Bell UH-1 Huey Hog

(Revell - Nr. 04476)

Facts:

Hersteller:	Revell
Theme:	Utility Helicopters
Productnumber:	04476 - Bell UH-1 Huey Hog
Scale:	1:48
Type:	Full kits
Year of release:	April 2005
Price:	€10

Review:

In spring 2005 Revell of Germany released the old Monogram of the short cabin Huey in scale 1/48.

The kit is labeled Bell UH-1 Huey Hog and has productnumber 04476. Except for the decals the kit is identical to the Monogram kit.

Sprues

The 77 parts are spread over four plastic sprues and one clear sprue. On some of the parts you can read "Revell/Monogram 1977 Made in China"...yes indeed this is one of the oldtimers and can not be compared to what we are used to see today.

Markings

The decalsheet provides markings for 2 different machines operating in Vietnam:

• Bell UH-1E Huey, HML-267, U.S. Marine Corps, 1965
• Bell UH-1C Huey, "Vikings" Armed (Gunship) platoon, 121 st. Assault Helicopter Company, 13th. Combat Aviation Battalion, U.S. Army, Soc Trang base, South Vietnam, 1967

Litte problems

Attention, there is a "little" problem with this model. In fact, it is a hybrid of the UH-1A/B/C/E/F/M/Bell 204B, but with only the kit parts, it’s impossible to build an accurate UH-1. There is always something wrong :

• Two fuel caps are engraved on the fuselage. One on the right side (correct for a UH-1A/B/Bell 204B) AND one on the left side of the fuselage (correct for a UH-1C/E/F/M). On a real Huey the fuel cap is on the right side OR on the left side but never together.
• In the kit, you will find the 540 rotor system with reinforced rotor head and large blades, correct for the UH-1C/E/M, and the narrow tailfin and horizontal stab, correct for the UH-1A/B/F/Bell 204B
• To add to the confusion, on the decal sheet, you will find markings for an UH-1E. But the UH-1E should have a rescue hoist on the roof, absent in the kit and on the box art, and it has no particle separator.

Versions

Depending on the version you want to build here are the options you have

1) If you want build an accurate UH-1A/B :

• You must steal the rotor from a Italeri UH-1D and cut down the blades. Then, scratch build the air intake without particle separator (or cut this parts from an old Lindberg or old Monogram UH-1B) and for the A, cut down the rotor mast

2) If you want build an accurate UH-1C/M :

• You need the Cobra Company UH-1C HUEY "Hog" Detail Set #48028

3) If you want build a UH-1F:

• you must steal the rotor from a Italeri UH-1D, scratch build a long tailboom and a new paritcle separator (not the same model as on the UH-1C)

4) If you want build a UH-1E :

• You need the Cobra Company UH-1C HUEY "Hog" Detail Set #48028
• Scratch build the roof mounted rescue hoist and an air intake without particle separator

5) If you want build a Bell 204B

• You must steal the rotor from a Italeri UH-1D, scratch build a long tailboom (same model as UH-1F), scratch build the air intake without particle filter (or cut this part from an old Lindberg or old Monogram UH-1B)

Weapon System

A few words about the weapon system :In the kit you will find the following weapon systems

• The  M-5 "stump gun" nose mounted 40mm grenade launcher
• The M16 armament subsystem, quad M60 and XM-157, seven shot rocket pod

Once again the instruction sheet in not clear. A drawing shows all the weapon mounted at the same time on the aircraft, but in reality this configuration is impossible. The ammunition canister for the M-5 grenade launchers and the ammunition pad group for the M-16 subsystem (quad M60) should be installed at the same place in the cargo.

With the kit parts, you have to choose between two weapon combinations :

• FROG: with the M-5 nose mounted grenade launcher and the two XM-157 seven shot rocket pod include in the kit, without the M 60
• GUNSHIP: with the M-16 armament subsystem (quad M-60), and the two XM-157, seven shot rocket pod include in the kit, without the M-5 grenade launcher

The Cobra Company UH-1C "Hog" Detail Set gives you a third option :

• HOG: with the kit M-16 armament subsystem, (quad M-60), and the two XM-159, nineteen shot rocket pod include in the Cobra Company detail set

Notice: The Cobra Company UH-1C "Hog" Detail Set includes an ammunition canister and chutes for the 40mm "thump gun"  but attention, to install this canister, you'll have to cut away the ammunition pad group for the M-16 armament subsystem (quad M-60) molded with the floor kit part. If you cut it away, you will open a large rectangular hole in the floor an you'll have to rebuild this part.

Conclusion :

Not a bad kit, but it is just a starting point for a nice and accurate Huey

More infos:

Reviewed by Patrick Nabinger - 14. December 2009

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