Takom AH-64DI Saraf 1:35 – build review

Review by Chris Evans
Just before we get started, here’s a look at how this project turned out…

Introduction

Having always wanted a good large scale Apache kit, I was put off because of the colour schemes – they seemed to be all Olive Drab which I felt was a bit boring. Along comes Takom with the Israeli Saraf so I had to build one in the brighter tan camo scheme.

I purchased a few extras too. The Eduard Big Ed set, Quinta Studios 3D cockpit panels, Master gun barrel and missile sets from Reskit and IsraCast. I also used the Hataka Orange Line paint set.

I’d built a few Takom armour kits in the past, so I was hoping for good things here. It was mostly good, but there were a few drawbacks which I will go into detail during the build. On initial look, the parts looked very nicely moulded in grey with a great amount of detail. Surface detail was superb with the raised rivets looking just right.

Construction

Cockpit…

Construction was started in the normal place, the cockpit. The main tub is one large part to which I added the first of the Eduard PE. I had to remove some of the display detail from the instrument panels to allow fitment of the Quinta Studios 3D panels, the side panels were sanded flat too. Seats were assembled along with the other smaller parts – control columns, collectives, centre console etc. Everything was then prepped for the first round of paint.

All the cockpit parts were primed in Mr Surfacer 1500 Black and then sprayed with a very dark grey, I think I used RLM66 for this. I didn’t want to paint in true black because I wanted to use a black wash afterwards.

Read on…