I was going through the Squadron’s website and I was wondering how good is Italeri and the Revell-Germany kits are for the Huey, RAH66 Commanche, Hind D, and Trumpeter’s Dolphin (USCG).? I want to increase my collections of helicopters (I have some in a box but not one built yet) and wondering if Italeri is still the poorest quality with Revell-Germany not far behind or my some work on these they actually build nicely. I am letting you know up front that my patience is not the greatest along with modeling skills. Any information or suggestion by anyone who has built these kits.
Don’t know about the Commanche and the Hind, but I do have both Hueys and Trumpeter’s Dolphin.
On the Revell-1:72 Huey: don’t buy it. It’s by far the worst Huey kit ever, ask anyone that built it. The Italeri-1:72 Huey, which is actually a re-box of the Esci-UH1D, would be a better choice.
Trumpeter’s USCG-Dolphin is of the older AS365N-type, which differs from the Coast Guard Dolphin by having a smaller Fenestron (fan in fin) and smaller engine compartment. The kit is not bad (and ofcourse the only 1:48 365 available), but apart from the too small fenestron and the engine housing to me there seems to be a problem with the landing gear dimensions: let’s say the kit looks better with the gear retracted.
Hope this helps, Good luck!
Gertjan
Please forgive my ignorance on which huey. I love helicopters but I never got into knowing the difference between the huey or any aircraft. Revell-Germany and Italeri both make a 1/72 and 1/48 scale UH-1N (I think that is what it said). I was just wondering on quality. I have on Italeri helicopter my wife bought me and everything is kind of plain so I have not even tried building it yet. I have three favorite helicopters which are the huey, blackhawk, and the dolphin. I enjoy others as well but as far as knowing a version A or B I could not tell you the difference.
Just in the middle of building a Italeri 1/48 scale huey ‘slick’ and would give it an average rating. Not too much detail and has some fit problems. In all with some effort it presents a decent kit. It includes decals for US Army 7th cav. aus air force vietnam decals, and modern german defense force decals. It’s a bit expensive for what you get though…not a bad build.
I’ve also build a twin huey from panda in 1/35 scale. I wouldn’t recommend panda. To be honest, put the money into something from MRC/Academy…You’ll be more satisfied with the result and the fit quality…
Definitely stay away from revell or monogram…those kits are mainly for beginners and usually either lack detail or have major fit problems.
Don’t know about their smaller scale kits (I only build 1/32 or 1/35 helos), but the old Revell 1/32 UH-1D/H and AH-1G are great kits. UH-1D/H is much more accurate than the Panda kit. The rivet detail is pretty accurate, as opposed to the way oversized Panda ones. Parts are finely detailed and molded to scale as well. With some of the Cobra Company upgrade sets, it makes a wonderful representation of a Huey. The same can be said for their 1/32 AH-1G. Nice details and overall shape, again CC upgrade sets can make it great. Their 1/32 AH-64A Apache is also a good kit. Pilots suck, but kits are pretty good. The Revell 1/32 scale BO-105, MB-117, and Eurocopter models are really good too.
I second that Heavy Arty. Let’s just say yhat Revell has its ups and downs.
Definite downs are the 1:72 UH1D (actually a Hasegawa rebox!!!), the 1:72 S64 Skycrane (still the same inaccurate moulds as released in the '60’s / '70s) and the 1:72 USCG Dolphin ( Matchbox rebox of a AS 365N). If the just released Mi8 is a rebox of the Zvezda Mil, we’re stuck with the inaccurate front glazing again!
Good luck, Gertjan