Mil Mi-62 (NATO: 'Hepcat') attack gyroplane - Pics & story @ page 3

[Dizzyfugu]

I'll take a little break after the I-2M107 kitbash, but have another idea/project in store that will fit here well: a modern, Russian attack gyroplane, as a big brother for the Ka-50/52 - maybe the successor of the luckless Mi-28...?

Will be a kit conversion, even though the basis is obscure, nothing you'll probably know. Originally I wanted to add this to the Rotodyne and Convertiplane Theme Build, but I never got to start this one in time. So it will now get a Red Star and some other appropriate details and join the Za Rodinu GB.  

[Dizzyfugu]

Good news from beyond space and time - work on the modern Russian attack gyroplane started after some delays. Progress is good so far, but no WiP pics yet. Still, for inspirational purposes, here's the basis for my contribution:


"Sprue View": Kotobukiya's Modeling Support Goods - Mechanic 003 (MB 24) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


"Sprue View": Kotobukiya's Modeling Support Goods - Mechanic 003 (MB 24) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The kit is one of a series of eight generic SF-military/mecha vehicles by Kotobukiya, from 2009. There are four pairs of 8x8 and tracked armored vehicles with different extras, a transporter with an open platform (one tracked, one wheeled - great to transport mecha wrecks!) and two gyroplanes/helicopters which differ not only in color (this green one, a the other is beige) but also in wing and fuselage details.

I guess they were devised as toys and diorama addendums, targeted at Gundam/Gunpla builders - all of them are about 1:72 scale, of simple/solid construction and rather rough and sturdy

Nevertheless, they look cool and are good modern accessories for SF themes, and this one will be converted in a manned gyroplane, with a manned cockpit, some Russian ordnance and minor mods to details like the landing. 

Stay tuned...

[Captain Canada]

Looks like a neat kit !

Glad to hear you're manning the cockpit....always like an aeroplane with a pilot better, especially in a model, just adds interest.

[Dizzyfugu]

Progress!

After some delay work on this project started. First step is to add a clear canopy, as I want to add a manned cockpit with a pilot. I found a canopy from an Academy MiG-21F in the scrap box, that fits well, but needs putty work (see later).


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The landing gear will be modified with free-standing wheels. The Kotobukiya helicopter is pretty toy-like and built for stability, so the wheels are part of the fuselage. I cut the away and replace them with more delicate parts.


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Assembly of the tail:


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Detail look into the snap-fit fuselage. It's a simple kit, but fit is very good.


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

As mentioned earlier, I want to implant a cockpit and the MiG-21F canopy has to be fixed to the fuselage.

In order to to achieve a smooth intersection and keep things simple, I glued a piece of clear tape behind the canopy, but a string of 2C putty on the opening's rim and pressed them together.

The result is a nice basis for further work, e. g. with NC putty for surface works.


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Fit is good, interior's next!

[kerick]

Nice job on the canopy, I have to remember that trick!

[Dizzyfugu]

It does not always work, but in this case it was much easier than adding styrene strips and messing around with NC putty. You just have to make sure that you use a self-adhesive tape with a glossy back, so that the 2C putty does not stick. The clear variant has also the benefit that you can control very well if there are areas with gaps. Primitive, but effective, and here it turned out very well!

[PR19_Kit]

What's 2C putty please? I've never heard of that before.

[Captain Canada]

2C ? NC ? Got me confused as well ! But I like your work so far...as I said earlier, always like a 'manned' aeroplane ! Funny how much she looks like an Apache all stripped down. And what was the purpose of the original kit with all that built up area inside ? Did it get screwed together like a toy ?

 

[Dizzyfugu]

Two-Component Putty? "NC" is for nitrous compound stuff, surface finisher.

As a side note, I just put the fuselage together, and without the stub wings the thing looks a lot like the Apache - if you omit the fin under the tail, too. Now the wings have been fitted, and also the large end plates, and that changes the look considerably. Has some Manta aura to it, very unique.

[Dizzyfugu]

"In the meantime, Mos Eisley space port..." More progress on the Mi-62, cockpit interior next:


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Progress on the fuselage. One thing I change are the jet engine exhausts - I turn them upside down, so that the fairings might reduce the IR signature from below/behind. The nozzles will also be replaced, the original parts rather look like rockets!


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Progress on the fuselage. In this view, without the stub wings, the Kotobukiya autogyro reminds a lot of an AH-64?


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Any similarity with an AH-64 gets lost when the stub wings are mounted.


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The end plate stabilizers have been fixed, too - the thing looks rather stalky right now, as I omit the large gatling cannon under the fuselage. It is to be replaced with a (much smaller) gun turret, though, but there will still be a lot of space left! Anyway, I'll stick with it this way.


1:72 Mil Mi-62 (Whif) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Father Ennis]

Very Kool ... !!!   

[Army of One]

This........is.........epic......!!!!! 

[MiB]

Desert pattern? (like 1985 Afghanistan invasion)

[McGreig]

Another great idea 

I'd never heard of Kotobukiya, but I've now looked on eBay and Amazon and discovered that their small Mechanics range is not that difficult to find and not that expensive. Hmm - - -

And, like everyone else, I'm very impressed by your solution to fairing in the canopy. Definitely looking forward to seeing this finished.

[Dizzyfugu]

This........is.........epic......!!!!! 

No. It's Japanese!