I ran across an old Aurora AH-56A Cheyenne kit at an LHS this weekend, and thought I’d ask the opinions of the FSM helo experts before I make a decision whether to pick it up or not.
What I’ve seen on the internet indicates it’s a typical Aurora kit of that era; short on detail but fairly OK in overall shapes.
The kit is not in the original box (no problem there), but there are no decals and the original canopy is gone, having been replaced with a roughly heat-pressed piece of clear styrene.
Which are the reasons it’s only going for about $20 USD…evidently complete kits score big bucks on eBay and elsewhere.
Anyhoo, for those who have built or know about this kit, what is your opinion? Is it worth twenty bucks? (I bet I could talk him down to fifteen!)
Any advice on how to replace the lost canopy (and shoddily heat-pressed canopy?)
It’s a pretty cool helo, and would go well with my MBT70 as part of my “protoypes that never made it” collection.
Too bad it’s not 1/48!
Not a bad kit for it’s age, I would get it. Maybe someone out there has one and could form a new canopy for you. I don’t think it’s 1/72nd either but about 1/60. decals could come from the scrap box.
hope you guy’s can read this
The kit has very crude details and, like most kits of that era, there are raised lines cast where the decals are meant to go. You’ll have a lot of fitting, filling and fabrication to turn it into something nice, but Jon is right that it’s the only one ever made, so grab it. I know I would. For the canopy, I’d form the right shape from FIMO or Sculpey clay and then harden it and use it for a mule to vacuform a clear one, then add the frames with tapes strips painted the fuselage color. As for decals, go with the camo pattern above and you won’t need much more than U.S. Army on it.
The AH-64 was developed under an Army contract called the Armed Attack Helicopter System, or AAHS and was cancelled because it couldn’t be fielded in time for Vietnam. Since Bell Helicopter developed the Cobra using their own money and based on Huey components, the Cobra was ready to go and the Army spent it’s money on the Cobra instead. A couple interesting side notes … the Cheyenne had a propeller on the back to add more forward speed and Sikorsky also had an AAHS candidate called the Blackhawk.
Thanks for the info!
Not having any vacu-forming equipment, how difficult would be to heat press the canopy? I’m afraid the profile is a bit to high to sucessfully pull it off, but as I’ve never attempted it before, I have no idea.
Dang, Hookie … you da man! You’re turning over rocks I didn’t even know about. But riddle me this, Mr. Wizard (cross my fingers), do you know where i can get a model of the Argentinian Pucara CounterInsurgency strike plane? Wave dat magic wand one more time for old Bob …
I am not mister wizard, but the only Pucara that I know of is the Special Hobby kit from the Czech Republic in 1/72nd. Squadron has it for 26 USD. Here is the page.
Awww… that’s too bad, Brian [:(], those Aurora 56’s usually don’t hang around long once they’re in public!
Bob… I don’t know about the Mr. Wizard title. [:)] Mr. Google might be more appropriate. [:D] http://www.google.com/; the Internet tool that makes anyone Mr. Wizard. [;)]
In addition to the Special Hobby 1/72 Pucara that Bryon pointed out, there’s also a 1/48 offering from a place called Heritage Aviation …
Thankee so much. Of course you’re right about Google, but I hadn’t looked for a Pucara (which means a small fortress) in some time so these newer releases slipped by. And I’m going for the 1/48 kit … love that scale for aircraft. Does anyone else think it’s the neatest little COIN plane they ever saw? I’d like to own a real one.
Jeez fella’s.
(Sniffin the underarm area) Is it me?
I HAVE the Auraora kit and need the canopy.
I guess I’ll try the buck idea with the vacuum machine. . .
I think you did! It all started with the MBT70…[:D]
I still have all the Aurora monster kits and some of the military stuff I’ve had since I was a wee lad, but I never had these nutty prototype kits!
I’m hooked![:p]
Hey Guys,
I paid (I’m embarrased to admit ) almost 50.00 bucks for my 56 a few years ago.
I want to update it as if it ahd been put in production so I’m going to make aflat panel
canopy and steal the nose sensors from an apache. Thus leaving my orginal
canopy availabe for copying, Email at glwiller@hotmail.com
Good hunting
G.W.
A very interesting idea … I expect you’ll go with the Hellfires and all that, too? Please show us some shots of the finished frankenstein monster … oughta be a mean critter!
