Kitty Hawk 1/35 SH-60B Seahawk

[Peterpools]

Thanks Kev

So very much appreciated. We're hanging in there and hoping 🙏 I'm sure all will be well.

 

[BlrwestSiR]

Here's hoping for the best Peter. 

[shark64]

Hi Pete. 
sorry to hear about your wife, let us know how she does.

if by any chance you want to add some details in your 60, Werner's Wings has front cockpit and cargo sub hunting stuff. Check it out you may like it.  

[Peterpools]

Thanks Oliver, I just may and skip the idea of an OOB build and add some better details. Having an update coming up in a few and then I'll backtrack and see where and what to do.

BTW, the 3D parts looks awesome.

 

 

[Peterpools]

THE INTERIOR ASSEMBLY PT1

Finally, I was able to crack open the box, checkout the kit and read through the instructions. Every fret is bagged separately, the glass being on two small frets, with one in a separate box and the other fret left loose in the box in between a few of the fret bags (?). I started noting the paint color omissions & errors and working at identifying the correct colors. I’ll be following the instruction sequence, as this is an OOB build (not any more with Oliver's pointing me in the right direction).

Parts so far feel a bit greasy and a good portion required cleaning to remove the mold release agent.

There is no customary painting reference guide, referencing any specific manufacture, which would be a plus for the builder. Not crazy how KH locates the painting and decal drawings guides throughout the instructions rather and would prefer they be separate sheets, easier to use during construction but in any case, they are awesome looking and all four views for each scheme are shown.

Step 1 & 2 are dragging on. The instructions while initially seems to be fine, so far have been a huge letdown in orienting parts and what the actual assembly sequence should be. Holes and opening up slots in the cabin floor need to be drilled out, as I’m assuming KH is using the majority of the parts for each version and depending on the version being built, different holes will need to be opened up. Would be nice if they spec out the bit size but no biggie. KH completely missed one slot that needed to be opened up at this stage.

Step 1: Right out of the gate, the hoist framing on the underside of the floor needs to have two walls added including the hoist, with the instructions showing the two side walls that hold the hoist need to be inserted into slots for positioning. Only problem is there are no slots in the floor, so the alignment guides needed to be removed and bottom of each part sanded flush.

It became obvious right from the start, parts for each assembly are all over the place and on different frets; just not the best way of going about it, very much as Revell does – compare the price of each company's kits. Why KH couldn’t design the kit so that all or most of the parts for a particular assembly would be on the same fret is a puzzle to me, as compared to Tamiya or ZM who try to keep the needed parts for an assembly on the same fret. The Seahawk is a complicate kit with a lot of parts for each assembly and just demonstrates a lack of ‘engineering care’ right out of the gate. The instructions do have the complete fret/part drawings, which helps quite a bit.

The instructions are really inadequate on part orientation, there are mold lines that need to be removed from every part and I don’t think KH understood what the term: “ good part fit” means.

KH detailed the sides of parts that will most likely never be seen and the sides we easily would see though the glass and doors right now, could use some of that time and resources in adding details to them. They seemed to have made a lot of bad choices right from the start.

Even something as simple as numbering the parts on the PE fret is wrong right out of the gate; part 1 is part 2 and part 2 is part 1! 

Note: Oliver just posted a link for 3D Printed AM Parts that might add the extra details and correct some of the kits errors. That would of course, mean, OOB as the build category would change but that's just fine.

Yup, here's proof I'm actually working on the Seahawk 

 Almost all the assemblies and parts are just being test fit and nothing has been glued to the floor yet. 

First of six seats to build and assemble.

Lots of sanding dust needs to be cleaned and removed

 

[Peterpools]

Thanks Carl

Very much appreciated. 

[shark64]

1 hour ago, Peterpools said:

Thanks Oliver, I just may and skip the idea of an OOB build and add some better details. Having an update coming up in a few and then I'll backtrack and see where and what to do.

BTW, the 3D parts looks awesome.

 

 

Pete, I am not trying to pressure you to get extra stuff...far from it.  Just sharing few goodies available for this kit. 

[Peterpools]

Oliver

I completely agree with using the castings from Werner's Wings, as they will solve so many problems with the kit for me. Sent you a PM as to where they actually are on the site so I can purchase them.

Just keep those suggestions and ideas coming, as you are keeping me on the path and helping me address so many issues with the kit.

So greatly appreciated,

 

[GazzaS]

Great start on the build, Peter.  Best hopes for your missus. 

[DocRob]

Best wishes for your wife Peter and also for sorting out the obstacles KH put up on your building process. Detail looks decent so far, but a bad manual and kit design can make things a bit awkward. I hope you got it sorted and maybe some extra detail in the huge cabin will make it standout.

Cheers Rob

[shark64]

Pete

i found some stuff I had when I built my 60. I have no use for it. Yours if you want it(no charge)

[Vandy1 VX-4]

10 hours ago, shark64 said:

Hi Pete. 
sorry to hear about your wife, let us know how she does.

if by any chance you want to add some details in your 60, Werner's Wings has front cockpit and cargo sub hunting stuff. Check it out you may like it.  

I’ve seen this a couple times, but never figured out how to order it?     It’s not on his website!!!!! 

[shark64]

12 hours ago, Vandy1 VX-4 said:

I’ve seen this a couple times, but never figured out how to order it?     It’s not on his website!!!!! 

Send him a message on his website or Facebook page. Let me know if u don't hear anything from him, I'll step in.

[Landlubber Mike]

Best wishes to your wife Peter.  We are thinking of her.

[CANicoll]

Peter,  Definitely looking forward to watching this incredible build.  Never seen you tackle something like this so I'm on board for this epic build.  

[Peterpools]

Thanks Gaz

Very much appreciated. We're a bit apprehensive about the procedure next Monday and hopefully it will resolve a good portion of the medical issues Diane is going through.

 

[Peterpools]

Thanks Rob, we're very much appreciative.

Kit wise, I decided to scrap the idea of a OOB and go with Oliver's suggestions of the interior AM, which should add and correct a good number of the interior detail issues. As far as the fit and assembly problems, I just feel KH should have thought out the procedure a lot better. The instructions just show the general area of what goes where but it's vague at best for a builder who hasn't built/completed a KH kit before. Slowly making progress and finding my way.

[Peterpools]

Thanks, Oliver, for the offer and absolutely the PE will work wonders. PM sent. 

 

 

[Peterpools]

Vandy

Follow Oliver's advice and Floyd will return your email request. I think Floyd will be printing additional sets after the IPMS Nats.

 

[Peterpools]

Mike

Thanks so much, greatly appreciated.

[Peterpools]

Thanks Chris

Absolutely a new ballgame for me and just getting use to the world of helicopter's is a learning curve in itself. Now throw in Kitty Hawk's 'kit style' and there is a frustrating learning curve to navigate. With Oliver's help, I've been making slow progress, but progress just the same. 

Not so sure how 'epic' the build is going to be as my goal is to finish the Seahawk and enter the build in the Noreastcon next March.  

 

[Hawkwrench]

Myself, Floyd and Ray from Wernerswings along with several other H-60 pilots and crew chiefs were the research and development team for KH's line of H-60's.

Our team made numerous callouts and corrections for the models. When it came to looks and getting it close to the real thing, KH listened. We tried to get these kits as close as possible to the real helicopters.

One place they went on their own was with color callouts and the instructions. 

Tim

 

 

 

 

[Peterpools]

Tim

Thank you for the information, as learning some of kit's history and development, adds to the experience. I'm just a newbie when it comes to the world of helicopter modeling and expect to be making building errors and learning as I go. My early impressions of comparing the kit to the photographic references I've found online so far; there appear to be some inaccuracies and thusly my reason for choosing to add the interior 3D resin detail set.

I've been working on the weapons system officer, pilot and copilots seats and there are issues with the seatback framing being bent (all three in the same location) on the frets and not enough of seat cushions (HE-19) for the first three seats. The instructions call for three and there are only two. HE20 looks identical and became my replacement seat cushion. Mistakes in numbering the PE popped up right at the start as well. What has created some frustration at this early point of the build, are the instructions with vague part placement and orientation, the manor of assembly and part fit for the seats and missing locating slots in the cabin floor. Least are some inaccurate color callouts. All of which obviously can be worked around, but you shouldn't have to.  

So far it seems there has been a lack of QC in checking the instructions, comparing them to the kit parts and of course, how clear and accurate they are as an aid for the builder.

 

 

 

 

[JohnB]

Certainly will be a beauty Peter. I hope Diane does well!!!

[Peterpools]

Thanks John

Very much appreciated. Fingers crossed for sure, as the procedure is tomorrow morning.