Model is the Academy 35^th scale OH—58D Kiowa. Neat kit all round with some nice detail provided for – avionics / weapons boxes inside and open engine bay. Assembly was quite straightforward with possible exception of canopy to fuselage joint – lots of plastic had to be removed from the instrument shroud to obtain a god canopy fit. Blades were drooped slightly using steam from a kettle.

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Mission fit is 2 x stingers on starboard pylon and 1 x rocket launcher on port side. Painting was done using XtraColor gloss dark olive drab lightened / darkened using dry brushed enamels / pastels in appropriate areas. Cockpit was painted in dark grey with chipping of paint using silver pencil, followed by dark pastels in recesses.

I added several hoses / wires to the engine area (amazing how small these gas turbines actually are). I also added harnesses to the various black boxes in the rear cockpit. I left the pilot doors off – not sure if they ever flew like this.

Decals didn’t want to respond to MicroSol, so I applied them using Future which acts as a decal glue / solvent by pulling decals down as Future evaporates. Seemed to work quite well with a few irritating patches of silvering left behind – rats !! Final coat of matt varnish was applied to tone everything down a bit.

Malcolm