Alright!!! Looking at the pics of Papa Echo’s Super Frelon has drivin me to finally come out and say what I’ve been wondering about for many years.
Why hasn’t / doesn’t any manufacturer make a decent 1/35 or 1/48 model of the Jolly Green/Pelican???[:(][:(]
I mean seriously guys (and gals), with all of the obscure models out there, and considering the huge role the ole’ coastie and Air Force H-3’s played for so long, why doesn’t someone wake up and produce a good kit of one???
[soapbox]
Am I the only one who feels this way???
It’s all a matter of marketing and pay-off. How many variations of the CH-3 airframe can be modeled? Well, there are the USAF birds, the USN birds that were borrowed from the USAF, the USCG birds, and some Italian SAR jobs.
Compare that to the nearly world-wise use of the Sea King, and it all comes down to Dollars/Yen to be made off the sales. Yes, it WOULD be nice, but it won’t make any model manufacturer pots-o-cash.
I think the truly telling test will be the sales of NightFlight’s resin H-53 series…if that goes well, they MIGHT entertain the idea of doing an H-3. Why don’t you contact W.F. Beasley and check his feeling about it??
To be honest I had to look up for that helo. But what i found out is interesting.
If someone made this bird with Italian AF/SAR decals … it’s mine![;)]
Revell did have a 1/72 "Jolly Green " wayyyyyyyback in the '70’s/80’s. I remember building one in Air Force Grey/White. I believe it took an unscheduled “fumble” test
flight one beer clouded evening and ended up at the local landfill.
I have an old 1/72 Aurora HH-3 kit still sitting in the box. I haven’t checked it out in a long, long time. I had started on the 1/48 Revell CH-53 but was getting burnt out on scratch building all the formers and stringers in the aft cabin area. Wanted to make it a “Super Golly Green” with mini-guns in the door ways and on the ramp. One of these years! With all the mini-guns available on the Academy Black Hawk kits I won’t have to sractch build as much now.
If you are asking about the kit, very basic. Cockpit with rear bulkhead and a cabin floor and that’s about it! Would require a lot of work to make it look good. It’s a good “shell” to start a lot of work on! I got one at Wal Mart years ago on clearance for $2. It came with a facsimile of a Jeep and cannon. Makes for a big model. One of these years!
The 1/48 kit is a Super Jolly (H-53) as stated in previous posts. I built one as a kid and modified it into a Pave Low III.
I purchased a 1/72 scale HH-3E built by Starfix, but I think it’s an old reboxed revell kit. In any case I’m thoroughly unimpressed.
So the feeling I’m getting is that there seems to be some interest in this particular bird in 1/48th and maybe even 1/35th. As far as limited marketing value, I’m gonna have to disagree. I think it would be a popular kit as many regognize the HH-3 from the Vietnam War and beyond. Lots of USAF and USCG crewdogs and maintainers would probably like to get there hands on one. And if they will build a Super Frelon in 1/35th, why not an HH-3??
BTW, Chief Night Owl e-mailed me concerning this so keep your fingers crossed. Maybe Night Owl will put out a spectacular HH-3 in the future.
Avus,
I think I’ve got some pics somewhere of the Italian HH-3 that was stationed at the airport in Mogadishu. I remember when it suffered a duel engine compressor stall in the pattern and had to autorotate. They lucked out and the pilto did a wonderful job on the flare…didn’t even chop the tail boom off (surprise). Anyway, let me know if you’re interested in the pics and thanks to everyone else for responding.[:D]
Thanks! Pics are always welcome, if not for immediate use then for furture reference. And more: for me it’s easyer to find pics of non italian aircraft than to find italian. I beleive that the italian armed forces are still somewhat afraid to have picture databases online.
Dug through some of the storage boxes and found the old Revell 1/72 Jolly Green. It’s still in the cello wrapper. The price tag says $3.75. Sheeesh…when was the last time anyone got a store bought kit for less than four bucks?