Kamow Ka-34 ('Hokum') "14 White", unknown unit; Ramenskoje, early 90ies

[Dizzyfugu]

This is a curiosity: a personal variant/whif of a fictional helicopter, which later turned out to be something very different in real life - the Kamow Ka-50/52. A "whif-of-a-whif", kind of?

I am not certain when I built this one - but I can remember that it is the third and last ESCI #9073 I have build so far. Must be almost 20 years old...  I assume that the Ka-34 kit was created through satellite pictures from Ramenskoje, showing only the helicopter's outlines from above, but no side profile. Italeri's Mi-28 is a similar case, even though this ESCI guesswork is much more elegant and appealing, and a great basis to take things one step further.


1:72 Kamow Ka-34 ('Hokum') "14 White" (ESCI kit conversion/"whif-of-a-whif") by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Anyway, the original kit is very aircraft-like, with a pointed snout, very streamlined. And while this looks "fast" and attractive, the kit lacks that certain "Russian" style. Hence, I created this conversion, which is a modification of the original kit and sports a made-up cammo scheme.

I suppose that I built this kit after seeing pictures of the "real" KA-50, so I must have built it after 1994.


1:72 Kamow Ka-34 ('Hokum') "14 White" (ESCI kit conversion/"whif-of-a-whif") by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Kamow Ka-34 ('Hokum') "14 White" (ESCI kit conversion/"whif-of-a-whif") by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Modifications include:

● Cockpit canopies opened, which was tricky. The interior also saw more details and typical colours (esp. the garish teal tone)

● The nose is more or less new: shortened, and equipped with a scratch-built, chin-mounted visor unit and several pitots and antennae

● Twin-barreled gun in a new/bigger mounting instead of the simple single barrel

● New ordnance parts, e .g. the unguided rocket launchers from a Kangnam Su-25 kit, more slender than the original (and bigger) launchers.

● Modified fins

● New exhaust nozzles for the engines, directing the hot gasses upwards into the rotor - borrowed from a Hawker Harrier in 1:72 scale.


1:72 Kamow Ka-34 ('Hokum') "14 White" (ESCI kit conversion/"whif-of-a-whif") by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The paint scheme emulates a typical Soviet/Russian tactical paint scheme, made up from four tones for the upper sides and light grey undersides.
Even though the tones are not 100% correct and the pattern a bit wild, it looks IMHO quite convincing. For the top I used Humbrol 66, 98, 78 and 121, and 127 below.
Decals were added from teh scarp box, and the white "14" actually belongs to an Italian Matchbox G.91Y.


1:72 Kamow Ka-34 ('Hokum') "14 White" (ESCI kit conversion/"whif-of-a-whif") - Cockpit detail by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Vintage work, but I still keep it in my collection. A bit dusty, though, esp. the nose section...

[NARSES2]

That top photo looks real - great model 

[kerick]

Nice job! I have a couple on the shelf from years ago too, cool.

[chrisonord]

This is superb, and looks 100% genuine.I especially like the colour scheme you have done it in 
Your are right about it looking like an aeroplane too, I thought exactly that so made a turbo prop COIN aircraft using OV-10 wings, and put it in USMC service.
Chris.

[Army of One]

Holy Molly this is awesome....!!!! I love it....!!!! Russian attack helo's are great....!!!

[Mr Ten]

I did it too... But mine wasn't so nice !
Congratulations !

[Dizzyfugu]

Thanks a lot! 

[lancer]

Very Very well done model and looks so damm realistic in your pictures as well.

[Dizzyfugu]

Your are right about it looking like an aeroplane too, I thought exactly that so made a turbo prop COIN aircraft using OV-10 wings, and put it in USMC service.
Chris.

That idea has been lingering, and I might try something similar, too. Got the idea of fitting 1:100 A-10 wings and slightly bigger engine nacelles, but keeping the basic fuselage - maybe making a single-seater from it, though... 
The ESCI Hokum is very elegant and aircraft-like, and the result might be a secret third contender from MiG in the Suchoj/Ilyushin shootout for the 80ies CAS competition? Ah, so many ideas, so little time 

[Supertom]

Very nice.  I've only just recently gotten my hands on this kit and I've been looking forward to starting it.  I might have to steal some ideas from you.

[raafif]

I like it !  the cam is sooo nice too   But you need to be careful ... the KGB may kidnap you for their secret design dept.

[Dizzyfugu]

Very nice.  I've only just recently gotten my hands on this kit and I've been looking forward to starting it.  I might have to steal some ideas from you.

You're welcome

My intention was just to add some menacing look to the OOB Ka-34, it is very "sleek" and clean, lacking sensors etc. That it turned out to look like a warthog, well, was not intended, but happily accepted as the detail process evolved.

I had two others, too, my fist was built OOB, the second a conversion into a carrier-based attack helicopter - 5 blade main rotor and a tail rotor, too, gun turret from an AH-1, fixed landing gear with inflatable swimmers and an all-grey US Marines (Ghost) livery. No pictures or remains, though, but also looked the business...

Finmally, this thrid build was rather intended to make the ESCI kit more "realistic", and it seems as if that worked out fine?

Fourth build is on the list - the secret Su-25 contender, and the first heli I will (try to) convert into an aircraft! 

Again, many thanks to everyone for the feedback, highly appreciated!