Hi All,
Have started this EC-135 Air Ambulance from Revell. Quite a small helicopter but has lots of good moulding and detail inside it.
So far I have built and painted the interior, almost OOB with exception of some harnesses' for the crew. I have added some strip lead to the underfloor section to balance the aircraft when it is on its skids.
At the moment, I am awaiting the fuselage to dry after being glued together. More progress soon I hope.
Some pictures of it at the before joining the fuselage halves.
Thanks for looking:-
Nice work, as always.
Very nice detail Kevin. I think I have one of these in the stash.
Looking good - do I have to start calling you HelicopterKev in the future ::) ::) ::)
Quote from: MSea on October 28, 2025, 04:16:25 PMLooking good - do I have to start calling you HelicopterKev in the future ::) ::) ::)
Whirlykev surely?
I think Chris is the real 'Whirly Kid' of the club, not me.
Did you ask Chris W for permission before starting this build? He has club franchise you know.
Quote from: zak on October 28, 2025, 05:37:05 PMQuote from: MSea on October 28, 2025, 04:16:25 PMLooking good - do I have to start calling you HelicopterKev in the future ::) ::) ::)
Whirlykev surely?
Yes, I think whirlyKev works.
Quote from: chriswil42 on October 29, 2025, 03:26:04 PMQuote from: zak on October 28, 2025, 05:37:05 PMQuote from: MSea on October 28, 2025, 04:16:25 PMLooking good - do I have to start calling you HelicopterKev in the future ::) ::) ::)
Whirlykev surely?
Yes, I think whirlyKev works.
Thanks Chris, I know what to answer to at the next meeting.
Hi All,
More work done on this over the last few days.
Fuselage now assembled and tail boom with Fenestron tail attached.
There were some small amounts of filler needed, so to reduce the amount of filler, I masked off either side of the area I wanted to fill with masking tape, then applied filler (Mr. Hobby Plastic Putty). Once hardened, I removed the tape to reveal the filler. I then used some wet and dry and some sanding sticks.
As can be seen the amount of filler left was easy to rub down, and the detail not obscured.
I then masked the windows and painted the surrounds black with an airbrush. A decal will go around the windows at the end, but this prevents and gaps becoming obvious, well that's the theory!
Then it was out with the Tamiya Flat White to try and get an even overall colour, I noticed that the tail boom assembly was considerably brighter than the fuselage, which had the internals painted.
After several coats the fuselage and boom were done, but I can still see a slight difference in hue on the tail. Hopefully the next Pink base colour in readiness for the bright yellow will cover this.
Some pictures of all this follow, thanks for looking:-
Another model that will be perfect.
You're going great guns with this Kevin. Are you what Dave is on?
No Chris, nothing like what Dave is on.
If I were, it probably would be the 'infant Strength' formula............ and I still wouldn't be able to keep up.
Hi All,
Have retackled the paint job, and sprayed some Tamiya White Primer over the whole of the airframe. This evened everything out nicely. so next job is a quick check for any area's that need filling/sanding and then an overall light sand/polish before spraying a coat of pink undercoat in readiness for the yellow.
Whilst the paint is hardening and drying, I looked at the rotor assembly. Revell seem to have moulded this so it sits too high on the fuselage. To make the rotor sit lower I pared some of the rotor shaft, and then drilled out the mounting holes in the rotor itself. Together with these refinements it sits much better and closer to the top of the fuselage.
Some pictures follow, thanks for looking:-
Your filling and sanding is a masterclass in itself. I rarely get it as smooth as you.
Quote from: cph64 on November 01, 2025, 05:57:36 PMYour filling and sanding is a masterclass in itself. I rarely get it as smooth as you.
Patience grasshopper!
A great finish on the primer Kevin.
Thanks guys, but it doesn't always go to plan.
Anyway, on this one it seems to be going okay. I noticed a couple of spots that need a bit of attention near the rotor housing so I applied some Mr. Surfacer 500 and when dry rubbed it down, then applied a further coat of white to the area to get everything even.
I then began my 'Pink Period' on this one. So far two thin coats of pink, and probably another one before tackling the yellow.
Pink painting now done!
Starting on the Yellow tomorrow.
Nice colour.
Keep it pink - I like it yoho yoho yoho
Don't listen to Martin!
Nobody does :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
After taking advice not to listen to Martin, and the fact the helicopter is bright yellow, I decided to go for...........yellow.
After 4 thin coats this is the result.
That's a great yellow.
Quote from: zak on November 04, 2025, 06:27:25 PMThat's a great yellow.
I think I might need the sunglasses out again! ;D ;D ;D ;D
Yes, it's quite vivid!!!
Hi All,
Bit more progress now.
The blue tail for the European flag has been masked and applied. The window masking has been removed and also the masking on the cockpit/engine apertures.
For the cockpit, some touch up on the instrument panel shrouding is required. Also some of the cockpit frames mating surfaces need a little tidying up.
For the windows, on one side I used a mix of Tamiya tape and Bare Metal foil, on the other just Bare Metal foil. The mixed masking worked better, as on the other side I needed to use some shaped chisel edged wooden coffee stirrers were needed to remove the Bare Metal foil. This left a slight glue residue, which needed to removed using a Micro Brush with some Wd-40 on it. This removed the residue and gave a shine to the glazing.
The main rotor has been painted, the tail rotor has been painted yellow as has the main rotor boss. I have also assembled the skid assembly for the helicopter and painted it Satin Black.
The main front cockpit glazing has had its framing painted, but this still needs to be cleaned/polished and given a dip in Kleer to improve clarity before finally attaching to the fuselage. In one of the pictures you can see it test fitted before the above is carried out.
Finally I have given the fuselage three thin coats of Kleer to obtain a high gloss finish ready for the application of the decals.
Hopefully a bit more progress in the coming days, thanks for looking.
This is looking very nice. Your attention to detail certainly pays off.
A nice shade of yellow well applied Kevin. You've speeded up on this model.
Hi All,
A bit more on this. I have now touched in the instrument shroud and some small patches under the cockpit floor. The rear tail fan has been painted and installed. Now ready to get the decals applied and looking like the subject.
Thanks for looking.
Hi All,
Well the decals have been applied to the fuselage sides and undersides, and its beginning to look better. I still have a few for the main rotor, but will apply these once the rotor has been painted and 'kleered'.
On the fuselage, as expected the black window surrounds were a bit challenging, not quite fitting. On my first side I had to cut the decal in three places whilst in situ to get a near fit. On the other I pre-sliced the decal and got on much better. I anticipated some slight touching in of the windows and will do this with Matt Black paint once everything has dried decal wise.
The ADAC letters were cut into individual letters and applied separately to lessen the amount of carrier film and possible silvering. Only a couple of places were noted, being pricked with a sharp needle and more decal softner applied.
The undersides were quite straightforward and went on without issue.
Some pictures of the above, thanks for looking:-
Looks really good, soon be on it's skids.
Thanks Chris,
Hopefully by the end of today it will be. Need to touch in the black and then get the canopies attached. It might make it to the club meeting if I can finish it in time.
Excellent Kevin.
Great
Hi All,
Project now finished and made it to the club night. These are a few pictures of the completed EC-135 in the markings of ADAC, Winterberg Krankenhaus, Saarbrucken, August 2001 . A nice project from start to finish, and one that gets the thumbs up from the wife ( It's not camouflaged) and colourful.
Thanks for looking.
Nice to see this at Elvington, well done Kev.
An excellent model Kevin.
Thanks for the kind comments chaps, much appreciated.