PTE Blackhawk: Something CAN Be Done!

[PFunk]

While out of scale, the PTE Blackhawk remains one of the most frustrating pieces of kit 1:18 scale military collectors could ever deal with. Too detailed to be a throwaway, not big enough to really fit Joes very well, especially modern ones.

But, I was able to scratch out a halfway decent compromise using a Dremel tool, Squadron Green Putty, and Testors Acryl paints.

Paints used:

Field Drab - for the exterior paint scheme
Aircraft Grey - interior and landing gear
Olive Drab - seat cushions in crew area
Insignia Yellow and Insignia Red - cockpit accents and blade tips
Flat Black - Rotor blades, dashboard and cockpit panels
Steel - Rotor heads on main and tail rotors

First, some planform views

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo11.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo6.jpg

OK, what did I do? Frustrated with the basic PTE Blackhawk, I purchased about three from JC Penney, one I sold on eBay, one I customized for my son, and this one got butchered in the ensuing experiment. After fussing with the one I made for my kid, I decided to carve on it until modern figures fit well.

The first thing I did after peeling it apart was cutting out part of the fuselage in the front. Those two front seats are completely wasted. By removing the fuselage from the lower end of the front windows all the way to the floor of the aircraft, those two fronts seats were now wide open.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo3.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo8.jpg

[PFunk]

Next, I wanted to increase the crew space by allowing some guys to hang outside the doors. There wasn't a lot of room, so I had to be inventive.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo14.jpg

I got the idea from the guys that do the Warhammer 40K models. They use magnets to attach stuff to their models. I found some very small 1/16 inch disk-type (4mm wide) and glued them to elastic straps to hold the figures in place. Did it for the outer stations and the crew seats.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo9.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo5.jpg

The straps work well, but there is still one little problem. In the crew seats, there remains a considerable amount of space between the seat and the figure's butt. So, I took an old bedsheet, cut off some material, wrapped it around a small square of cardboard and glued it down. All the straps and seats were glued together with E6000 craft glue. The stuff is amazing.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo4.jpg

[PFunk]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo13.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo15.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo16.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo12.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo10.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo7.jpg

[PFunk]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo1.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo2.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/pfunkmusik/Helo17.jpg

[dpstro]

Awesome work! would have used different joes but still great work! I have the MH60 by BBI and it's too detailed.

[Starfighter]

Great job!

[PFunk]

Awesome work! would have used different joes but still great work! I have the MH60 by BBI and it's too detailed.

Too much detail and it's not a toy, it's a model.

[Konigstiger]

Awesome work! would have used different joes but still great work! I have the MH60 by BBI and it's too detailed.

Too much detail and it's not a toy, it's a model.


The fuck? That's a first, "too detailed". Maybe for those detail-less 25th figures, but they certainly not "too detailed" for PoC figures.

Perhaps they changed something since they were in stores, but my Bbi helos "play" just as well as Hasbro vehicles.



Anyhoo, I like what you did, OP. Really like that color.

[Hard-master]

nice work, i cut the original floor out of mine and remade it, here's a couple of pictures

[dpstro]

The fuck? That's a first, "too detailed". Maybe for those detail-less 25th figures, but they certainly not "too detailed" for PoC figures.

Perhaps they changed something since they were in stores, but my Bbi helos "play" just as well as Hasbro vehicles.



Anyhoo, I like what you did, OP. Really like that color.

No they are perfect for POC but for 25th (cartoons) it just doesnt work.

[dpstro]

nice work, i cut the original floor out of mine and remade it, here's a couple of pictures

Nice work...good call putting steel brigade on the mini gun

[PFunk]

nice work, i cut the original floor out of mine and remade it, here's a couple of pictures

That, sir, is some impressive fabbing.

[Ako Roshi]

Good color scheme.
Also nice job on the blade tips. I know first-hand that those can be a pain.

[c_money_collins]

I like that a lot. I'd buy that for $10 more than the regular one. which I mean a compliment.