Sikorsky H-37A Mojave, 55-0650 - completed

First I cleaned the windows openings in the fuselage halfes als a kind of worm up for the new Sikorsky-project. The fit and quality is very ok for a short run kit.

First batch of sketches for the PE sheet. The sketches for the most important parts coming soon.

Prototype for the blade hinge lock (when rotor stand still)

New research results: this kind of lock was firm introduced on S-58...

3D model designed by David. Excellent and fascinating!

The first result: any refinements and the first look of one of David’s parts: excellent quality and fit.

One of three 3D - parts in place + dragging damper. (71p).

The kit contains no swashplate. The swashplate is installed immediately under the rotor head and well visible. (87p)

As usual I have at weekend more time for puzzling: 85 parts later than last picture. (172p)

The rotor head is almost completed: unusual mechanics on top of each main arm for „translation“ of swash plate - movement. I suppose that this „Umlenkmimik” was necessary because the diameter of the swash plate is very small, too small for direct control of the blade.

At last I have to do the blade locking bars („Schlagsperre”, lock when the rotor stands still, unlock when using the centrifugal force). One as prototype completed.

All 5 blade locking bars (Schlagsperre) in place. Rotor head completed. (267p)

Corrected tips. (Update: not really correct)

Cuffs in place (update: unfortunately not correct in place)

The main blade divided into 27 sections.

On course again: cuffs correct installed, “triangle shaped notch” of the blade shaft on the correct side.

Now the tips are edgy enough.

Blades completed minus 2 x 2 yellow stripes. Structure: polishing via cotton swab.

Exhaust area reworked. Most machines flown without exhaust tube cover.

Opening reworked / corrected: the lower edge ist longer, the diagonal is shorter.

Edges of the nacelle in wheel bay area thinned. Aft part of the resin part removed because bad fit. Instead of them build from plastic parts scratch.

Prominent “nose” added (0,5 mm plastic)

Landing legs completed minus wires and cables.

Wheel bay not yet completed.

Landing legs completed minus washing and wheels.

Wheel bays nearly completed minus some wires and cables.

For better fit / alignment each of the four exhaust stack has its own place (ri, ro, li and lo).

Two of three surfaces of the fire wall / bulkhead in place. The shape was determined with the “try, correct, try again and correct again” -method.

As expected the needed etched parts have left and right different shape (mirroring 1:1 not possible). It’s quite a short run….

Drive shafts to the main gearbox.

Exhaust pipe collecting boxes made of Ureol.

Spare parts / rest of several R-2800. Because of the nearly invisible interior I intend to install 6 six front and 9 cylinders in the second row. Fortunately the gearbox is invisible and so it’s possible to use the incomplete parts.

It’s not an accident that the parts for the left and right side are not symmetrical. Because of the fact that it’s a short run kit there are differences between left and right. I used tape for determining the exact shape and I took my time.

Today I began the work in the cockpit. After checking the pictures in the Steve Ginter book I noticed that the cockpit floor is incorrect. The middle console is too short and the entry hatch is not present.

Kit offers a panel which is too narrow in the height.

New research results: each seat have a massive framing. The harness is mounting on the rearside of them and “guided” over the round bar on the top.

Corrected instrument panel (correct height) completed: airbrushed dark grey first and areas between the instruments brushed light grey.

Rear area /bulkhead reworked (moved afterwards). Cockpit flor fits!🙂

Right seat moved approximately 2 mm inwards so it’s not collide with the clear part.

Anyz Models and self made knobs and switches. Not completely painted yet.

As first time I used 3D harness decals designed and printed by DF HeloStuff. I glued carefully them with CA and I’m very satisfied with the result (DF82972).

Reheats decals for Blackbox fronts combined with ANYZ knobs.

Corrected cuffs. Rotorhead detailed.

Nose clear part after masking the windows inside , airbrushing interior green and removing masks.

As usual I intend to airbrush the fuselage white first, then the rim of the windows dark grey and insert the windows at last. You can see the small round holes in the masking tape to help remove the tape from outside (with small wire hook).

Top of the tail corrected. Hinge on right side corrected and detailed. Riveting completed. Waiting for etched parts.

Rotor stowage points.

Unusual arrangement for the antenna.

Self made riveting tool with 0,375 mm pitch, IMO fine enough for 1:72.

Hell Hole (right) and cargo hatch (left). The middle panel of the Hell Hole is made of transparent material. 0,3 mm thick PVC, will be installed after airbrushing white.

Very forward lower part of the fuselage is moveable as loading ramp. Because the hinges are installed of the upper side, on the lower side is a gap when ramp is closed (the gap is very well visible on original pictures).

Today I received the custom made etching parts: the quality is excellent.

Flush installed oval cooling panel.

Flush installed cooling panel for the tail rotor gear

Oil filter mesh.

Carburetor inlet

First of 4 large segments in place. It was worth take time to determine the exact shape and size of the parts.

It’s unfortunately impossible to create the prominent bulge in the right size and deep.

The large part is not completely glued: upper side is “free” for removing the paperstripe (airbrushing dust protection for the interior).

The fit was very good: I spent only one hour per side for bending, glueing und cleaning.

“Off white” in place minus upper side. The paper stripe is removed yet. CA gluing, cleaning and airbrushing coming at next.

Several drain, static and mounting points for external equipment

First round off white and masked for fire red orange.

As usual I used a mix of H132 (satin red) and H205 (fluorescent orange) and I’m very satisfied with the result. Postshading with a mix of H132 and clear gloss is well noticeable.

Main gear box for the tail rotor.

Nacelles glued. Seams sanded and cleaned. Panellines and rivets restored.

Airbrushed. Here and there I found imperfections. Carefully sanded again. Meanwhile airbrushed again: very satisfied.

Upper console. Right the kit part, a bit too wide and replaced of thin plastic.

The clear part is thin and distortion free. Unfortunately the framing is molded without sharp edge. So there are no clear “guide” for cutting the mask on the canopy.

Because of that I cut all masks externally which cost a lot of time. Finally I’m very satisfied with the result: the was well spent.

Upper console painted, wired and carefully glued to the roof of the canopy. The cable trees are fitted with 0,1 mm wire loop.

3 handgrips and hinges for the clamshell door.

The last parts before painting. Grey green at first.

Who knows which function have the pointed bars? They are NOT pitot tubes.

Special tactics for preventing paint overflow during airbrushing fire red orange. The off white base for the FRO will be so thin as possible.

Decaling completed. Fortunately there are very few elements. The kit contains markings in white for OD-scheme so I had to replicate all letters and numbers from separate symbols…

National insignias snow white "over airbrushed" with thinned (Mr Color) smoke (Revell).

Gearbox installed on tail only with 2 pieces 0,5 wire without glue.

Detailed and corrected tail wheel.

The landing gear is now in place without trouble. I only had to correct the length of the retraction strut because I made them a bit too short. Also the pitot tubes are completed and well visible.