New To Helicopters

Wow, that's a tough one...I'd say try a gunship -- Cobra, Apache, what have you, then if the bug really gets into you, you can grab a Blackhawk or Huey, maybe a Hind or Chinook... Really, its up to what you want to try, just hope all that armor you've built doesn't get nervous with a tank killer on the shelves with them...

Was not sure what to go with. Looking to try something different. With just one helo I don't think the tracks will be too worried. What manufacturer would you recommend as being better than another. Again thanks for the help.

QUOTE: What manufacturer would you recommend as being better than another.

Again, it depends on what helo you want to build. Some are better than others, one company may make a good model of X and a bad model of Y. If you can narrow it down to a type of helo, you will get more help on selecting the best kit of it to build.

Mjo,
the first Helicopter kit I ever built was the 1/32 revell UH-1D. It was a great kit but I basicaly built it straight from the box no paint or anything. I ended up destroying it on 4th of July. My next helo was monogram's 1/48 AH-1s cobra I really recomend this kit it has great detail and goes together easy and is inexpensive. The Mono 1/48 Apache is also a great kit to start with. Any 1/48 Huey, Apache , or Cobra will take up little shelf space. To save more space on Navy and Marine birds you can perform minor surgery and fold the main blades. well good hunting

Thanks for the info and help with this. I am thinking about doing a USMC Cobra or and Army Apache.

Welcome

mjohnson,

Helos are a tough choice because there aren't as many out there and some of them
stink. Many guys rave about the revell stuff in 1/32 but they're big...I'd avoid the Italeri
stuff in 1/48 because the ones i've done aren't very detailed and do not fit well. I'd try
any of the new stuff by academy/mrc...the problem is most of them are in 1/35. 1/72 will
be very small unless you're modeling a chinock or a sea king...something larger in
real life.

Panda makes a couple of great looking hueys 1/35 in the box with seemly nice details...
however they're not worth the price and many have problematic decals which are tough
to apply. In addition many important pieces fit poorly.

You might try an apache by academy of korea it will cost you about $20 and in comes
in 1/48...I think they might also make a blackhawk or pavehawk as well in the same
scale. These are the older ones but fit better and are easier to handle then some others.

I'd recommend you go with a quality manufacturer on your first one out...Avoid the
cheaper models which lack detail and good fit...avoid the huey UH1D by italeri in 1/48..
just built it ans was disapointed...Avoid Revell's huey hog...it lacks much and fits worse..

Unfortunately your best bets are in academy's newer kits...those are among the next
ones i'll buy...

Good luck
Tank

Your right on Tank but dont let it worry you too much Michael. I say get the Revell Cobra. It is a 1/48? kit and it is a little basic but it is reasonably good. You may find research a bit more of a challenge for most subjects but the variety of kits are out there, just remember that since helicopters are a much smaller segment of the aviation industry, they will also be a smaller segment of the modeling industry. They are almost as much fun to model as they are to work on and I LOVE turning wrenches. I think that you will find the challenge of helos unlike any other modeling subject out there. There are alot of obscure machines to be built and many of them have quite an interesting history.

Mac

Mjohnson,

Welcome! As everyone here has said, its pretty much personal preference. Of course I'd have to echo LJ's sentiment: Try a gunship first! (Plus, the 28th ID just got its first Apaches, so you've got some good reference material there!) There are some great gunship kits out there. I tend to build in 32nd or 35th, but the Hasegawa 1/48 Apaches are phenomenal from what I've heard.

By the way, are there any good hobby shops in the area? I'm commissioning in July and will be headed to the 104th Avn at FIG shortly thereafter (at least until they can send me to Rucker for flight training). I'm hoping to get an idea of what's around there.

John
Your going to the Gap?! It has bee a few years, but I don't remember much being there at all unless you go to Harrisburg. You might try going to the NG maint. facility there. There is sure to be someone there who can help you out.

Just remember that the Gap is a hole in the wall and it is nothing more than a NG training site and an airstrip. Don't forget to got to Hershey while you are there.

Mac

Mac,

Been to the base itself a couple dozen times. As a WWII reenactor, I've been participating in the Battle of the Bulge there since 1994. Its interesting seeing the base from the other side now. I was there in late January for my flight physical and met with the brigade and battalion S-1s. Things are lookin good so far. Just gotta get that damn age waiver in and pass my damn PT test. (I HATE running) Lookin forward to it though!

Jon
Read Countermeasure. You'll find in the accident briefs section that PT accounts for a large portion. I think that means that PT is bad for your health.

Mac

Mac,

Its 0515, I've had four hours of sleep and I'm headed out to do a 5 mile run. If that isn't hazardous to your health, I don't know what is!

Michael,

If you're looking for a good kit in a relatively small size, try the MRC OH-58D. Its 1/35th, but isn't huge like the rest of the kits in the scale. Fit is very good overall and the basic kit is pretty accurate. If you're up for doing some surgery, the Cutting Edge update set is fantastic. Mine's about 75% done right now and I've really enjoyed it.

Just did the 1/35 AH-1W Super Cobra from AFV Club in Taiwan.. Its the old MRC kit.. I have enjoyed building it.. My first venture into 1/35 as I normally only model 1/72, so I am like a beginner again.. Cant complain about the kit, as it doesnt have many parts, and fits together nicely.. It also has added resin parts to modernise it, as well as metal parts for building the canon....I would go with something that doesnt have alot of parts to start with!.. This one is a perfect choice! And not all that expencive if you mess something up!... Just my 2 cents!

Chris in Japan

A fun and easy kit is Revell/Monograms 1/48 UH-1C Huey Hog. It's not the most Hi-Tech or impressive kit. However, the detail is good, it fits together nicely, and it makes a pretty good rendition of the aircraft. It builds into a relatively small kit

Welcome to the helicopters, what has not been mentioned in the posts above (and basicly doesn't have anything to do with choice) is that with helicopters, you get a lot more model for your money. I don't know why, but they'll never hear me complane about the price of a heli-kit.

ok I am behind the times but I would recommend going with a helo the same scale as your armor. There are some good 1/35 helo kit out there now and just imagine the diorama's you could create.
DBW