[arkhunter2002]

So for once I'm actually stuck with deciding which chinook variant to depict...and where this will take place (colombia/philippines/iraq) as they could all be there as far as I know...

MH-47E or G. Didn't think a decision could be hard, but at the same time, I figured that it isn't a life or death situation. I'm just getting the brain juices goin before I kick off the cockpit/cabin. I'm pretty sure there isn't that big of a difference between the two, interior wise that will really be noticeable when it's all closed up.

For the Mock Up, the MH-47, it's all blu-tac'ed and taped together. I need to modify the CMK pilot figures to update their helmets/vests, but other than that, they fit pretty well. I want to use that squatting figure on the ramp. I'll probably sculpt the rest of the figures unless I find some other plan, like modifying prieser figures...

The red lego boat is the approximate length/width of the SOC-R and the q-tips will be the wires that will suspend the MH-47 where they hook up...



I'm going to arm the MH-47 with M134D's and then in the rear windows have an M240B & M240D like on prime portal. I haven't figured out the load out for the SOC-R yet, but I'm thinking the two Miniguns up front, two Mk 19's in the midsection, and an aft M2 would look pretty sweet. I'm pretty sure there aren't any SOC-R models out there unfortunately, and the hull is pretty dissimilar to other 1/72 boat models, so looks like I'll be scratch building this with the weapons coming from dragon humvees & armycast... Does anyone know of a walkaround? And does anyone know if the SWCCs can use CVC helmets on board? I got a bunch of photos of them floating around the internet, but no real walkarounds...

Do MH-47's have ramp guns? I don't think I've seen them, but I've seen CH-47's. Is it just unit dependent whether or not they have them?

Also can anyone recommend good water products (clear resin)?

Take care,
Austin

This post has been edited by arkhunter2002: 08 August 2012 - 01:53 AM

[Intruder_bass]

Austin,

nice project! I always liked SOC-R boats, even thought about scratchbuilding one of those in....1/35 though LOL.
There is several ways to make water dio. Some people actually use clear epoxy or clear resin to do it. It gives the depth effect and allow to show some detail below the serface if this is what you are looking for. I find it a little tricky to work with since it cures for long period and have a tendency to self-level - you have to baby sit it for several hours constantly adjusting the surface detail.
What I use to imitate water is just an acrylic jel/ It is available through various suppliers like Valejo or Woodland Scenics. It is a little easier to work with (for me). Basically you build your surface relief first from plaster or Styrofoam? paint it then cover with several layers of clear acrylic jel. Looks very bright and shiny just like real water. Not much of a depth effect but certainly looks like water.
here is couple of examples of my work:





and here is a cool pic of SOC-R just for inspiration


Cheers!

Andy

This post has been edited by Intruder_bass: 11 January 2011 - 05:22 AM

[Sarathi S.]

AGH!!!! You stole my idea of having a SOC-R!!!! But I think SOAR Chinooks do have a crew chief in the ramp with an M60 or M240. At least, they did in Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda. Also, I think the MH-47G has an extra ring on the engine exhausts. Bulldog 09's Chinook build shows this. I'm not sure about any other differences, though. Also, from the pics I've seen, the SOC-R crew just wear the standard MICH infantry helmets. Also, have you considered using Modern Hobbies' Modern US Army Helicopter Pilot set? They already have HGU-56/P helmets and what seem to be current vests. I'm planning on using them for my MH-60L and later MH-47 build.

This post has been edited by Sarathi S.: 11 January 2011 - 05:31 AM

[arkhunter2002]

Andy,

Thanks! Awesome lookin ships! How high are you able to 'build' the acrylic gel up? I feel like 1/4 inch should be plenty, but then again, this is 'uncharted water' for me... Also, how much of the surface elevation change do you build up with the relief? I'm thinking it'll be relatively flat but I need to do the rotor wash detailing. Thirdly, do you just paint the surface white for white caps, or do you have a specific technique? I'll have to do a few figure vignettes with water to experiment...

Sarathi,

Haha sorry bud. Also, most SWCC pics on SOC-R's have ACH/MICHs on, but CVC helmets would definitely be easier considering I have an abundance of them from prieser. I am most definitely using Dave's as a reference either way. I probably bugged the crap out of him with my incessant questioning, but I was still getting answers, which will definitely be invaluable when it comes time to build those parts. I used the Modern Hobbies Pilots for my gunners on my MH-60K, they are still the older SPH-4 helmets...

The best picture I have showing what I did before painting. I added the squarish bulge


And another one after it's all said and done cause motivation is a good thing to have.


And some SOC-R videos for added motivation
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=iFkU-Roqz58
^watch the empties fly out continuously out of the mini....

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=caYjQDmplKA

Speaking of the first vid though, I was also thinking of putting a 4man SEAL team somewhere in the dio, be it in the back of the chinook or in the the SOC-R, but we'll see, it could just be the "support" SOC-R...

Take care,
Austin

[doupnik]

Austin

Looks like you have another cool project planned. I'm looking forward to following this one.

I just did some water for a ship build using the Acrylic gel that Andy mentioned. I'd post pics, but they are nowhere near as nice as Andy's U-Boat. As long as you let the gel dry between coats and go slowly, you should be able to get some decent depth.

mason

[11bee]

 Intruder_bass, on Jan 11 2011, 12:18 AM, said:

Andy,

That is some of the best looking water I've ever seen before. Just incredible.

Austin, looks like you are off to a good start! That picture of your Blackhawk dio is incredible. It looks like the real thing, all of your figures have natural poses, none of them have that "wooden" look.

John

This post has been edited by 11bee: 11 January 2011 - 11:32 PM

[Hajo L.]

Austin, as I wrote in my PM, try to contact Revell and ask them if they´d send you a hull of the 1:72 "Hermann Marwede"-kit "Tochterboot" (that´s what they are called, meaning "daughter-boat", a smaller craft that can be launched for shore operations and very shallow water).

That´s how I got the "base" for my SOC-R.


HAJO

[arkhunter2002]

Hajo, I was comparing the pics to the SOC-R and the tochterboot and I think the tochterboot has a bit different shape (it seems to be too point at the bow, where the SOC-R seems to be more 'boxy'). I haven't done all my calculations yet, but it should come out to be 33' long x 9' long which would result to 139.7 mm long x 38.1 mm wide in scale... (in inches, 5.5"x1.5"). Do you have the dimensions of the tochterboot? It could still be a legitimate starting point.

Mason, sounds good. What brand name did you use? And would you recommend it over other brands?

John, thanks! I know your Hip is going to look real when it's done.

Take care,
Austin

And now that I'm done printing off pictures, time to get to work

[Hajo L.]

Austin, you are right, the dimensions and shape differ from a real SOC-R. Unfortunately I don´t have the boat here, so I can´t tell you the exact dimensions of the hull. But I think for all what you´ve scratched so far with your projects, doing a SOC-R hull should be a peace of cake for you.

I may have a chance to take measure of the sizes at the end of the month. But I´d also try to help you out by asking some fellower modellers to look for their boats and give me that data.


HAJO

[Intruder_bass]

Austin, I think it is possible to build up 1/4 inch with several layers of Acrylic jel. Like Mason said - just let each layer to dry completely before applying next and it should work out nicely. Any railroad model supplier or Local Hobby Shop should have Woodland Scenics' Realistic Water in bottles. The stuff is good! But if you have access to Valejo jels - even better!

Andy

[pastafarian]

I'm going to have to give that gell stuff a try. I've got a couple water projects that have stalled because I don't want to stink up the house with the resin. Got a crashed Huey (either in a rice patty, or maybe with a waterfall going through it - saw a loach diorama like that somewhere), and I have a whiskey still that I'm needing to set up to get all my plastic figures drunk. LOL

John

[Sarathi S.]

@Austin: Ah, I see. If they have the SPH-4s, then I don't understand why it says they come with HGU-56s. I'm honestly not sure how CVCs would really work for the SWCCs, though. But I guess you could pull it off. And I guess I'm going to be peppering you with incessant questions once I convince my parents to let me get the Italeri MH-47. And when or if I do a SOC-R.

[Loach Driver]

I don't know what a tochterboot is but I took some measurements of the second biggest boat in the Revell kit. I hope this is the boat you are talking about. It looks to be about the right size for the Special Ops boat. Here are the measurements (all taken with a digital calipers);

Total Length; 129.5 mm
Width; 47.7mm
Length of the section of hull with a constant width; 92mm
Depth of hull from the top of the boat side to the shallowest section of hull; 15.2mm

I hope this is of use.

LD.

[Avus]

Another one to follow!

I was thinking of doing mine with the SOC-R boarding the Hook so with a flooded cargo area ... one day ... in the far future.

[arkhunter2002]

Ah the good ol' delta queen maneuver...

LD, I think you have the correct one. It'll be awhile before I even get to start the SOC-R, so you never know, someone might just come out with one...hahaha

Andy, I think I'll give the Vallejo a try. I use their paints for figure painting and sometimes for weathering armor, and I love the way it works. Their products are well worth the money...

Sarathi, get the RoG MH-47E kit. It has the corrected rotor blades. Not that the Italeri blades are impossible to fix, its just more work...lol

But to the real reason this thread is alive...pictures...

I started work on the 'inbetween' closets. I cut both of them out. In hind sight, I probably should have only cut one of them out... (great start, right?)


I am planning on filling up the left closet (when viewing it from the cabin) verbatim to Dave's build... The right side will have the gunners seat, not sure if it'll be stowed or opened...

At first I tried using a klondike wrapper to do the sound proofing with. Here's a hint: DON'T USE IT. I tried, and well the results bugged me. I told myself "you won't see it anyways" so I started work on the seat. Ugly, right? (great start x2)


Then on the way home from crossfit, the motivation to redo it hit me. I peeled it off, sanded it down, and then did it again with aluminum foil. Much much better IMO. The knurling was done with the handle of an exacto knife...


Then onto the seat. Like I said earlier, I wasn't too sure if I wanted to have it stowed or opened. Simple solution...hinges




And then tomorrow I'll mess around with the fabrics for the seat as well as filling in the electronics cabinet on the left side.


Take care,
Austin

[Sarathi S.]

Unfortunately, I can't find the Revell MH-47E anywhere. I might just steal the rotors from my old one, though.

[norbert]

Oh no no no
Not another great dio from you Austin....
Now I will have to look every day to see if you made an update...



No more kidding, it's a nice idea that I will follow closely, and even more closely that I have a 1/35 CH-47D waiting since mounths Andy to finnish his pointy nose for another water project...

Norbert

[arkhunter2002]

Norbert, don't hate the player, hate the game

Aight well the pictures don't do very good justice, so that'll be an excuse for more pictures later. I choose to use green stuff for the seat webbing. I put it inbetween two pieces of wax paper and rolled it out to make it thinner. That allowed for it to be much thinner and I wouldn't risk it sticking to any tools... I also made a first aid kit, a map pouch (?) and the frame for that as well as few other personal items. Now that my laptop is back up and running its time to finish up the cockpit and the electronics bay! I still need to add the flight engineer's seat (if that's where he sits) and yeah...






^testing with a scrap figure to check height...

Take care,
Austin

This post has been edited by arkhunter2002: 13 January 2011 - 12:24 AM

[Sarathi S.]

Hey, Austin, where do you get the green stuff? Figure it might come in handy at some point.

[Bulldog 09]

Hey Austin,

The build is looking good Sir. let me know if you need some 72nd first aid kits. I sculpted one and made a load of resin copies for my MH-47, Apache and several other builds I have planed in the near future. Quick question did you grab the Eduards set for this kit?

Dave Fassett