Mike's National Guard Lakota

by Mike Orris

I finished the National Guard helicopter project, a 1/72 Heller UH-72A Lakota.

I enjoyed the build. The instructions are quite clear and detailed. The parts are well done with little flash, though a ew small pieces shot off into the far unknown so are not on the model. The painting process went smoothly after priming on the sprues.

The cockpit/interior was the first subassembly. It had lots of small parts (as expected in a 1/72 scale model), but they fit together quite well.  The main body of the helicopter also came together with only a very small amount of putty necessary.

I called on Dick Davenport for some assistance with masking the canopy and the other windows. Since the project isn’t for me, I wanted to make certain it was done right.

The finished project actually looks like a helicopter.

All in all, it is a good kit, the parts are well molded with little flash, and they fit together.  I would buy another Heller kit to work on, though perhaps not in 1/72nd scale if it is to be complicated.

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We get together at least once a month to share ideas, techniques and our latest work. We look forward to seeing what you have built and sharing with you.

We meet the first Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Judson Memorial Baptist Church, 531 Glendale Avenue, Lansing. Our next meeting is November 5.

Our virtual build nights are the third Thursday every month from 7-8:30, with the next on October 15. Our next in-person build night is October 14 at Evolution Games, 932 Elmwood Rd., Lansing from 6:30-8. Bring your latest project and all your questions and suggestions for a group chat session.

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