Heller AS350 A-star?

Hey Davey,

 

<><>Yah, It's been a while. Gee, Davey, whare to begin.

<><>The S-76 and my modelling was all put back on the back burner for quite some time haveing to care for my wife as she went through several treatments of chemo and major surgeries for the last year and a half.  Any free time I really had I caught up on house work, eating or sleeping. On top of what my wife was going through I was working some long hours. (12 and 10 hour days and 5 hr weekends) Yah, I managed to find time here and there to buy kits at some real good deals and work on some artwork for offshore and air medical decals for my kits.  I did poke my head in on some of the hobby forums from time to time.    My wife has successfully completed her chemo and surgerys and is cancer free.  We're both going through our own recovery right now.  So I'm slowly trying to make my way back to the bench.  I have several mid projects and incompletes on the bench.  (Two 1/32 BK-117s incomplete, One 1/48 Bell 222 scratch 430 conversion-a mess, one 1/72 resin S-76C incomplete, and a 1/32 BO-105 somewhat started.)  Then theres my stock pile of 1/32 and 1/48 helicopters. Bk-117s, BO-105s, EC-135s, Astars, 500Cs, MD500Es, Jet Ranger, and 500-D.  Some of the models were gifts from some generous individuals.  I am working on some masters for casting molds. (1/32 & 1/48 EMS interior accessories-rework and 1/32 BK-117 radar nose cone-rework.)  So I'm looking forward to make it back to the bench. 

<><>In the end, I don't care if I ever get to build another model, as long as I still have my precious wife and best friend.

 

<><>By the way, do you have any pictures of some of the builds you've done?  I'd like to see what you did on the Astar you mentioned for the Deputy.

 

Hope all is well

John 

 

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     How's Air Medical doin these days..   I agree with and live by your first line at the bottom of your treads..  Last time I spoke with you we were talking about S 76 's. I think you were working on a resin kit or you had one you were going to do.. That is great news about the new Jet ranger. They must of sold alot of those in the old days. It was seen all the time before the Europe invasion . Which I didn't mind since it brought alot of new kits.I have used Sikorsky calanders to convert Blackhawks to civilian paint schemes.They always had S-70 versions in the calander. Ok hope all is well and have fun Davey5

Nice to see some civilian helo discussions!

<>I'm debating on doing a 1/32 ERA or PHI EC-135.  I have to say the PHI would be the easiest to paint, but the ERA is a sharp paint job.

 

<>Aaron, I feel your pain having been away for a while and now trying to find the time to build again.  Seems there's more time to buy kits than to build them.  I come across real good deals that are hard to pass up so I have to, I just have to.

 

FYI.  Revell is releasing their 1/32 206 Jet Ranger again and acording to the box cover, it's a high skided JR with emergency popout floats.  I know they have done some new addition tooling for the 1/32 BK-117 which looks preety nice and long over due; it's a good possability they made some new additional tooling with optional skid gear.<>  

 

I'm wanting to try and find an old Revell 1/48 S-58 to convert to a S-58T and do it as a Construction Helicopters out of Michigan.

 

Hope you're able to find some bench time so you can post some pictures of your work.

Cheers 

<>

I work for the fire department in Yosemite. We frequently get the helicopters off the Inyo, Sierra and Stanislaus, in addition to the Yosemite helo and Sequoia Kings so I usually know what they have on contract. Also see PHi, Mediflight, Rogers and CHP on a fairly regular basis. I also always try to make at least a quick visit to the helibase when I get sent out to big fires. It's not a bad job if you like taking pictures of helicopters.

Aaron just out of curiosity who do you work for, specially since your in Yosemite and working Inyo contracts?

 

David  

I haven't really got much building done since I moved last year, but I just pulled out the S58's the other day. As you know I was having some trouble with the canopy on the 58T but I finally got it to work. I got the decals made up so I'm hoping I'll actually get them finished soon.

 

I didn't know there was a 1/32 Lama, that might be a fun build. The Inyo National Forest gets one on contract each year and we get it occasionally for high altitude rescues so I got a bunch of photos of it last year, one plus of doing the standbys at the landing sites.

 

I got a couple of 1/72 Tamiya / Italeri OH58A's from Lucky Model last year, I've never seen them over here so I grabbed a couple, I am considering converting one to a Long Ranger.  

I am eventually looking at a PHI A-star and EC135, I also have some photos of a BK117 in their old red and white. I am also not looking forward to that paint job, looks great but wow, its complicated.

Aaronw wrote:

Civilian helos drive me crazy, they are all over the place in scale 1/32, 1/48, 1/72 and kind of randomly distributed among the scales. 1/72 and 1/32 seem to have the best selection but 1/48 seems to have stuff not available in either of those scales. It makes it very hard to build in a consistant scale.

the availalble jetrangers are about the easist to convert from OH 58s.  I am working slowly towards making one of the PHI small ships I worked on offshore. I have added heater ducts for the Johnson heater and interior detail....need to come uup with a tail rotor driveshaft cover tho.  Not looking forward to painting that yellow and black scheme tho!

David

I see your still with us, after last year.  I have the Heller FF A-star and do not intend to build it.  If,  Aaronw, you still want it let me know pm and we'll work it out.  By the way how have you S-58's been coming along?

   There is a 222 out it's a bit old . It's sold as Air Wolf for the old TV show.All you have to do is leave the side pods and a couple of other things off. It's fair .Scale a bit off on some stuff. But it can pass for a 222 if you play with it a little.Probably get it on E-Bay. I think it was in 1/72, ya for sure 1/72. Now there rereleasing a 1/32 602 low skid jobie I herd. I have built it many times in the old days. I think it was done by Revell.Right now you can get a great 1/32 Lama. 2 versions are out . one military and one ski rescue. Lots of parts very cool comes with all kinds of stuff. Linkages and rod and engine detail. Not a easy kit. There is a extra detail set out for that kit. It is done by Revell Germany.Also out now are .,,a vew 145's.Police and rescue and medical transport. Very nice kits,, Lots of partsGood decals Finish very nice.I realy love Italeri 1/72 chopers.They are great kits.For years I stayed away from 1/72 and then I did a MH 53 and couldn't stop. went on to 53 D then 53 E ,ch34,Ch58,Ch 146 chnooks and CH 21 and I am still doing them. I did the Queens Flight which I thought came out so good I did again to make sure the first one wasn't a accident.  I realy do like the large scale stuff.There is so much out right now. Trump 's stuff is great,and then Acadamey with the 1/48 E and Italier's 1/48 sh t Hook. Good stuff. I need to live to like 100 to build all this . OH well have a good time . the best D

Aaron,

Re the 412 - an excellent civvy example can be built using the Heller/Italeri UH-1N (Bell 212) and Mike Belcher's CH-146 conversion. It includes everything you need for a 412, including the rescue winch. 

See here for an exceptional example:

http://www.mikegrantdecals.com/Bell412Gall.html

Cheers.

Nick. 

I saw that 3 pack about 1 1/2 years ago. I was already buying a bunch of stuff so I passed on it thinking it was a new release. Stupid me, I've never seen that set since.

I haven't built them all yet but I've found the BO105, Allouette 3, Agusta 109, BK117, and EC135 in 1/72, and the BO-105 & BK-117 are available in 1/32. The AS350 and Lama are in 1/48 and there might be a BO-105 as well. Off course you can find the UH-1 in all of these scales, but the 412 is only in 1/72.

I would think medivac & fire helicopters would be more poplar subjects but I guess not. An S-76 or 222 would be great as would a Bell 206 L3 Long Ranger. With as popular as the 206 is in civil service I can't believe there are not more civilian versions of it.

          I would rate it at between not bad to  fair. As you say the scale makes a big differance. I was lucky enough to find  a 3 pack in 1/32 BK 117  EC 135 ,and a BO 105 a year ago.I have the 117 left.A 350 in 1/32 would be  killer.Even better a S 76 would ice it. I don't think they do enough civil or commerical helis in any scale. I guess they don't sell as well.  The Best D

Thanks, I know there a couple variations, but wasn't sure of the quality. I know Heller can be a little hit or miss. Nice to know there is a PHi version, we get a yellow and black PHi medivac ship in pretty regularly so that is one on my build list.

 

Civilian helos drive me crazy, they are all over the place in scale 1/32, 1/48, 1/72 and kind of randomly distributed among the scales. 1/72 and 1/32 seem to have the best selection but 1/48 seems to have stuff not available in either of those scales. It makes it very hard to build in a consistant scale.   

There is a build here

 

http://www.master194.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24436

 

and a WIP here http://fighters.forumactif.com/vos-montages-pas-a-pas-avions-helicos-f2/as-350-ecureuil-bombardier-d-eau-heller-1-48-t12165.htm

but is nice without all this job

 

Norbert

       There is a couple of kits around...Squadron has them in their mailer... I have built for other people a couple years ago. One comes with the stuff for fire fighting....  Tank on belly and high skids. The other one I did for a Deputy pilot was a regular A-Star. Check like the other person told you ,listed as ecurial or simular.. Best of luck to you..

                            D

I saw one built up at the Nationals last year, the very first time I had ever seen one.

I understand that when first released it came with PHI markings and they were quite popular with the guys there.  I have notseen one anywhere at any shop or even vendors, but there is one on Ebay right now under Heller 1/50 Eucuerail.

 

David  

Hi,

 

In my opinion, the kit is worth it.  I'll be picking up my 5th one in a couple weeks.  Does that answer your question? 

 

Regarding 1/72, I do recal "resin" kits being available in both the 350 and 355F version.  They were very $$$$.   A lot more than what I paid for any of my 1/48 Astar kits.  

 Good luck!

Cheers