Mil Mi-26 Halo
I had been waiting for a kit of this huge helicopter for a while. I already had the Sanger vacform and had been steeling myself to start it.
The Souhern Front Mil Mi-26 Halo model is typical for a limited run kit. The kit came in a large box but do not be fooled, Southern Front only has a small injection moulding machine! So the fuselage comes in four sections for each side! But despite this, the kit went together very well. There is a nicely kitted out cockpit with room for the super detailer. I haven't seen the Zveda kit yet so I haven't been able to compare. I have another Mi-26 Halo which will be done in a civil scheme, possibly Trans Ural. For size comparison I have included a shot with the Italeri CH-47. Yes this is a Herc' without wings!!
Comments
Mi-26 Halo.
Well done Henry..But can i ask...How long did you spend building it? Thank you for showing us. Cheers. Ross.
Mil-26 Halo
Kia ora Ross,
Working time on this model was about 2 weeks. I built and aligned the fuselage components on a flat board so that the process of joining would be easier. The rotors were also a worry so they were reinforced at the blade rotorhead joint with thickish fuse wire and 5 minute epoxy. My next one will have to be open and the interior completlely kitted out. Yes I am a glutton for punishment.
Quite a number of our members at IPMS Auckland thought that it was a 1/48th scale model!!
May your joins never show.
Henry The Helicopter.
Very good work Henry!
Very good work Henry! Congratulations! But I will be wait for Zvezda kit... They not made it tilt this time...
Sorry for my english, www.karopka.ru
Henry, I am thinking this will be my next build. I have a
few questions.
1. Each fuselage "half" is cut into 4 sections, so there's a total of 8 pieces making up the fuselage. How is alignment best achieved? I heard somewhere that one guy built each half on a piece of glass. Once each half was dry, he then glued the halves together. Is this how you did yours?
2. You mentioned Southfront only has a small injection mold machine. Is this why my Amodel Mi-12 (V-12) sprue are so small? Same injection moulder?
3. Is there an interior (cargo bay) included with this kit, or do I need to scratchbuild this as well (like on the Amodel Mi-12)?
4. I have the Sanger kit as well (which is worth nothing at this point, IMO). Do you plan to buy the Zveda kit. I heard that Revell Germany may also release this same kit under their name.
5. My Amodel Mi-12 Homer required alot of cleanup of each part. Are the Mi-26 parts similar? Good shape, decent panel lines, but a bit junky and needing a little light sanding?
Yours turned out very nice. I have looked through Airliners.net for other paint schemes. Everything else is boring except the camoflage. I would do mine in the Aeroflot colors, but hte gloss paint really brings out the flaws in a finish! :^ )
--Jon
Mil 26
Kia ora, Jon, Sorry I haven't got back to you earlier, as I haven't been active for a while. (work work work!!)
In answer to some of your questions: Yes I did build the south front Mil 26 on a nice flat bit of glass, as I realised that it would be a SOB to try and align any other way. The parts I found didn't need too much cleaning up, but beware the plastic is very soft. I thought that I would have a problem with the undercarriage, but once it was all glued up it was amazingly strong. I do have another south front Halo in the stash, which I will start building shortly in the Trans Ural scheme. Plenty of masking and colour decal sheet cutting there! There is no interior detail in the hold, so it is pretty basic in those terms. so will remain closed. I've seen the Zveda kit , which does have interior detail, ribs etc. and it looks pretty impressive. I have 2 on there way to me, with those Bergmont decals i'm going to have build a lot more!!! My Sanger will have to be binned as it will need too much work to bring it up to standard.
Keep me informed of your progress.
Regards
Henry Ludlam (Henry The Helicopter)