Good Helicopter Kit to Start with??

OK, stock answer, Tamiya. seriously I haven,t built a tamiya helo but their quality is outstanding on everything I have built (cars, ships, airplanes, armour,). I really don't think you could go wrong.

Were (are) you a puddle jumper (shallow water sailor)?

Tamiya makes excellent kits but for 1/35 helicopters, you can't beat MRC / Academy. For a first kit, I would suggest the AH-1W Cobra. This kit goes together well and is very detailed, but easier to build than any of their C model Hueys or any of the Academy Black Hawks. If you didn't want to go with the Marine bird, my next suggestion would be one of the OH-58D kits from MRC ... or one of the OH-6 kits from DML. I think all of these are a little easier than the Hueys. Panda's new releases don't compare in detail ... at least to this point and I have not build my Panda UH-1D yet so I can't say about construction and fit. With all the 1/35 scale helicopters out and on the way, think of all the diorama possibilities with figures and vehicles.
Good luck and let us know what you decide and how it turns out.
Paul

Thanks for the input from all of you. I was thinking of going with a tamiya model as well, so i think i've got my answer. I'd like to attempt a Huey mainly because of the idea i have in mind is for a Med-Evac diorama. I wonder if any of their kits come with medical aircraft Decals (red crosses)? I'll look at the DML / Academy kits as well.Thanks again.
JeSSe

Oracle9000

I am 90% complete on the Academy UH-60L. It has gone together like a dream. FSM did a review on it 1-2 years ago. Had a bunch of fit problems. Being a rank amature I was a little concerned about this.

Working on slinging a USAF MRC-144 Hummer. To remind me of my first Air Assualt with the 101st Airborne (Air Assualt).

Jessie,

Hmmm... If you're interested in doing a Medevac bird, look at the Revell UH-1D/H. Its an older kit, and the nose is kinda wonky, but overall detail is great, and the size can't be beat. Lots of room for detailing. Also, the MRC UH-1s are not appropriate for MOST medevac birds, as they're the short-cabin variants. I have yet to build the Panda UH-1D, but I've heard really mixed reviews of it. Either the Revell or the Panda would be your best bet for a Vietnam Medevac bird.

Hey Jon,
Thanks for the great tip on where to start! I appreiciate your knowledge on the subject. Now it time for me to start looking for it.
Happy Modeling.