Panda's 1/35 UH-1D 1st Cav

Panda's UH-1D kit #35005 has the decals for the 1st Cav and an RAAF version. After only having Revells old UH-1D for so long you would think a new model would be better. Wrong! They both are actually H models because of the nose mount pitot tubes. D's had then in the nose. Revells kit has a lot more authentic detail compared to the new Panda kit. Revell missed the mark on the nose contour, but did a great job a lot of other things. Panda like Revell neglected to put the most used component on their kits, the M-60 door gun mounts. If only Academy or MRC would do the UH-1D/H we would finally get a good kit of a classic. I did a tour in Vietnam maintaining them and crewing them and 7 years in the Reserves as Crew Chief on a Medevac UH-1H.

Mel,
I agree 1000%. Panda is a great disappointment. You know you're in trouble when there's pin holes in the windscreens for the wiper blades. The accuracy of the exterior panels can't hold a candle to the Revell kit. By the way, I'm another former medevac UH-1H crew chief. I bet you were with the medevac unit based at the airport south of Lafayette ... where all the PHI birds are now? I was with the 123rd Medical Co, based in Meridian, MS. When I joined, we had two UH-34s left .. I got a ride in the last one before it went to the bone yard. The rest of our a/c consisted of a couple of B models and the rest Hs. By the time they changed our unit to a heavy helicopter unit, we were all H models with two of them being brand new. The rest were old Vietnam birds. You could still find the bullet hole patches in them! By the way, is there still a helicopter guard unit there?
Paul

A while ago I da a chance to take a peak at the Panda Huey kit at my local HOBBY SHOP .......I was first turned off by what seemed to be very oversized surface rivits! Has anyone else seen this problem?

I had to make my own M-60 mounts on my Revell kit. ten years ago.

Paul,

We were the 872nd Med Det., Cajun Medevac of of New Iberia, La. They deactivated the Unit back about 1996 or so. I was in it from 75 to 81. We had 6 brand new 1974 UH-1H's. Read your profile. Great job on the SS book! You can check out my Vietnam Unit 's Web page at www.americal.org/174/ or do a search on Yahoo for 174th AHC. They just posted my "Bio".

Papa Echo-64,

Great job on the Huey, I like the extra detail you did, especially the pilot doors. One of these days I'll take the time to learn to post pictures. I built mine back in 1972, so it shows it's age! I think I'll "dust it off" and give her a face lift! If I ever build Panda's kit it will have a lot of Revell parts, especially the transmission, M/R blades, and maybe an MRC M/R mast assy.

Mel,

Thanks!

I had alot of fun building that one.....learned alot too.

Mel,
Glad you enjoyed my Black Hawk book. I'm proud of it for a first attempt. I learned the hard way that it's possible to reverse a print (not just a slide) in the printing process! I'm sure everyone realizes there are no right handed collectives..... but that's the only goof I've found over the years. By the way, I'm about 80% thru with my next work ... DUSTOFF ... The Helicopter's Role in Medical Evacuation and Search and Rescue. It will cover both military and civil use (domestic only) of the helicopter for medevac and SAR. Let me know if you've got any pics or experiences you would like to contribute. (I'll scan the pics and send them right back to you)
All the best,
Paul Pickett

Thanks for the replies guys, you've all obviously got some quite interesting stories. There is a another question though. Is it possible to get any aftermarket kits for an M60, or would I have to buy another kit that has them included so i could use them on the Panda UH1-D?

BOY do I have something for you!

I have a 1/35 MRC UH-C kit that is missing only a few parts and a COMPLETE! DRAGON 1/35 scale U.S. Helo crew kit WITH! a door gunner that has ALL of the gear...POST...mounting brackets, canvas catch bag, amo box and the works!

The Helo Crew kit comes with two Pilots and two Gunners and plenty of extras.

Now I think they had the LOACH in mind cuz there is only one door gunner with the post and swivel...the OTHER door gunner is the M-60 style on a cord.

The quality is the same as TAMIYA if not better....I will never use this set or kit....E-MAIL me if your interested...I'm thinking at least half off the original retial.