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Italeri VH-71 "Marine One"

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Italeri VH-71 "Marine One"
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Sunday, September 6, 2020 11:29 PM

Did this helicopter ever get put to use? I picked one up on clearance years ago and was thinking about building a helicopter kit.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/italeri-1268-vh-71-marine-one-eh-101--101581

If not, any other variants that it could be built into?

  • Member since
    April 2020
Posted by Eaglecash867 on Monday, September 7, 2020 6:09 AM

The VH-71 was canceled in 2009 because of massive cost over-runs.  Maybe you can find some decals for a Canadian Forces CH-149?  I think that's the closest in its outward appearance, compared to other variants of the AW101.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_CH-149_Cormorant

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

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Monday, September 7, 2020 6:12 AM

Don't know about the 'real thing,' but I built the kit in its presidential markings (with a full scratchbuilt cabin interior) a few years ago.

If you would possibly anticipate doing that kit scheme, be warned that wrapping the 'United States of America' decal on the stbd. side around the bulging surface detail is extremely tricky. I made a hash of mine, and had to do some not-so-subtle paint touch-ups to try to correct.

Other than that, it's an impressive scheme...and quite a sweet build, as I recall.

Cheers

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Monday, September 7, 2020 11:44 AM

gregbale

Don't know about the 'real thing,' but I built the kit in its presidential markings (with a full scratchbuilt cabin interior) a few years ago.

If you would possibly anticipate doing that kit scheme, be warned that wrapping the 'United States of America' decal on the stbd. side around the bulging surface detail is extremely tricky. I made a hash of mine, and had to do some not-so-subtle paint touch-ups to try to correct.

Other than that, it's an impressive scheme...and quite a sweet build, as I recall.

Cheers

 

Thanks for the tip. Yeah, it looks like a well designed kit. An unusual paint scheme to say the least. I may just wait until after the elections so posting photos of it doesn't become a political discussion.

  • Member since
    August 2020
  • From: Everett, WA USA
Posted by Gunny Dan on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 3:43 PM

When I was at Patuxent River, I got a chance to fly on the EH-101 that was entered into the competetion for the new Marine One aircraft.  Great helicopter.  Had a large cabin, folding rotor head, folding tail pylon.  It was not so much the "cost overruns" that killed the EH-101, as it was the NAVAIRs desire to re-engineer the whole airplane. Confused

Bringing the airplane into actual compliance with the published requirement for a new presidential helicopter would have been a monumental cost undertaking.  The manufacturing of the aircraft was really the downfall of the EH-101 as a viable candidate for Marine One. AW, and Lockheed Martin could have fixed most of the issues we found during the tech-eval, but again cost would have been a huge factor in not just re-tooling their line, but changing their manufacturing mindset as well.

Yes, I am a Sikorsky guy, flew 53's my whole career, but when I was at PAX we flew the EH-101, the VH-3D and the VH-92 (S-92) platforms against each other.  The S-92 was by far a better helicopter, from both the mission stand point, as well as the maintainability of the platform. Soooo...the president will fly in a Sikorsky helicopter, and fly in a Boeing airplane.  Lockheed Martin ended up buying Sikorsky anyways, soooo.

Just one guys opinion, and i know how those are!  LOL

Gy Dan

GySgt Daniel Hammer

USMC (RET)

1/48th scale WWII-present modeler

 

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