Moments of Zen

[PR19_Kit]

Until recently the ONLY kit of a Westland Wasp in any scale was the 1/48 Fujimi one. Luckily we now have a choice of two in 1/72, but generally helicopters seems to be porely covered, unless they're Sea Kings or Chinooks.

[Charlie_c67]

Or the Wessex!

[DogfighterZen]

Until recently the ONLY kit of a Westland Wasp in any scale was the 1/48 Fujimi one. Luckily we now have a choice of two in 1/72, but generally helicopters seems to be porely covered, unless they're Sea Kings or Chinooks.

Truth is there are plenty of 1/72 scale kits of helicopters out there but IMO, there are some relevant types that have been overlooked. Maybe it's a niche of our hobby and the potential market isn't very inviting for brands to put out more kits, i don't know. Maybe it's just the ones i want that aren't popular enough for brands to make new kits but i mean, the Jet Ranger? There's the Italeri kit(if you can find it), and it's actually the OH-58A that needs some work to become the Bell 206 Jet Ranger.
The SA 330... yeah, the re-release of the old airfix kit... The Heller box had more parts, same thing as the Gazelle and both have their issues besides the age of the molds. Both of these really need modern toolings.
For the Alouette II we now have the Brengun resin and PE kit and that is... well, i don't like it. PE flat plates for the round tubing on the tail boom structure... Have i mentioned i'm not a fan of CA glue? The only Styrene parts are the main rotor blades, the rest is resin and most of it is PE with Vacformed canopy so, nope, not for me.
I think Mach2 also did a kit which is limited run type and doesn't look too bad but over 50€ for a tiny 1/72 chopper that will also require heavy clean up of flash and some scratchbuilding of details? Sorry but i'd rather spend about half and buy the 1/32 Revel kit...
Scaleworkx were also doing several resin kits, including the Puma and Alouette III but they've ceased activity last year or in 2023. And even if they were still in business, the price of those kits would be super inflated after import fees charged by the PT customs.
But, enough of whining... Time to get something done instead of wishing i had everything i want, the way i like it.

[NARSES2]

One of the problems with early helicopters as far as manufacturers are concerned is that they often had open latice framework tails. A nightmare to mould and build back in the day when these helicopters were the current ones in service.

Even now they can be tricky.

[DogfighterZen]

One of the problems with early helicopters as far as manufacturers are concerned is that they often had open latice framework tails. A nightmare to mould and build back in the day when these helicopters were the current ones in service.

Even now they can be tricky.

I agree, it doesn't seem like it would have been something easy to mold back in their day but i think that with the current molding technology, it's perfectly achievable. The level of detail we see on some kits these days shows that's possible. I just think that, in the case of the Alouette II and similar types, they're just not popular enough.

[PR19_Kit]

Italeri did a Bell 47 with a tubular tail boom in styrene, which isn't too bad.

And I have a short run kit of one with a PE tail boom, and that works quite well in 1/72. Just a REAL fiddle to build!

I think I've a short run, same manufacturer as the 47, of the Hiller 12E, same sort of build too.

[NARSES2]

Italeri did a Bell 47 with a tubular tail boom in styrene, which isn't too bad.

Back in stock at the Big H - well the AH-1/AB-47 boxing is

[DogfighterZen]

I've seen that Italeri kit, looks ok as do the rest of their 1/72 helo kits. It's also in stock on SuperHobby at the moment but unfortunately, it's not the one i wanted.
The PE tail booms... my problem is not that they're hard to assemble, it's just that if the real thing has round tubing on it and the PE is flat, i don't think it'll look very convincing. If the kit provides brass tubing then, that will probably be the best representation in scale for sure.

[Pellson]

If the kit provides brass tubing then, that will probably be the best representation in scale for sure.

A kit completely cast in gold might however be cheaper..

[DogfighterZen]

If the kit provides brass tubing then, that will probably be the best representation in scale for sure.

A kit completely cast in gold might however be cheaper..

Reading what i wrote really made me laugh now... Probably and for sure...   brain fart is what Brits call it, right? 
Well, regarding the gold kit, i think that might be stretching it a bit too far... maybe Silver? And that would save a bunch of work trying to get a nice metallic finish... 

[PR19_Kit]

And that would save a bunch of work trying to get a nice metallic finish... 

That would be NATURAL natural metal finish...................