Heli-Kit News #217, 27-Apr-06

Kits

1. Heller's two new 1:72 EC145 kits are now available.

• 80375 EC145 Securite Civile, and
• 80377 EC145 ADAC

These are given a very favourable review at ModelStories, including pictures of the box contents, which concludes with "this model seems to herald a revival of the aircraft model at Heller which reaches a level worthy of their Japanese competitors!"

Also now released is their new boxing of the 1:48 Ecureuil / Astar, the AS350B3 'Everest' (HKN #214)


2. And at just the same time, Revell have released the ADAC / Rega version of their 1:72 EC145, #04486; as well as a rebox of the Italeri MH-53J, 04491, which has decals for a Desert Storm aircraft from 21 SOS. Presumably these will be an improvement over the Italeri decals.


3. Italeri have released their new Wessex HAS.3, #1258. This is a re-box of the Revell kit which was itself a version based on Italeri's Wessex/H-34 moulds. This kit includes decals for two aircraft, a HAR.2 from the RAF operating from Cosford in 1967, and a more typical Fleet Air Arm 737NAS aircraft operated off HMS Antrim during the Falklands difficulty in 1982.


4. New from Platz 'Rescue Wings' is a limited release of two 1/144 JASDF Air Rescue UH-60J kits. The kits are moulded in a clear but slightly opaque plastic, and include a nose section with all the bumps moulded in for the radars and FLIR turret. The large external fuel tanks and support arms are included; but what is perhaps most impressive at this scale is the inclusion of a sheet of photoetched details: pitots, antennas, boarding handles, even the windscreen wipers are there! Decals are for two aircraft, serial numbers 18-4552 and 38-4578.


5. Two new 1:72 resin kits are due in July from Anigrand Craftswork. These are:

• AA2062, Platt LePage XR-1A, the first helicopter ordered by the US military,
• AA2063, Bell YAH-63, the AH-64 Apache's unsuccessful rival.

6. And also in the future, coming from FE Resins will be a 1:144 Vertol H-21.

7. Hobbylink Japan say that they expect the Academy/MRC 1:48 CH-53E to be available on or about May 31st.

8. We hear from MPM / Special Hobby that their 1:72 CH-37 Mojave is still making good progress, and that should any of us still be around, they plan to follow it with a 1:48 version in resin!

Conversions & Accessories

9. Pavla have released two new resin cockpit sets, both for 1:72 Italeri kits.

• C72051 is for the Wessex HU.5 and comprises 14 parts including the main instrument panel, centre panel & rear bulkhead, seats, sticks, and pedals
• C72052 is for the OH-58D, also with 14 parts.

10. Cobra Company have released two new sets.

• 35018 transforms the Panda 1:35 UH-1N into a more detailed representation of the 20th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) 'Green Hornets' aircraft operated by the USAF from the early 1970's. The set provides all the parts needed to correct the lines of the aircraft and to add some much-needed detailing in the cockpit, including a new nose, nose structure supports, instrument panel, centre console, overhead console, pilot seats with armour plating, replacement doors with interior detailing, cyclic grips, fire extinquishers, etc.

To replicate one of the Green Hornet gunships rather than a 'slick', you'll also need:

• 35019 XM-93 Automatic Gun System - a pair of 7.62mm door miniguns.

This set has resin ammo cans, floor mounts, swing-arm gun mounts, main drive units, and gun barrels; plus ammo feed belts and shell ejector chutes are molded in flexible rubber.


Also coming soon from Cobra Company will be 1:48 MH-53J/M interior and weapons sets. The 1:35 corrections and details for the Trumpeter Chinook are progressing well and will follow later, followed by a 1:48 M-60D machinegun set.

11. Eduard's April releases are:

• 32555, AH-64, colour etched brass seatbelts for the 1:35 Kangam kit
• 49351, CH-46D, colour etched brass interior for the 1:48 Academy kit
• CX143, 1:72 masks for the re-issued Italeri H-34
• CX145, 1:72 masks for the Hasegawa Mi-24D Hinds
• FE351, 'Zoom' etched brass interior for the Academy CH-46D

12. Future releases from CMK will include:

• 35168 1/35 Russian modern helicopter pilots (standing)
• 35183 1/35 US helicopter pilots (standing) Vietnam
• 48103 1/48 Vietnam LRRP US Helicopter crew

Decals

13. Siam Scale have recently issued two new decal sheets:

• 72016 is for the Bell 204 and 205 operated by the Royal Thai Police
• 32005 is for the CH47A/D Chinooks of the Royal Thai Army. This is a huge sheet to go with the 1:35 Trumpeter kit

14. Mike Grant Decals have drawn up decal artwork for three SH-60's:

• SH-60B HSL-41 seahawks
• SH-60F HS-14 with eagle head/flag tail art
• SH-60B HSL-49 Scorpions

(The HSL-49 aircraft has a large scorpion on the tail which is obscured by the tail rotor)

Mike wants to know how much demand there would be for these before progressing, so if you're interested, email him now.

Reference

15. Ginter have published another fascinating book in their 'Air Force Legends' series, #213, this covers the Vought/Hiller/Ryan XC-142A Tiltwing. Written by William Norton, it has 145 pages with 185 photos in monochrome and 3 in colour, 41 pages of drawings, scale plans, and 13 pages of test data. ISBN 0942612884


This is an essential refernce for anyone who has the excellent Anigrand XC-142A in their stockpile. (HKN #195).

16. The latest in the Kagero Topshots series, number 23, covers the Mil Mi-8 'Hip'. Authored by Krzysztof Barcz and Dariusz Warszawski, it's in English with a Polish summary, 44 B5 pages, ISBN 836044501x, and comes with a decal sheet featuring Polish aircraft.



Thanks to Pete Brown, Floyd Werner, Tony Morgan, Phillipe Dognon, Daniel Mueller, Steve Crow, and Felix Troschier..

If you buy something as a result of reading about it in Heli-Kit News, please remember to tell them that you saw it here. This will encourage the flow of more news in the future, and maybe we'll even get the occasional review sample!

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