Mi-26 Halo -- any kits available?

I don't think there are any plastic kits available.  I read about someone doing a vacuum-formed kit, but apparently that fell through. 

The Halo is an amazing machine.  I'm a CH-53E guy, and that's a huge machine.  However, the Halo is a monster.  It dwarfs the 53.  I got a chance to see one at a distance in Djibouti, Africa about a year ago.  That thing landed like a big white whale.  It made a ton of noise on approach.  It sounded like John Bonham playing the drums.  Once the wheels touched deck, they cut power on one of those big 13,000 hp turbines, and it taxied in on a whisper.  It was cool. 

Apparently, they need a long approach path to land, so it's doubtful that one could land on a rooftop, even if there was a rooftop big enough for it.  But I think that diorama would look cool.

Semper Fi,

Chris

I have heard rumours of a kit coming out in 1/72 or something like that but nothing has been mentioned in ages. The closest in existance to my knowledge is a Russian kit of the MI-6, but I have only ever seen one of those on e-bay and it was an  odd scale.

I have been in a Mi-26 a number of times when I was in East Timor several years ago. When it starts up the damn thing shakes like you wouldn't beleive! Just getting those huge rotors turning is a world shaking event. I even managed to get a large number of photos inside and out of it in UN markings. I sent them to Helicopter Walk Arounds a year or two ago but am unsure if they are still up on the net.

To give an idea of how huge this thing is

Check out the dudes up top.

This photo was taken in October of 1993 at the airfield in Mogadishu. I was the aircraft maintenance supervisor for H Co, 159th Avn while we were attached to the 10th Mtn Div from July of 93 to February of 94.

Also on the other side of the aircraft, the guy on the workstand is working on the APU which is about the same size as a T-53 series engine as used on UH-1s. Also in the back ground is one of the several Mi-17s that were being used there as well.

There were at least two Russian firms there that were operating aircraft for the UN under the auspices of Canadian Helicopters. They didn't have much in the way of special tools and/or support equipment so we would help them out from time to time. 

Jonathan Primm

Youngsville, LA

Here you go sir:

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=SAN7225

You can buy Halo in "www.sangereng.fsnet.co.uk" he made in Vacc form.

narupol.

Apologies for the late reply, but I have been busy with non helicopter stuff for some time.

Some months ago Zvezda Models had plans for a (injection mould) 1:72 Mi26.

I cannot find it on their site anymore, but that could be caused by my lack of knowledge of the the russian language.

Anyone knows what happened to those Zvezda plans?

Zvezda doesnt have Mi-26 in their plans anymore. At least not for next year

Andy

BTW Here is great model of Mi-6 in 1/72 just came on contest today

http://dishmodels.ru/gshow.htm?p=1553