Comments about 1/35 and 1/32 Uh-1 d/h/v models

[jmkendall]

Does anybody else out there think we need another model of the Huey in either 1/35 or 1/32?

I have both the Revell 1/32 and the Panda/Dragon 1/35 Huey kits.

For some reason most of the modelers I meet seem to prefer the Panda/Dragon kit. Mostly, I think because the Revell kit is dated and a bit simplified. Especially in the interior.

Before I go on, I want to establish my "bona fides". I enlisted in the US Army in 1980 as a 67N, which to you non Army types is a Utility Helicopter Repairer; or Huey Mechanic. I remained a Huey Mechanic/Crewchief until 2008 when they hauled me kicking and screaming from the last one in on our Inventory. Because of a paperwork glitch I ended up being the last Soldier in the Army to carry a 15M ( the new 67N) MOS in the Army; as my primary MOS.

Now the Revell Huey has very accurate panel lines. And has an acceptable Engine. At least as a starting point! I agree that, aside from the floor, transmission housing and center console that the interior kinda sucks. I will say that the texture on the sound deadener on the Transmission housing is well done, as is the cabin floor.

Now the Panda model has a much nicer interior, though it is heavy handed in spots, and some of the little details like the 90 degree gear box are better represented. And I like the PE.

However! The exterior detail is just plain WRONG. The panel lines are wrong. The rivet detail is WAY overdone, and I have never seen a door on the tailboom of any UH-1 D/H/V aircraft. Yes I have seen pictures of access doors aft of the rear battery compartment. But those aircraft were not the model represented by those kits.

Right now I am kitbashing those two models to make an acceptable representation of a Huey. Will it scale out completely correct. Probably not. Will it be noticable? Not so far!

I am actually building two models of the same tail number. One as she appeared in Vietnam. The other as she appeared in 2008.

So; anyone agree with me on this?

[The Inspector]

Yeah, the manufacturers will stop right after the last 'NEW AND IMPROVED" P-51/ZERO/SPITFIRE kit is produced. The Huey is a popular subject particularly in bigger scales where it can be used in a diorama so the manuacturers will follow the money, that's one reason that you find more Chevy and Ford performance parts than others is who's got the popular engine or what kit subject is in demand, same with the resin aftermarketers.
I've always hoped that some kit maker would market a 1/72nd scale P-51 that fired up it's teeny MERLIN and flew around the room, but then someone else would be working on a 1/72 scale human to fly it-