Fun '80s Sci-Fi: AMT's Airwolf (OOB)

Faust

Member since
October 2020

Fun '80s Sci-Fi: AMT's Airwolf (OOB)

Posted by Faust on Monday, January 16, 2023 7:19 PM

Quick question: What’s black and white and is technologically -inconsistent-with-modern-military-hardware all over? Think about it… Nothing? Okay, I’ll give you a hint; it’s also retro-as-heck (and involves Ernest Borgnine). No? Well, if you’re stuck, I forgive you. If you’re not, though, you’ve already reached the right answer:

Airwolf!!

This ridiculously overpowered Bell 222 was one of the most popular of the ‘80s TV supervehices, and with Hellfire missiles, machine guns and afterburners, it tore up the screen in the mid-80s! No wonder then that Airwolf was also made available as a model, since kids were still into modelling at that time.

I came across this particular kit recently and thought that the winter was a perfect time to dive into some cool retro ‘80s sci-fi. Check out this decent, although somewhat minimal-effort offering from AMT at the link below, and make sure you’ve got your mesh T-Shirt on and synth ready while you do it!

https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/amt-1-48-airwolf-oob/

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Real G

Member since
May 2011
From: Honolulu, Hawaii

Posted by Real G on Monday, January 16, 2023 7:29 PM

...but watch out for bad guys aiming to shoot into the refueling probe, Airwolf's one weakness!

Such a silly show, from the age of silly shows (Macguyver, the A-Team, etc). The Japanese labelled the era "Baka Terebi" (stupid television). I watched the A-Team in Japan, and Mr T's voice dub was awful!

But they must have liked Airwolf, because Aoshima also did a model kit of it.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

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Rob Gronovius

Member since
December 2002
From: Fort Knox

Posted by Rob Gronovius on Monday, January 16, 2023 8:28 PM

I built this kit back in the day and sold the hulk and a new regular version on eBay for a good amount of money.

The Airwolf was just the regular kit with some bits you added to the landing gear housing (guns), a new interior with a computer screen, and the rockets underneath the body.

It was a cool kit, but paled in comparison to Blue Thunder. That kit was huge and new tooled from the ground up.

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cbaltrin

Member since
May 2004
From: Land of Lakes

Posted by cbaltrin on Monday, January 16, 2023 9:07 PM

You planning on building this?

I loved watching Airwolf. They wrecked the series in Seaon 3 though ... Tried to pick up this kit before, but always to expensive...

On the Bench: Too Much

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Eaglecash867

Member since
April 2020

Posted by Eaglecash867 on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 6:15 AM

Very cool! I have a 1:1 Bell 222 in the hangar next door to ours that I work on from time to time...even though its not Airwolf, its still got a very sci-fi feel to how everything is set up in it. Especially love the collective. Speaking of cool 80s sci-fi aircraft, I just got a 1/48 Anigrand Firefox for Christmas.

Since Blue Thunder was mentioned, the 1984 Monogram kit was a really awesome build for its age. Actually, that one held its own even against today's models.

"You can have my illegal fireworks when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers...which are...over there somewhere."

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MR TOM SCHRY

Member since
July 2015

Posted by MR TOM SCHRY on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 8:21 AM

Cool show and nice kit. I've got the same one in my stash. I'll be following along! I always liked the Jeep that Stringfellow Hawke drove in the series.

tjs

TJS