Comparing 2 AH-1 kits

[ysi_maniac]

Comparing Testors/Italeri AH-1W 1/72 and Hobbycraft AH-1Z; I saw that this last kit's fuselage is about an inch shorter 
Is this correct?

[jschmus]

There's a pretty detailed review of the kit here:
http://www.scale-rotors.com/kit/artikel.php?id=5220

If it were me, I'd hold out for a release by another manufacturer.

[kitnut617]

I've got the Hobbycraft Zulu too in the stash although I haven't done a comparison with the Italeri Whisky.  This might be a bit on the side but I've noticed that some Hobbycraft kits are not 1/72 scale when they say it is, I've found that with their 1/72 CF-105 kit which seems to be actually 1/75 scale and this might be another.  As I own the moulds to the Victoria Products CF-105 kit which is supposed to be the best kit of it, I've been able to do a very good study of the two kits. 

[jcf]

Hobbycraft never actually made the tooling for the kits released under their name, and in later days
they were just issuing reboxed sprues from folks like Zhengdefu ... and most of those kits are truly
crappy.

As to the actual Zulu, it's the same size as the rest of the family.

http://www.bellhelicopter.com/MungoBlobs/68/132/EN_AH-1Z_PocketGuide.pdf

[ysi_maniac]

Hobbycraft model seems to be 1/82 in fact

[jschmus]

Perhaps we could interest someone in making a conversion kit for the Italeri W.  The major components would be the extra rotor blades, the FLIR turret and the modified exhausts.

[ChernayaAkula]

Perhaps we could interest someone in making a conversion kit for the Italeri W.  The major components would be the extra rotor blades, the FLIR turret and the modified exhausts.

I'm afraid it's not as simple as that. On top of the EO turret, rotor blades and different exhausts, there's the new stub wings, much bigger "doghouse", modified forward fuselage (bigger "hamster" cheeks), different stabilizers farther back on the tailboom. On the outside, it's pretty much a new aircraft. About the only things you could use are the canopy, M197 turret, engine air intakes and the skids (which even have different support struts).

I'd love to see an all-new AH-1Z in 1/72. Hell, any new AH-1 in 1/72, really. 

[elmayerle]

Perhaps we could interest someone in making a conversion kit for the Italeri W.  The major components would be the extra rotor blades, the FLIR turret and the modified exhausts.

The exhausts I could get information on, I even know who the designer was for that mod.  There was also a study for upturned exhausts but nothing beyond the testbed was done as the Zulu's mods were sufficient.  Those of you with a kit of the HIRS-equipped UH-60 or SH-60S can clone the inner portion of that exhaust for the Zulu.

[GTX_Admin]

I discovered a new bit of history today:  Australia did actually order a small number of AH-1Gs back in 1970 but then cancelled it in 1971.

[upnorth]

I'd love to see an all-new AH-1Z in 1/72. Hell, any new AH-1 in 1/72, really.

I have heard rumblings here and there that AZ Models has plans for a 1/72 line of AH-1 types. No idea of planned release dates or such details.

There's no way to tell from the AZ web site as they discontinued their future releases section some time ago.

[AGRA]

I discovered a new bit of history today:  Australia did actually order a small number of AH-1Gs back in 1970 but then cancelled it in 1971.

Another casulty of the post Vietnam drawdown. And it wasn't just the AH-1Gs but also a lot more UH-1Hs and the Army wanted about twice the number of Kiowas they eventually got. Interesting thing about the AH-1Gs was they were to replace the Bushranger Hueys allowing the entire Huey force to be slicks. So the RAAF was going to raise No. 8 Squadron to be a second tactical helicopter squadron alongside No. 9 with each having a Bushranger flight of four flying AH-1Gs.

What-if-wise the RAAF could have come out of the Vietnam War with the squadron of 6 C-141s, the two large tactical helo sqns (20-30 UH-1Hs and 4-5 AH-1Gs each) and the 30-40 lead in fighter trainer, close air support aircraft (afterburning adour powered, delta wing, twin 30mm Adens in the nose CAC CA-31s?). Not to mention have gone into it with 36 A-5Bs!

[Daryl J.]

A rotor with an ultra-low sound profile would serve the chopper well methinks.