Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: kitnut617 on January 23, 2014, 08:00:12 AM

Title: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: kitnut617 on January 23, 2014, 08:00:12 AM
I thought I had this on the forum, something I built a few years ago.
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: kitnut617 on January 23, 2014, 08:02:28 AM
some  close-ups
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: finsrin on January 23, 2014, 08:22:07 AM
Nice build & camo  :)
Took awhile to spot Canadian markings.
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: FAAMAN on January 23, 2014, 01:45:05 PM
Jus' WOW!!! 8)
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: GTX_Admin on January 23, 2014, 03:57:36 PM
Scale?
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: kitnut617 on January 23, 2014, 11:10:32 PM
It's the Italeri 1/72 Agusta Mangusta which I converted into a Super Mangusta.  Put on Lynx BERP rotor blades, sand filters (scratched) and turned up exhaust.  Because the Mangusta didn't have a gun turret, I put on a SPPU-22 cannon pod  (the Canadians just happen to find a bunch in Afganistan   :P  ) among other things.
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: kitnut617 on January 24, 2014, 03:38:45 AM
I wanted to do it in this camo -- the idea was that when Agusta were told to camo it in desert scheme, they f#&, erm! screwed up.  But as the helios were needed in a rush for service in Afganistan, it was too late to change the scheme --   ;D
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: Litvyak on January 24, 2014, 04:08:23 AM
Ooh, I like that a lot! :)
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: Silver Fox on January 24, 2014, 05:05:05 AM
Sweet!

Of course, it bears the Maple Leaf... making it inherently superior to lesser breeds.  ;D
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: apophenia on January 24, 2014, 05:37:55 AM
We could've used the CH-151 in Kandahar!  Love your Cadpat camo  :-* 
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: kitnut617 on January 24, 2014, 06:20:07 AM
Thanks everyone ---

My idea with this is that the 'guy in front' is really the aircraft commander, he searches and selects targets for the pilot to shoot at.  He would be in direct contact with the FAC on the ground and any target would be verified visually by the two before the commander hands off the designated target to the pilot.  I went with the SPPU-22 pod because the guns can be elevated or lowered, the Mangusta has a very tail down attitude when in the hover so if the guns were 'fixed' they'd be pointing up into the air when hovering.  The aircraft could be hovering in a 'stand-off' position and be able to fire on a target precisely when called on.  Ammunition would not be a problem considering a number of former eastern bloc countries that used the pod are now in Nato, so acquiring the ammo would be fairly easy I would think.
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: Kerick on January 24, 2014, 09:59:12 AM
Love the chocolate chip camo!!
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: kitnut617 on January 24, 2014, 11:08:18 PM
Thanks --  I didn't fancy painting all those chips/stones so I drew up a bunch of shapes in AutoCad.  There's all shapes and sizes on the model, some are quite tiny. 
I then asked my favorite decal guy (Bill at CanMilAir) if he would print what I created because my printer doesn't do white.  I asked him to do some markings in the Lo-Vis sand colour too.  Which he did for me.  I bought two sheets just to make sure I had enough for the project.
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: taiidantomcat on January 25, 2014, 05:52:46 AM
I hadn't seen this one! Neat!  :)
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: Silver Fox on January 25, 2014, 06:18:20 AM
Was it expensive to get CanMilAir to print the decals up?

I've got the "plastic" for a couple of WHIF, and a couple of RW subjects... but decals were always a problem.

Always on the lookout for options. :)
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: kitnut617 on January 25, 2014, 06:50:30 AM
His usual price for a 1/72 sheet, mind you, that was 2009 prices --- As I created the stone shapes, all he did was print them so all I was paying for was ink and paper but he did have to use some roundels etc from another sheet he does to make the sand coloured ones.

The trick though was not to go overboard with the chips on the model --  ;)

Couple of other pics:
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: FAAMAN on January 25, 2014, 09:20:13 AM
I keep coming back and having a look at this Whiff, very believable, great attention to reality. 8) 8)
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: Silver Fox on January 25, 2014, 09:26:06 AM
Thanks kitnut... I might just have to do up some artwork :)
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: kitnut617 on January 25, 2014, 10:25:15 PM
I keep coming back and having a look at this Whiff, very believable, great attention to reality. 8) 8)

Thanks Mate ---
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: kitnut617 on January 25, 2014, 10:34:00 PM
Thanks kitnut... I might just have to do up some artwork :)

You'll have better luck with Bill at CanMilAir if your subject is Canadian related and something close to what he has for sale, even if it is a What-If.  I asked him to custom change some Lanc' decals for my Nottingham GR2 and he modified his Snowbird set to fit a Bede BD5 for me too.  Actually, he did enough for four aircraft (something else I really should finish off)
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: Brian da Basher on January 29, 2014, 03:11:03 AM
I keep coming back and having a look at this Whiff, very believable, great attention to reality. 8) 8)

What he said, kitnut! Your talent is completely off the charts!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: kitnut617 on January 29, 2014, 04:19:12 AM
I keep coming back and having a look at this Whiff, very believable, great attention to reality. 8) 8)

What he said, kitnut! Your talent is completely off the charts!

Brian da Basher

Flattery will get you everywhere BdB ---  ;D

But thanks for your kind words ---
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: ysi_maniac on February 03, 2014, 04:08:00 AM
High quality paint job!!!! :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: kitnut617 on February 03, 2014, 04:52:23 AM
Thanks Carlos --

couple of build pics showing the sand filters and exhaust arrangement, main and tail rotors from the Airfix Lynx kit:
Title: Re: CH-151 Thunderbird
Post by: father ennis on February 03, 2014, 05:24:19 AM
Great work,my friend !!  Too bad you have to cover it with paint !!  LOL!!!