1/48 Monogram Mi-24V HRZ H-305

Gallery Article by Martin Šantak on May 9 2012

 

 

HISTORY: 
First unveiled in Croatia in 1993, twelve Mi-24s were effectively used in 1995 by the Croatian Army in Operation Storm against Krajina army paramilitaries. The Mi-24 was used to strike deep into the enemy background and paralyze Krajina army communications and command. The actions of Mi-24 were successful and one Croatian Mi-24 crashed near city of Drvar, Bosnia & Herzegowina due to strong winds, both the pilot and the operator survived. The Mi-24s used by the Croatia armed forces were obtained from Ukraine. Years of misuse, lack of spare parts and regular maintenance have grounded all of the Mi-24.

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THE KIT:
As far as the model, the base was the Monogram MIL-24 HIND GUNSHIP.
It`s the Mi-24V "Hind" within the Croatian Air Force under the registration H-305th
The model represents the apparatus at the time of flight for the Aviano base in 1996.

CONSTRUCTION:
Following conversions and operations were made to get the solid Mi-24V:

  • Extension of model in tail section for 12 mm using CMK resin
  • CMK resin (reflector, wings, camera, radars and el. components, cockpit, wheels, brackets)
  • Scratch build is the landing gear, much of the interior, pitot tube, sensors, electric dischargers, machine gun, exhaust-shafts, aerials, landing ski, wiring, transportation area glass, service openings, etc.
  • Model is engraved and riveted
  • Eduard and Part photo etched sets were used, but most of it remained because it was oversized or wrong
  • Corrected the exhaust openings, APU exhaust, propeller, etc.
  • "Ze-Ro" decals were used, the colors are gunze mixed, preshading and filter was applied

Took me four months to get this model finished, lot of time was spent due to many conversions.

I hope you like it, greetings…

Martin Šantak

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Photos and text © by Martin Šantak