Model of a green military helicopter with a mechanic, scaffolding, and open cowlings, on a neutral background

Here's an example of "kitbashing" with this Dorthmund III, which uses only parts salvaged from other kits...

A gray helicopter model being assembled, with the rotor removed and laid out on the plans

Initial assemblies and gluing. The goal is to build a vertical takeoff aircraft. Needless to say, the surplus box will let us freely dip into our stash of parts to come up with something that actually works...

A gray twin-engine airplane model being assembled, top view on a white background A Superfrelon propeller will serve as a stabilizer in vertical mode...

The helicopter's rotor has retained its original paint. The only thing that has been added is some wiring...

A twin-engine model airplane currently being assembled, with landing gear and scattered gray parts on the workbench Two Lancaster engine blocks cut out of the bomber's wings will serve as the aircraft's propulsion system...

Details of the engines mounted at the wing tips...

Gray combat helicopter model currently being assembled, with rotor and spare parts

A top view

Gray model airplane fuselage with an opening pierced with holes for cutting out a new panel

An opening is cut into the fuselage to accommodate the future door of the Superfrelon...

A gray military helicopter model under construction, showing the tail rotor and rear fuselage

After drilling and cutting, the frame is sanded, ready for the door to be installed...

A gray model airplane being assembled, bottom view showing the landing gear

The cockpit is made from a BO105 airframe... turned upside down! The challenge was to recreate a cockpit with a crew in the correct orientation... But I'll come back to that later...

Gray model airplane under construction, with the ejection seat raised and a propeller with striped blades

The tail consists of parts from the A64 Apache and jet ailerons for the stabilizers... A few additional details have been added...

Gray-primed model airplane showing the rear fuselage, tail section, and detailed landing gear

A view from below showing the twin tail wheels...

Model airplane under construction showing the landing gear, wing, and fuselage details

A view showing a close-up of the rear suspension...

Top view of a twin-engine airplane model being painted gray on a white background

Aerial view showing the balancing process. Once the blades are permanently secured, they will no longer touch the ground...

Model of a twin-engine airplane viewed from below, with detailed landing gear and wheel wells, painted with gray primer

The landing gear comes from the Lancaster, from which the bottoms of the hatches have been cut out. Deflated resin wheels complete the set...

A gray military aircraft model being assembled, with the canopy and spare parts laid out next to it

The oversized trains are intentional and specific to the mission of this aircraft, which is designed to operate in rugged terrain and can land anywhere (see the technical specifications in the gallery)...

Olive-green four-blade main rotor and detailed hub, model of the Dorthmund III helicopter

Apache and BO105 blades, paired in sets of two, will be used for the two front rotors...

Gray hull of a model ship with a foam block secured with adhesive, currently being assembled

A jet fuel tank fitted with a Schwimmwagen propeller will become a torpedo mounted under the fuselage... Painted with Humbrol 96 + 87...

A gray helicopter model currently being assembled, with the main rotor and canopy detached

The Lancaster's dorsal turret is retrieved and positioned...

Paint Primer

A gray military helicopter model being assembled, top view

Filling and priming to ensure that all imperfections are removed...

Top view of a gray combat helicopter model with detached rotors and canopies

The rotors mounted on the aircraft give you an idea of its wingspan...

Gray twin-rotor convertible aircraft model currently being assembled, with the canopies detached

The model is all set to be painted...

The figurines

Three character figurines currently being painted on a diorama base for the Dorthmund III

L'équipage: le cockpit comprendra hormis le pilote, un navigateur. Un mitrailleur se tiendra dans la tourelle dorsale...
Figurine of a pilot sitting in a seat equipped with hoses; Dorthmund III model under construction The pilot's console has been redesigned to accommodate the inverted airframe. Additional wiring and details have been added...

The painted figurines, ready to be glued...

Painted crew figures seated in chairs and detailed model parts against a white background

The entire crew: on the left, the gunner; the pilot; and the navigator at his console...

Painting

Airbrushed the top section with Humbrol HU8 green and the bottom section with Blue 65... Then dry-brushed the blue section using 122 and white...

Khaki-green convertible aircraft model with tiltrotors and landing gear; spare parts placed next to it

Next, apply a coat of Testors salted olive as a highlight over the green mentioned above...

Model of a twin-engine Dorthmund III aircraft in green camouflage, side view against a light-colored background

Next, we'll add the speckles using the two shades of green...

Model of a fighter jet viewed from the side, with detailed landing gear and wing under neutral lighting

Apply a diluted solution to the entire appliance to create a tint, and gently wipe it off as you go...

Model of a green Mi-24 helicopter viewed in profile, with detailed landing gear and cockpit, including a pilot

The tires are also treated with a solution based on Yellow 93... The metal parts are made of Metal 53 + 11...

Front view of a military aircraft model, with the cockpit open and a seated pilot figure inside

The browser is stuck in its place...

Model of a military aircraft in weathered green with a detailed, exposed engine and landing gear, set against a light-colored background

Putting the driver in the cockpit and securing him in place... No easy task!

Green military aircraft model with a glass canopy, front view of the fuselage and landing gear

Securing the "bubble" and the reversed doors after cleaning all the glass parts with Klir...

Model of a twin-engine airplane, viewed from below, showing the landing gear and bays open

A view from below after shading...

Khaki-green twin-engine helicopter model with rotors and landing gear on a light-colored background

The propeller cups are positioned and glued to the rotors... Note that the large rotor blades were lightly heated with a candle flame to give them that distinctive, heavy look typical of helicopter rotors...

Model of a propeller-driven military aircraft with detailed landing gear and weathered green camouflage

The torpedo is secured in its mounting...

Model of a green twin-engine helicopter, rear view showing the rotors and tail section

Rear view...

Front view of a green combat helicopter model with rotors and wings extended

In this view, you can clearly see the benefit of using lighter colors for highlights with an airbrush, which adds a sense of depth to the painting...

Olive-green helicopter model, top view, showing the fuselage, tail fins, and tail rotor

The gunner is in position in the turret...

Decals

Model of an olive-green twin-engine helicopter with German markings, top view on a white background Model of the German Dorthmund III helicopter with a mechanic figure and a stepladder, wings folded upward Model of a German convertible aircraft with two side rotors, green camouflage, and black crosses Green military helicopter model with a mechanic figurine and a maintenance ladder

The four images above show how to apply the decals using Micro-sol...

The Setting

Model of a metal bridge being glued together, weighted down with paint cans and clothespins

The set will feature a concrete runway and a hangar... Here, the hangar's pillars are being built out of extruded polystyrene and plastic profiles...

Model under construction of a perimeter wall with a truss and white tile flooring

Assembly of the hangar and the floor after cutting with a utility knife and gluing with wood glue onto an 80 cm x 60 cm sheet of plywood...

Model of a green military helicopter with two rotors in front of a hangar on a diorama

A "calm" view...

Model of a large gray concrete bunker with a wide, dark opening and a metal frame

Acrylic paint and the aging of the hangar...

Light gray, weathered, grid-patterned floor tile with rust spots for the Dortmund III model

The floor is also painted with acrylic paint...

Applying rust spots and dirt using a flat brush to a model's tiled floor

The brushstrokes are applied using Sienna, Umber, and Naples Yellow oils by tapping the brush handle lightly...

Model of an underground bunker with a concrete entrance, a green roof, and a large paved slab

A flocked finish will simulate grass on the roof of the concrete hangar...

The vehicle

Model of an old military vehicle with a driver figure, unpainted assembly on a light-colored background

A 1/48-scale Steyr from Tamiya, along with German figures from ICM, will complete the diorama...

Model of a convertible military vehicle with a driver figure and doors removed, currently being assembled

Testors gloss black paint applied to the vehicle with an airbrush...

Hangar diorama featuring a black car, two officer figurines, and a gray military plane

The Steyr set up with the figurines...

Panoramic painting of a spacecraft in a hangar under a cloudy sky, with a fighter jet in flight

An acrylic-painted background is added to the back of the hangar...

Diorama of the Dorthmund III, a helicopter, and vehicles in front of a camouflaged underground hangar Meanwhile, a runway tractor has reached the plane...