MQ-1C UAV Grey Eagle 1/72 Clear Prop Models

[DimaADA]

Greetings!

This article is a summary of the test build of a new 1/72 scale model of the Grey Eagle MQ-1C strike and reconnaissance UAV from Clear Prop Models. Previously this model was already released in 48th scale, which meant that the release of this model in 72nd scale was a matter of time. And this moment has come.
You can see the kit on the manufacturer's website:
https://clearpropmodels.com/cp_72028
You can also see my photos of the set that I posted here:
viewtopic.php?p=2656144#p2656144


THE BUILD

The construction of the airframe was fast and flawless.

The fit is excellent.
I have made small changes to the landing gear niches, specifically to the areas where the wheels are stowed. I should say that there are practically no photos of Grey Eagle chassis niches and their exact internal configuration is not known at the moment. The model suggests making deep ‘wells’ for the wheels, but I considered such a configuration not quite correct (and I may be wrong about that). Anyway, I decided to reduce the height of these parts a bit.
In addition, I found one photo of the nose wheel niche, and decied to correct its external contour a bit.

I made no other changes to the airframe assembly.
Time to paint it. I chose the UAV with s/n 70105, which had a vivid panel effect.

Painting was easy. I'd also like to mention the traditionally high quality of decals.
Then I moved on to work with detailing of small elements, which I refined as much as possible in order to improve the overall perception and replicability of the model, as molding such small elements in 1/72 scale is a real challenge. Here are some photos of the process:

[DimaADA]

I will focus separately on working with the following elements.


AGM-114 Hellfire missiles

I found it necessary to modify these parts as follows:

1. Cutting the tail fins to separate the rudder (these two elements are made as one only on mass-dimensional mock-ups, but on a combat missile they are naturally separated).
2. Grinding the thickness of the rudder to 0.1 mm
3. Making and installation of the main fins.
4. Grinding and further refinement to simulate the guidance head.
5. Grinding the front fins to 0.1 mm
6. Detailing the rear end of the missile
Finally I got these:

Next, I painted them, applied decals and made the guidance head. The result:

I couldn't find any 1/72 good quality AGM-114 Hellfire missiles in the aftermarket, so I consider these modifications as non-alternative. Perhaps I had not been looking hard enough? If you know any, please post them in the comments, it might be interisting for other moellers.

Main landing gear struts

Clear Prop found an excellent solution, which allows you to keep the scale thickness of the strut, and at the same time provide the necessary stiffness:

This solution is clever and beautiful indeed. The PE installation is easy and very convenient.
So, here are the main landing gear struts:

[DimaADA]

I made the following modifications:
1. Replaced the D21/D22 parts with scratch parts.
2. Added the missing elements around parts D19/D20 (there are a couple of wires and another ‘box’).
3. Corrected the transition on the border of two colours (in the photo I marked this place with ‘!’). The kit offers this transition perpendicular to the strut, but in fact it should be parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel.

4. After installing the struts, I made and installed their retracting rod.

Nose landing gear strut

This UAV has a very interesting mechanism for damping the nose landing gear strut:

Of course, the kit part looks too simple, as it is impossible to mould it in 1/72 scale. So I decided to refine this element to the best of my ability. First of all, I removed everything unnecessary:

Next, using two standard kit's parts, grinded from the inner side, and one scratch part from tin, I made the overall ‘body’ of the shock absorber mechanism. I aslo mae the shock absorber mechanism itself:

Next, I assembled all the elements into a single piece. As the result, the nose gear strut looks as follows:

TEST BUILD RESULTS

[DimaADA]

[DimaADA]

Clear Prop's Grey Eagle MQ-1C UAV model is the only option today. At the same time the quality of all components of the kit is quite good just as in all recent releases of Clear Prop Models.
I am sure that drone enthusiasts will be glad to get their hands on such a model.

Sincerely, Dmitry Ahopian aka DimaADA

[modelar81]

Povedená a krásná prezentace stavebnice.

[Alcatorda]

Great job.
This model is in category "must to have" for me. Thank you for inspiration.

[DimaADA]

Colleagues, thank you for your feedback! I'm glad that the presentation of the model is interesting to you!
I would like to make a small addition. Last year I assembled another Clear Prop drone, namely the Bayraktar TB.2. Therefore, I am showing a group photo.
Enjoy watching!

Kolegové, děkujeme za vaši zpětnou vazbu! Jsem rád, že vás prezentace modelu zaujala!
Rád bych udělal malé doplnění. Minulý rok jsem sestavil další dron Clear Prop, a to Bayraktar TB.2. Proto ukazuji skupinovou fotku.
Užijte si sledování!