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

Dizzyfugu · February 23, 2014, 04:13:44 AM

Quote from: MiB on February 22, 2014, 12:51:37 PM
Desert pattern? (like 1985 Afghanistan invasion)

Good suggestion, but a) I had that recently with my Yak-35 build and b) I already settled on another, rather weird real world option. But it should look good, too!

Dizzyfugu · February 23, 2014, 04:18:56 AM

Quote from: McGreig on February 23, 2014, 03:26:16 AM
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 - - -

Kotobukiya does a lot of stuff, some rather toy-like (all the Zoids animal-robots are and were made by them), some pretty useful (like these generic modern SF vehicles) and some really serious stuff - e. g. the "Hannibal" powered armor from the Patlabor 2 movie. It's SF/anime, too, but SO well-made, detailed and realistic, that there's a lot of potential. ebay is a good source (there's actually nothing more thrustworthy there than a Japanese seller), as well as HLJ.com (also good for "normal" stuff).

Dizzyfugu · February 23, 2014, 11:35:57 PM

Things move on, the smaller details come to play. In the course of completion, one not-so-little problem occured... (see below) $:-\$

Under the lower side, the original weapon attachment points under the stub wings have been sanded away.
Under the nose, a compartment for a retractable landing "foot" for the original model has been faired over.
In the place of the original, gigantic gatling gun I install a broad but flat turret with a twin-barreled cannon.

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

In the place of the original, gigantic gatling gun I install a broad but flat turret with a twin-barreled cannon. It's scratched from a Martin Marauder wheel half, some styrene strips and hollow steel needles.

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

More armament - I will install six wing hardpoints which will carry four rocket pods and two pairs of SA-6 ATMs. All come from a Dragon accessory kit.

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

"Houston, we have a problem..." It bugged from the start, and the recent comment by Franclab confirmed my doubts: ground clearance is VERY high. The kit originally carries a huge gatling gun under its belly, but its almost comical dimensions made me omit it here.

What to do...? I'll probably chop the end plates and the fin, so that the thing rests closer to the ground. Unexpected trouble.

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

Front view, now with the six wing hardpoints in place. Menacing...!

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

Total view, with the dry-fitted rotor in place. Still on its original, long legs, but that gyroplane really looks cool! Can't wait to see it in Russian colors! But before that, some landing gear surgery has to be done...

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

Cobra · February 23, 2014, 11:44:21 PM

Looking Good,Dizzy

have You Got a NATO Reporting Name for Your Gyroplane Yet? Can't Wait to See More

Dan

Dizzyfugu · February 24, 2014, 12:08:24 AM

Yes (sure!

), this one will become the "Hepcat"!

Beyond the landing gear issue, more costemtics will be done around the nose. We need a (typical Russian) large pitot, and that thing will receive a radome (insired by the Mi-28 - but in a different fashion).

Dizzyfugu · February 25, 2014, 01:00:01 AM

Not much to see, even though progress is good. Here's a look at the gun turret in place:

1:72 Russian Helicopters/Mil Mi-62K (NATO "Hepcat B"), aircraft "72 Red" of 125th OVP, Naval Aviation of the Baltic Fleet of Russia; Chkalovsk AB, 2015 - WiPm62_6504m62_6515 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Russian Helicopters/Mil Mi-62K (NATO "Hepcat B"), aircraft "72 Red" of 125th OVP, Naval Aviation of the Baltic Fleet of Russia; Chkalovsk AB, 2015 - WiPm62_6504 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

And now the "chopped" variant - about 0.5" from the tail fin and the wing end plates was cut away, so that the gyroplane rests closer to the ground. Thanks to the rather thick material strength, putting things back together was not as delicate as expected.

1:72 Russian Helicopters/Mil Mi-62K (NATO "Hepcat B"), aircraft "72 Red" of 125th OVP, Naval Aviation of the Baltic Fleet of Russia; Chkalovsk AB, 2015 - WiPm62_6504 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

There are some finishing touches like the cockpit, extra antennae and the exhausts to make, but painting starts soon.

Dizzyfugu · February 25, 2014, 11:35:12 AM

More progress... Progress with the ordnance, basic painting.

1:72 Russian Helicopters/Mil Mi-62K (NATO "Hepcat B"), aircraft "72 Red" of 125th OVP, Naval Aviation of the Baltic Fleet of Russia; Chkalovsk AB, 2015 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The Su-25 canopy has been cut into two pieces, and the front part attached to the fuselage with white glue.
Additionally, a large pitor boom has been added as well as a radome (Tophe should like that?), some antennae and other pitots.

1:72 Russian Helicopters/Mil Mi-62K (NATO "Hepcat B"), aircraft "72 Red" of 125th OVP, Naval Aviation of the Baltic Fleet of Russia; Chkalovsk AB, 2015 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Russian Helicopters/Mil Mi-62K (NATO "Hepcat B"), aircraft "72 Red" of 125th OVP, Naval Aviation of the Baltic Fleet of Russia; Chkalovsk AB, 2015 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

And: Painting has started. Yes, it's ugly - I use a Ka-60's livery from 2009 as benchmark, which was painted in a dark olive drab, a medium grey and chocolate brown. Sounds and looks odd, but I think it will suit the Mi-62 well.

1:72 Russian Helicopters/Mil Mi-62K (NATO "Hepcat B"), aircraft "72 Red" of 125th OVP, Naval Aviation of the Baltic Fleet of Russia; Chkalovsk AB, 2015 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Captain Canada · February 25, 2014, 12:28:31 PM

Ohh....she's starting to look good ( and mean ! ) now ! Love all the lumps and bumps, especially around the nose.

McGreig · February 25, 2014, 05:30:44 PM

This looks wonderful.

The original version, which looked like a Flying Crane/Gunship cross, was quite appealing but I think that you were right to cut down the fins - it now looks like something which should exist.

Good camouflage choice too - very reminiscent of the Great Patriotic War green/grey/tan scheme applied to bombers and sturmoviks.

Dizzyfugu · February 25, 2014, 11:37:04 PM

Thanks a lot, guys. I think it'll look great with some Red Stars! Third color (Olive Drab) has been applied yesterday, and that improves overall impression even more.

kitbasher · February 26, 2014, 12:11:30 AM

Not a criticism - far from it - but it doesn't half look very Gerry Anderson!

Dizzyfugu · February 26, 2014, 01:59:18 AM

Quote from: kitbasher on February 26, 2014, 12:11:30 AM
Not a criticism - far from it - but it doesn't half look very Gerry Anderson!

Not certain what you mean? My personal intention behind this conversion/build does not go into that direction, though, at least not intentionally, as I am not truly familiar with that genre. But I must admit that there is some Thunderbird-ish look to these Kotobukiya vehicles...

Just had a PM conversation about that topic...

Dizzyfugu · February 26, 2014, 11:28:20 PM

More painting progress, with Olive Drab (ANA 613) added as third color. Looks weird in the pics, but I must say that the real thing leaves a much better impression, and I'd say that the cammo actually works.

1:72 Russian Helicopters/Mil Mi-62K (NATO "Hepcat B"), aircraft "72 Red" of 125th OVP, Naval Aviation of the Baltic Fleet of Russia; Chkalovsk AB, 2015 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dizzyfugu · February 27, 2014, 09:05:27 AM

After the basic paint has dried the kit receives a thorough wash with thinned black ink that settled in the engravings, trenches and corners.

1:72 Russian Helicopters/Mil Mi-62K (NATO "Hepcat B"), aircraft "72 Red" of 125th OVP, Naval Aviation of the Baltic Fleet of Russia; Chkalovsk AB, 2015 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Russian Helicopters/Mil Mi-62K (NATO "Hepcat B"), aircraft "72 Red" of 125th OVP, Naval Aviation of the Baltic Fleet of Russia; Chkalovsk AB, 2015 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

After much of the black ink has been washed/rubbed off, it's now time for some dry-brushed panel highlights. Looks a bit ratty in the harsh flashlight!

1:72 Russian Helicopters/Mil Mi-62K (NATO "Hepcat B"), aircraft "72 Red" of 125th OVP, Naval Aviation of the Baltic Fleet of Russia; Chkalovsk AB, 2015 - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

jsport · February 27, 2014, 06:08:50 PM

lookin scary good.