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Lack of Civilian Model Helo's

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  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Mobile, AL
Lack of Civilian Model Helo's
Posted by Tango Juliet on Thursday, July 23, 2009 10:07 AM
I find it a little frustrating that there seems to be a lack of civilian model helicopters.  I'm slowly getting back in to the "Plastic" genre of model building (spent several years in the R/C world, and still am) and all I see, with little exception, are Military models.  While I'm an avid Military fan (and USAF Veteran), I'd like to model some of the aircraft my employer uses in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and am coming up very short in my search.  I'm getting ready to start a 1/48 UH-1N in my old unit livery (72nd Helicopter Squadron, 1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, VA) for a group build, and would love to do a Bell 412.  Does anyone know if there's an AM rotorhead for a 412 conversion?

TJ Rohyans

Mobile, AL, USA

  • Member since
    September 2015
  • From: The Redwood Empire
Posted by Aaronw on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 12:49 AM

I think there is a conversion out there for a 412, possibly from Belcher bits.

 

When it comes to helicopters 1/72 seems to offer the best selection, I know Italeri offers a 412 in that scale. Not sure if that is of any help though if you prefer to build 1/48.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Houston, Tx
Posted by oldthudman on Saturday, August 15, 2009 3:40 PM

Except for cars models, civilian subjects in aircraft, helicopters, & boats/ships are few....

Unfortunately, the future doesn't appear to be much better....The kit makers generally build what sells........However, check Cybermodeler's "Future Kits" page.....Sometimes one finds a surprise...

 

http://www.cybermodeler.com/index.shtml

UNT Eagles; Veteran USAF
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Saturday, August 15, 2009 6:28 PM

Revell has quite a few civilian or dual -role civil/military helos.  They have the Bell Jet Ranger, UH-1D/H, Bell/MD500/OH-6A, BO 105, BO 117, Aerospecial Gazelle, EC 135, EC 145/UH-72A Lacota, and I'm sure a few others I am missing.

Dragon Has the UH-1D, UH-1N, and OH-6A/MD500 and MD530. 

Any of these can be made into civil birds with the right paint scheme.  I converted an MD530 into a Blackwater Securities/ Dept. of State civil (sort of) bird from Iraq.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Mobile, AL
Posted by Tango Juliet on Monday, August 17, 2009 2:07 PM
Thanks Heavy.  I'm kind of getting back into plastic modeling, so I'm not aware of all the retailers.  I had gone to Squadron and hardly found anything that could be dual purpose.  A few are still elusive.  Namely the S-76, the S-61, and the EC 225.  My only interest is that all of these and a few you mentioned are operated by the company I work for in the Gulf of Mexico, and it would be nice to do each one.

TJ Rohyans

Mobile, AL, USA

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Monday, August 17, 2009 2:45 PM

Glad to help out.   The S-61/HH-3 is available in 1/72 in ancient kit form from Lindberg and Aurora.  The EC225 is available in 1/72 from Revell I think too.  I have seen a build-up of one somewhere.

Just thought of a couple others too.  None that you mentioned and probably not used by your company, but...  The Trumpeter 1/35 MI-4 and MI-8/17 can also be seen in civilian liveries.

 

Good luck.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Dermo on Monday, August 17, 2009 6:17 PM

Revell seem to be the ones for civilian types of late. With the popularity of both the Agusta AW139 and Sikorsky S-92 in civilian and SAR roles (especially in Europe) hopefully we'll see something new from Revell in 2010...

 

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Mobile, AL
Posted by Tango Juliet on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 7:24 AM
The AW139, I almost forgot that one.  My room-mate actually flies those.

TJ Rohyans

Mobile, AL, USA

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: hamburg michigan
Posted by fermis on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 7:20 PM
 Are you, by chance with GHI? (I think that's what I'm thinking) PHI maybe?

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Mobile, AL
Posted by Tango Juliet on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 7:42 AM
It's PHI (Petroleum Helicopters, Inc), and No, I'm with one of the others, Era.

TJ Rohyans

Mobile, AL, USA

  • Member since
    September 2015
  • From: The Redwood Empire
Posted by Aaronw on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 2:03 PM

I haven't seen ERA around here for awhile, but I saw several on contract for firefighting in 2000-2002. I even got to fly in an ERA Bell 212 on contract with the BLM in Bakersfield, CA. I don't know what you guys are flying now, but I saw a couple 212s and a Puma or Super Puma.

In 1/72 

Italeri has done a Puma, there is also a Super Puma (from Heller?)

Italeri has a 212 and 412 

 

I see PHI all the time, they have two Med-evac helos that unfortuately are frequent visitors to us. They have an EC-135 and AS-350B3. Revell does an EC-135 in 1/72 and 1/32, Heller does a 1/48 AS-350 A-star.

 

Here is a link to Belcher Bits 1/48 Bell 412 conversion

http://www.belcherbits.com/lines/148conv/bb8.htm

 

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Mobile, AL
Posted by Tango Juliet on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 3:23 PM

I'm not too sure what Era Med is flying, they're a different division from us, EC 145's I think.  We still have a couple of 412's flying in Alaska, but none in the Gulf, BO-105's are being phased out also.  Where I am, we have AS-350's, EC-135's, A119's, and A109's, and one S-76.  That's supposed to change and we're going to be getting 3 AW139's and possibly an EC-225 (Super Puma) from other bases, but I'll believe it when I see it.  I'd like to find a new career, but with the economy, jobs ain't what they used to be.

TJ Rohyans

Mobile, AL, USA

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