1/48 Revell AH-64A Apache

Gallery Article by PB on Jan 25 2017

 

      

AH-64A Apache (Joint South African Air Force and Navy) 

This Revell 1:48 scale AH-64A Apache kit is fairly basic, and low number of parts. (It is not upgraded to B, C, D, or E). It is a very easy build, fairly good details, but with major fit issues and significant excess flash/molding. 

Design
My idea for this build is as a combat helicopter “Aggressor”. Specifically my aim is to make this a South African Joint SANDF and SA Navy aggressor (SANDF land camo scheme, SA Navy markings: Navy ensign flag). This Aggressor will act as a “Beachhead aggressor”, to simulate gunship assaults on beach-head defences and armoured vehicles. Specifically it will be used for the SANDF to have their defence systems to ident/track/ deter/deny. The reason for using an Apache and not a Rooivalk as an aggressor, is to be as close as possible to a wargame scenario in which a foreign aggressor country uses Apaches.

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Weapons/ordnance
This aggressor Apache has its standard 30mm chain gun. The live ordnance is comprised of: 8x Hellfire Anti-armor / anti-vehicle missiles, and 2x two-stage Anti-radar missiles with HE/frag warhead (I scratch-built these missiles with sprues). For most aircraft, an asymmetric payload (weapons or fuel) is generally not recommended, but anyways, I like the asymmetric look for this one, so all Hellfires are all located at the starboard side wing. I didn’t want any rocket tubes, so I glued both Hydra 70 rocket rubes, and voila, I have one scratch-modified fuel pod (at the port side) and rounded with plastics. Also, the reason for “live” capability vs. “dry”, is that I think it is important for the aggressor to have live payload in order to match the full-payload weight and be able to strike at mock targets. The other scratch-build addition to the kit is a M4 rifle with ACOG, field tan-colour, which I have placed in the cockpit, as crew weapon. I also made small chaff dispensers on each side at the tail boom. I also scratch-built an ALQ-147 IRCM jammer immediately behind the main rotor housing.

Paint scheme
Paint scheme hand-brush painted, geometric camo pattern, 2-tone (olive drab and charcoal/dark olive drab), some sampling variation. The objective for these colours is to: 1) simulate part land and part sea colours, 2) reduce light and water reflection, especially when adding to low altitude flight, and night flight.

I hope this is alright! Sorry for all the dust! 

PB

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Photos and text © by PB