The Pound

[The Rat]

Every so often things just, well, happen. In 1960 a Russian helicopter crew got completely disoriented in a blizzard over the Bering Straight, and put down in Alaska with little more than fumes in the tank. While the American authorities were more than civil to the unfortunate crew it was decided that the craft would not be repatriated along with them. The MiL-4 had been developed to give the Soviets the equivalent of the Sikorsky H-19, but it ended up being bigger and more capable in some ways. After studying the beast for a few months it was realized that there would be no need for it in any capacity, so it was offered for sale. Spartan Air Services, the legendary Canadian survey and transport company, picked it up and used it in many roles for over a decade.





The NATO reporting name for the helicopter was Hound, so in a play on that they named it the Pound, both because of its noise and because it had come to them like a puppy from the lost animals pound. It was a common sight in the Canadian arctic before parts, either bought, purloined, or cobbled together, became increasingly difficult to obtain. On its final flight to a maintenance depot at Coral Harbour a few critical pieces gave up the ghost and the crew successful autorotated it into the water within easy wading distance of land. The hulk was abandoned to the vagaries of wind and weather, until the final traces were washed out to sea.



The Model

Two words – not easy. Oh you can bash a helicopter out of it, but getting anything acceptable for human consumption is something I am not willing to spend too much time on. VEB Plasticart models are not for the faint of heart. The nose piece is perhaps the worst aspect of the whole thing – why they chose to make it a separate part instead of just having it as part of the fuselage halves is beyond me. Once you stick it on it's obvious that it has no real relationship to the contours of the real thing. The best after-market product for this model would probably be another model by a different company. The fit is tolerable, the clear pieces abominable (I just used Kristal Klear for all but the front window), and while the decals look comprehensive I wasn't about to take the chance of them dissolving. I made my own with MS Paint and an inkjet, not the best but readable. Spartan used a number of different lettering styles, and I used the Mistral font to approximate one of them. Not really close but so what, it's a whiffer!

[Brian da Basher]

I believe you've hit the trifecta with this beauty Rat-San:

1. Flawless model with very professional-looking custom markings

2. Killer backstory

3. Hilarious kit review

Bravo!!! Now go send this in its entirety to Steve over on ARC for Silly Week!

Brian da Basher

[Ed S]

Nice looking chopper, Rat.  Especially considering that this started life as a VEB kit.

Like the model.  Like the story.  Well done!



Ed

[The Rat]

Thank you gentlemen, I don't want to brag but after this I think we should respect those who 1) Actually attempt a VEB Plasticart kit, 2) Admit to #1, and 3) Post pictures of the effort. That means Overkiller is in line for 2/3 respect so far, pics will seal the deal!

Now go send this in its entirety to Steve over on ARC for Silly Week!

Already done! 

Yes, I would try another VEB kit, but I would never expect it to turn out well. The digicam hides a multitude of sins on this one, some pics were erased because they did less of a flattering job. 

[NARSES2]

Great stuff Ratty 

[frank2056]

Great job on the MiL-4! Is that in 1/100 (IIRC, that was VEB Plasticart's favorite scale)?

[The Rat]

Great job on the MiL-4! Is that in 1/100 (IIRC, that was VEB Plasticart's favorite scale)?

Good question, and I'm unsure of the answer. Some parts might be, others may be different. The rivets are about 1/10. Really should have shaved them off completely, but I have this 'thing' about clunky things looking clunky. 

[Jschmus]

I'm not very familiar with this aircraft, so I went to airliners.net to see photos.  There's a photo of one at a museum in the Czech Republic.  It's captioned "Doesn't look like anything that could fly".

Great model, by the way.

[John Howling Mouse]

Nicely done and very believable.  Definitely a keeper in my "Rat" archive.   

[chrisonord]

Thank you gentlemen, I don't want to brag but after this I think we should respect those who 1) Actually attempt a VEB Plasticart kit, 2) Admit to #1, and 3) Post pictures of the effort. That means Overkiller is in line for 2/3 respect so far, pics will seal the deal!

Now go send this in its entirety to Steve over on ARC for Silly Week!

Already done! 

Yes, I would try another VEB kit, but I would never expect it to turn out well. The digicam hides a multitude of sins on this one, some pics were erased because they did less of a flattering job. 

I have built the VEB Plasticart Beriev Be-6, I thought it wasn't that bad to build really,apart from the cockpit conversion, which fortunatelyI had something that would fit. The plastic is very hard, and has a fibre glass resin smell to it.
The Mi 4 is a very nice build you did there Rat, I like the old Soviet helicopters, and there are very few manufactures that make any good examples.
Chris.

[Captain Canada]

Nice work, Ratty ! She looks great in those colours and markings ! I was just thinking that would be a good way to finish a new Airfix Canberra.

[The Rat]

A Spartan survey Canberra would be wicked cool! 

[Bill TGH]

I have built the VEB Plasticart Beriev Be-6, I thought it wasn't that bad to build really,apart from the cockpit conversion, which fortunatelyI had something that would fit. The plastic is very hard, and has a fibre glass resin smell to it.
The Mi 4 is a very nice build you did there Rat, I like the old Soviet helicopters, and there are very few manufactures that make any good examples.
Chris.

Chris, I've had that kit in the stash for years, finally gifted it to a fellow CAMS member for a group build that was never completed.... do you have any shots in-progress or finished ? I would dearly love to see 'em and certainly would love to show 'em to Bill K here in snowy Freddy Beach...

[chrisonord]

Hello Bill,
The build is here, http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,26583.0.html
As you can see its far from standard .
I have another Be-6 in the stash, its the exact same kit but under a different name, and that one will get the living whiffs took out of it 
Chris.

[chrisonord]

I forgot to mention that Radish has posted a rather superb Beriev Be-6 on here too. It is in WW2 era RAF markings and colours.
Chris.