Building the James Bond, 007 Airfix Autogyro Scale Model Kit From the Movie, You Only Live Twice

Building the James Bond, 007 Airfix Autogyro Scale Model Kit From the Movie, You Only Live Twice

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Greetings ~

Yeah, there's been a lot of James Bonds. But the only 007 who really mattered was the late, great, Sean Connery. He was the first James Bond and was, by far, the best ass-kicker of the series.

I remember that when a new Bond film was announced to be released, we couldn't wait to see it. After Connery quit the Bond films were not the same. They were still good, but didn't have the same flair.

The small Autogyro copter that I am building is a 1:24th scale version from the movie, You Only Live Twice. This kit is from Airfix and it dates to 1996. It was kit #04401 and is taken from the old 1962 U.S. Army Gyro that was modified for the movie.

This was one of the many kits left over when I closed down my hobby shop back in 1999. It's been in storage with a ton of other kits ever since. It's time to get it built.

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Hello! I'm Mr. Ed

Blog Created: 1-16-2025

Last Updated: 2-8-2025

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The model also comes in die-cast metal. These can be found on eBay.

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Paints that I am using:

Paints that I am using:

I'm building this kit at the hobby table in my workshop.

My work station in my basement workshop is ready.

Everything is laid out.

The two cockpit halves are spray painted yellow. This is the first coat.

The rockets are painted yellow.

The exhaust boxes are painted yellow as well.

The engine is assembled.

The exhaust boxes are glued to the engine.

The pilot is assembled.

For the dashboard, in the 007 version, a decal is applied. So the dash has to be sanded down so the military version gauges are taken off.

I had already painted the dash flat black.

There is a decal for the dashboard in the 007 version.

You can use a light grit sandpaper. I have a small sander that I use for models.

I sanded the dash.

I got the raised gauges off.

I then re-painted the dash flat black.

Next, the axle has to be assembled.

I painted the tires flat black.

The axle is assembled.

The front wheel is glued to the front bracket.

Now the propeller prop is installed.

Next, the front wheel is glued on.

I'm surprised. So far, everything is going together pretty easy. I'm 73 and my hands are getting really funky so working with this tiny stuff is hard. The parts to this kit all are small but not hard to work with at all. Great!

Now the engine is glued into place behind the seat.

The axle is now glued on. It's beginning to look like something.

The two support rods are added from the axle to the frame.

The two front rocket housings are assembled.

I want to see if the decals will work. They are old. I cut out the decal for the dashboard.

I got a small bowl of "luke warm" water. Don't use cold water with old decals. They will rip apart and be destroyed. This kit is 29-years old. Decals don't usually last that long unused.

The warm water worked! The decal slid off it's backing easily.

Now, while the decal dries, I am painting the pilot figure. His pants are blue.

His face and hands will be flesh. I'm using water based paint as the model paints are too shinny.

I also painted his arms flesh. I will attach his arms layer on so I can line them up with the controls.

I had to pull out my paint cabinet.

I got this wooden box when I cleaned out someone's garage about 40 or so years ago. I put the shelves in it for the paints and added a rack in the door for paint brushes.

Each shelf holds 20-Testors paint bottles. So the entire cabinet holds 120-bottles.

In the shop stockroom, I also keep a cabinet with paints, stains, etc.

While the paint on the pilot dries, I glued on the dashboard.

The parts for the rear rocket launchers.

I had to clamp these while the glue dries.

The rocket launchers bracket is glued on the rear section.

Front Rocket Launchers.

Rear rocket launchers.

I'm leaving the two propeller blades to install toward the end of the project.

The two support rods are glued onto the frame and then to the rear rocket launchers bracket.

The front rocket launchers are glued together.

So are the rear launchers.

The gear shifts are glued to the side of the cockpit body.

The cockpit body halves are glued together to the frame.

I had to put a bar clamp on the body shell as there was a slight gap where they go together.

The pilot's shirt is now painted flat red.

I'm going to do the decals now. I'm starting with the ones that go over the front.

The model comes with an instruction sheet for the decal placement also.

NOTE:

These decals work really well and are very easy to apply. These are the type that slide into place and then you can gently move them around to get them positioned properly.

The tail fin decals are in two pieces. Top and bottom.

Now for the other side.

Now the decals aree put onto the two front missile launchers.

The decals are done.

Next I painted the pilot's helmet a lighter blue than his paints.

Then I painted the lights on his helmet silver.

Also his communications mike is painted silver.

I painted the tips of the two undercarriage missiles red.

Now the rear rocket launchers are glued on the back frame.

While all that dries, I am using the ID decal to make a sign for the model.

I cut out the sign backing from a piece of very thin plastic sheet.

I soaked the decal piece for a few minutes.

Then I put it onto the backing board.

I cut out a tiny piece of the plastic sheet for a stand and glued it to the back of the sign board.

It's nothing fancy but it will identify the model to viewers.

Now the pilot goes into the model.

When I put the pilot into the cockpit, I had to force him in as he didn't want to go.

Pushing him down in made the top of the body come apart. So I had to re-glue it and clamp it once again.

I got him in and the body re-glued. I still haven't glued his arms on yet.

Breaktime ~

I'm going up and have some dinner.

Well, that was good. Now back to work!

The windshield is glued on. By careful not to smear the glue on the glass.

The side missile launchers are added now.

Getting ready to mount the underside missiles.

First the missile racks are glued underneath.

Then the main propeller blades are glued and clamped into place.

Now there's only two more things to do. 1-install the undercarriage missiles and 2-glue the arms on the pilot.

The other rocket support rail is added.

Then the rockets are glued on.

The final step is gluing the pilot's arms on.

His left hand is on the shifter lever.

-----IT'S FINISHED!-----

-----IT'S FINISHED!-----

007

007

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REVIEW OF THIS KIT

I guess it turned out fairly well. It was an easy kit to build. Keep in mind, the parts are not numbered. But they are not hard to figure out. I have no idea what the prices are today. This kit was leftover stock when I closed my hobby shop back in 1999. But I would not pay over $20 for it today. It's a discontinued kit but I have seen them around the internet, mostly on eBay.

If you get the chance to get your hands on one, they are nice kits to build. It can be built as a standard U.S. Army version or as James Bond's "Little Nellie". I built it as the 007 version.

I have the 1:24th scale James Bond Austin Martin car but it's packed away right now. Once I get it out and put the two together, I will post the photos here.

If you get this kit, have fun with it. I had a good time building this one. Good Luck! See you on the next blog. And thanks for stopping by ~

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I think I'll go and do some off-roading now...

I think I'll go and do some off-roading now...

Well, that didn't turn out so good.

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