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Here is the first Helo for my 7th Air Mobile Cav themed Cadian Army. It was a simple conversion from a Valkyrie drawing what would seem to be a no-brainer theme with all the fliers out there now

Hope you enjoy! More pics to come once I start getting the Jar-Heads all painted up and photo-ed.









Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter, rather than one in each door, one to clear the landing zone.

Need to drill out the gun barrels and then It will look really good!



Business end of the TL Heavy Bolters

Assault Cannons to clear the drop zone of any Xenos

Nomine Imperator!

Me likey.My only advice would be to drill your gun barrels out and take another look at the canopy.It looks a little rushed.Don't feel bad at my advice mate i'm just trying to help.The idea and how you have gone about it rock,so keep on going pal.

I appreciate it! The canopy was a little rushed...I bought the assembled model from a guy that slopped the glue on and the canopy was missing the glass, I had to re-construct it with green stuff. Any tips on how to paint reflective glass would be appreciated!

As to drilling the barrels, that is the last step before I call this piece complete.

Having been in the 1st Cav back in the '90's this brings a special nostalgia for me. I like the concept, man. A lot.

Just as a side note, the model was originally assembled as a Valkyrie - I broke it down and modded it


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My Marines are being done up in this same scheme - Olive and yellow - made to look like the paint is chipping off. I applaud painters that paint models to look pristine and beautiful, Good on them, but if these guys, IG and SM are so constantly engaged in combat, who has time to re-paint their Valkyrie...you just got back off a sortie and HQ is sending you to an Exfil of a pinned down company - no time to paintm, just get out there and bring those boys home!

That bucket gets my vote for best painted!

I really like the way the interior looks! not that the outside is bad im just a stickler for details like the stuff on the inside. nice idea with the cav. maybe next army do 11th ACR that way you can do more tanks...just an idea

I love the insde too, m deal is that the kodel costs so much to begin with, you gotta paint the WHOLE thing to get the value out of the model. Jo half a$$ ing on a $60 model

That's one fine looking bird. I hope she'll have company soon up in the skies.

I really like that form of chipped paint in contrast with the dark green. The blades give more credence to the things ability to hover.

A whole army in that scheme would be really striking, I like models that look like they've been around the block and aren't fresh off the assembly line.

Good work!

I was in the 7th Cav myself, It's always nice to see that gawdy bastard of a patch on my favorite miniatures. I'll exalt this whole post if you paint GARRY OWEN somewhere on that bad boy

Very cool, I like it a lot.

I was thinking of painting Garry Owen as the pilot's name - big and white on the left side right next to the kill skulls! What rank should I make him? and who should be his RIO?

Love the chopper, kinda makes me want one to watch over my boys.

Very nice! Any insight into how you did the helicopter conversion would be appreciated! I want to do the same to mine, I'm just not sure how to go about it.

@ Indigo:

The conversion is actually pretty simple.

1: Rather than gluing the tail boons on the engines, you simply glue the two halves together without the side filler parts. Do not glue the tails and stabilizers on yet.
2: Cut the piece that is between the engines (the part that has the two vents and the back of the 2nd pilots capsule) right behind the first segment as seen in the 8th picture.
3: For the wings - Cut them at the segment where they bend out, do not glue the landing gear. Try to cut the wing so that the piece you will be using makes about a 60 degree angle with the fuselage (as seen in pics 2, 3 and 6)
4: glue the wings to the fuselage so that the leading edge of the wing is in line with the opening of the door.
5: Glue the completed tail segment between the two engines so that the tail angles down. You can do it so that it angles, up, though I preferred it down.
6: Add the stabilizers. I went with just one vertical and two on the under edge, though I toyed with a twin tail configuration as well.
7: Glue one of the wing landing gear as the rear landing gear on the fuselage - reason for this is that it was wider and gave the model more lateral stability when on the ground.
8: Add weapons as desired. I went with rockets and assault cannons to give it a Huey gunship feel (rockets and mini-guns)
9: punch a hole about the diameter of a standard pencil in the top triangular shaped piece of the center tail assembly (as seen in picture 8.) this is where the rotor assembly will be put in.
10: get a cheap (as cheap as you can get) helicopter kit. Preferably 1:48 scale or 1:32. you will need the Rotor and tail rotor blades. I used a 1:32 Bell H-13 to get my rotors, though, If I could have found one I would have used a Bell H-1 Huey. I have seen Apache rotors used or Blackhawk rotors as well. All depends on what era you are looking to replicate (I was going for Vietnam - so the two blade rotor was more appropriate, anything post Vietnam though, use a 4 bladed rotor.)
11: Assemble and attach the rotor to the center housing
12: using a small hobby drill punch a small hole in the tail to attach the rear rotor. Glue in place.

There you have it! When I get a new Valkyrie kit, I will do a full tutorial, painting the inside and assembly. I will cover the painting and weathering with step by step pictures and instructions...Now, to round up a NIB Valkyrie!

PM me if you have any specific questions on the conversion. I check my PMs daily so I will be pretty quick at getting back to you!

Thanks for the interest!

I really like it. The conversion to a helicopter is, as has been stated, dynamite on toast! The only piece of advice I have is to maybe either A) use some Micro-Set on your decals or B) blend the edges in. The edges of the decals are noticeable on the decal on the nose, I'm only guessing about elsewhere on the model. If you use more applications of Micro-Set it will wear the edges down, while adding a wash on top or some blending to the edges can also serve to hide them.

In any event, great model! Lovin' the conversion, and it's a sweet paintjob! The application of the transfers is really sweet as well.

yeah, I usually use a little white vinegar in the decal water, does the same thing as the micro-sol, and for a ton cheaper. I forgot to do it on these ones. I already dull coated over it, know any tricks to remove them without damaging the paint job?