.
Hi Claire, If you could an email to nigelsmodellingbench@gmail.com we can go from there.
The US Army changed its colours and markings in the mid -60’s and helicopters in Vietnam were painted in a lighter OD, in 1974 (?) this was designated FS34088 so maybe you should try a paint matching FS34088?
(There are threads in the Britmodeller forum about this.)
I thought they changed to 34087,(Browner) in early 60's then went back to green afterwar Vietnam?
@@NigelsModellingBench They did introduce a new lighter olive drab, and for a while there were two FS34087 OD but the new one was later called FS34088 and FS34087 was removed. There is a US Army document about this linked in a thread on Britmodeller. A site called Replikator Club has matches for Tamiya paints.
Yes Ok, but my model is depicted around 1969 so will be the browner colour intruduced in the early 60's.
The cockpit is definitely in need of a RedFox kit
You used to be able to get paint cards for all the Federal Standard colours from each period (as many of the FS colours were changed slightly decade to decade while remaining the same name and FS code). With the scale effect, a lighter olive drab might work better for accuracy in the finished piece, but it's the builder's choice really isn't it (there's no right or wrong answer). Half the problem with Vietnam era stuff is the photos from back then were rarely that good. I'm told that XF-62 is quite close for FS34087 during that era though.
In my opinion the XF62 looks too green when dry, but the Mr Hobby 304 looks too brown? So, I mixed a drop of OD2 into my 304 and went with that... As you say, the colours probably didn't reflect what we see today in photos, then we have to consider fading, oil stains, dust, grime.. just look at how the colour of your car changes depending on where the rain came from.. now imagine if your car was painted with matt paint.
Is their any cargo for it ?
Looks redundant ?
Is there any cargo for it???? Well, pretty much any 1/35 Vietnam era soft skin or Helicopter, a Sheridan perhaps or even a Pibber?
Could the D11 piece be a gauge only, to be removed
It looks like it has been made slightly oversize? Its easier to tell the builder to leave it out rather than trim it. I have now skinned the fuselage and fitted D11, with approx 1mm trimmed off its top edge.
When can we see the Spit & Lanc finished?
I will get a video out on each over the next few days Gordon.
if memory serves me, the second LP paint was very close to our birds
have you watched the official TH-cam video ? ICM | Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe US heavy helicopter | Step by step instruction Item 53054 | Scale 1/35
Yes..
👍👍
👍
Good evening Nigel, found this video of the external views of a Tarhe, thought it might be of interest, the sound is annoying but there are some very good close ups of the external.
th-cam.com/video/riGgO-359K4/w-d-xo.html
Keep up the great work, really enjoy your videos and learning your how you go about producing great models, and I have this kit. Hope you’ll find the video of use.
Steve
I use Prime Portal Steve. There are some GREAT walkarounds on there.
@@NigelsModellingBench cheers for the info, ill give it a try.
Hey Nige. This just popped up on my TH-cam homepage. Thought it might be useful when you start detailing the flight deck. th-cam.com/video/FEpQZyf8Yug/w-d-xo.html