JohnMcD348 wrote: |
I've been looking for a model of the CH-46 Sea King and the only version I have been able to find is the Academy model and the AirFix model. I know that it would be possible to buy different Decals but I have never done this before. This model is for my Father-in-Law as he was a crew member of a CH-46 back in the 60's. I would like to get the model kit AND the decal kit to go with it to make it into a Navy flyer and not a Marine flyer. Can someone talk me through this and lead me where I need to go for the decals? Or, if anyone knows of a different model manufacturer, that would be appreciated. Thanks JTMcD. |
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As has alkready been mentioned, what you are looking for is a model of a CH-46 SeaKnight. In naval use the designation was UH-46 due to a difference in missions but still carried the moniker of "Sea Knight"
If your father in-law crewed them while in the Navy during the '60s, more than likely he was crewing UH-46As or perhaps UH-46Ds, I don't believe the Navy ever got CH-46Fs and the CH-46Es were not introduced into the fleet until around 1977 or 1978.
The only downside to using the Academy kits is that the rotor heads and blades are all set up for CH-46Es regardless of what it says on the outside of the box. Other than that, the series is very good and gives excellent results when completed. (BTW, the color scheme on the rotor blades is OD on top, black on the bottom with yellow tips, and stencil data on the underside of each blade close to the blade root. This was standard for all metal blades used on CH-46s)
The Fujimi kits are very nice and Eduard makes a good PE set that will help with the cockpit. I haven't seen the Hobbycraft Kit and the photos of the Hobby Boss kit seem to indicate a knockoff of the Fujimi kit with some minor changes, even the decal sheet is copied (incorrectly)
I wouldn't waste any time on the AirFix kit, (also branded as MPC) I built one once about 25 years or more ago and it only slightly resemebled the aircraft that I crewed.
Decals may be somewhat hard to come by, There were at least two sheets released years ago for Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, both in 1/72nd, and most decal sheets that come in the various releases are somewhat lacking to include the Academy ones.
HTH
Jonathan Primm
Youngsville, LA