JackMan Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 (edited) Not really a chopper dude but I quite like them whirly things :P/> . And while I'm mainly into 1/72 scale, I do get occasionally tempted into "that other scale". I happened to stumble upon this kit: http://modelingmadness.com/scott/viet/previews/has/has7201preview.htm for about US$34. Is that a good price? It was an impulse buy so I'm not really up on these things. I'd like to know what other versions I can build this baby up as. More interested in foreign military operators as well as civilian, rescue, law enforcement ( any country), etc. The coolest I've seen is the L.A. Sheriff's Dept gold/green bird. But what else is out there as an option for a SH-3? Can I make a Brit version? I'd like to build the Hase kit without too many modifications. In fact, I'd prefer to keep it as an SH-3H. So I guess my options are limited? By the way, are all variants of the Seaking the same length, irregardless of nationality? Including the civilian ones? Asking in case I have to print my own cheatlines along the fuselage for some of the civilian ones I've seen on the web. Thank you in advance :cheers:/> Edited August 25, 2013 by JackMan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 It's a decent kit, if you can get one at a good price. The main negative is the complete lack of an interior except for the cockpit, meaning that you can't open the big main cabin door unless you scratch an interior. The options for other versions from this boximg are limited unless you use aftermarket or conversions. Most of the Westland versions are different, and most other Sea Kings versions have short gear sponsons without the extensions for the MAD boom and sonobuoy tubes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VMFA314Knights Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Jackman, Belcherbits (Link) provides the substitute early-style short sponsons as used on Canadian CH124, early USN SH-3 and most Westland versions of the Sea King, if you want to go with one of these options. (As well as a few other modifications.) Cheers, David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 ...you can't open the big main cabin door unless you scratch an interior. And the door is molded in place, so if you do want it opened up, you have some *more* scratch building to do for the door and the door frame area... When I was at Hasegawa in 1997, they told me that was the single worst selling kit they'd ever done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted August 26, 2013 Author Share Posted August 26, 2013 Thanks Everyone! .. Most of the Westland versions are different, and most other Sea Kings versions have short gear sponsons without the extensions for the MAD boom and sonobuoy tubes. Are the Westland ones still the same length/height as the SH-3H? In case I want to make a modification or something. When I was at Hasegawa in 1997, they told me that was the single worst selling kit they'd ever done. Any idea why? I would have thought it'd be popular among the US modelers given the various roles it played. Was it the price? From that point of view, what's your opinion on the demand for chopper models? I know it's not as popular as MesserchmittSpitfireMustangZeroF16F15F18s but how is the demand overall? I've always wondered this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 (edited) When I was at Hasegawa in 1997, they told me that was the single worst selling kit they'd ever done. Hasegawa isn't helping that statistic with a US MSRP of $100 for their latest HAR.5 boxing of the kit. Are the Westland ones still the same length/height as the SH-3H? In case I want to make a modification or something. Yes. Edited August 26, 2013 by Dave Williams Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 When I was at Hasegawa in 1997, they told me that was the single worst selling kit they'd ever done. Something must of happened in the last 16 years, they have more boxings of the H-3 (12) than the Apache(10) and ROG even got into the mix. http://modelingmadness.com/splfeat/kr/has48e.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 (edited) To be honest, there are basically only two AH-64 models, and maybe just a few more if you throw in the Israeli Apaches and the WAH-64, so there isn't a great deal of variety there. There a lot more Sea Kings, especially if you include the Westland versions. Maybe Hasegawa is just trying to recoup some of the money on the kit. If they already made the molds, it's relatively cheap for them to pop out more boxings by changing decals, maybe adding a couple of metal or resin parts, and jacking the price up by making them limited editions. Also, people are probably more interested in attack birds than ASW and rescue helos. Right now, the price is probably the big killer. Look at what Hasegawa is charging for the Sea King compared to what Airfix is asking for the bigger Merlin, which includes a full interior. Edited August 26, 2013 by Dave Williams Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SonyKen Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 To be honest, there are basically only two AH-64 models, and maybe just a few more if you throw in the Israeli Apaches and the WAH-64, so there isn't a great deal of variety there. There a lot more Sea Kings, especially if you include the Westland versions. Dave, I will have to disagree with this statement. Monogram, Academy and Hasegawa have all produced a 1/48th scale Apache over the past 20+ some odd years. The same thing is true today as it was in the early 1990's whenever Hasegawa first released their Sea King kit, if you want to do a Sea King in 1/48th scale, the Hasegawa kits (ROG re-boxes) are still the "only game in town". Best Regards, Ken Bailey (SonyKen) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Dave, I will have to disagree with this statement. Monogram, Academy and Hasegawa have all produced a 1/48th scale Apache over the past 20+ some odd years. The same thing is true today as it was in the early 1990's whenever Hasegawa first released their Sea King kit, if you want to do a Sea King in 1/48th scale, the Hasegawa kits (ROG re-boxes) are still the "only game in town". Best Regards, Ken Bailey (SonyKen) I was responding to Tank's posting regarding the number of different boxings that Hasegawa made of the Sea King kit v.s. their Apache kit, not how many different companies make model kits of each helo. My point was that it isn't necessarily surprising that Hasegawa has more Sea King boxings that Apache boxings since there are more Sea King variants than Apache variants. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 I get what your saying Dave but how/why did they get ROG in the mix. I am sure at some point bean counters talked. I can't image Hase said hey we have this pile of plastic, we can't move it so see what you can do with it. These are not start up companies or the only time they traded molds/plastic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 (edited) Sometimes Hasegawa kits are reboxed by RoG, but I'm not sure insufficient sales of the Hasegawa boxings are the reason. RoG reboxed the Hasegawa F-104G and the A-7E, and those weren't poor sellers in the Hasegawa boxes. They have done others too, in all three main scales IIRC. There is some sort of decision process involved, but I don't know what it is, although I don't think it's all related to sales on the Hasegawa side. Edited August 27, 2013 by Dave Williams Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hooknladderno1 Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Not really a chopper dude but I quite like them whirly things :P/>/>/> . And while I'm mainly into 1/72 scale, I do get occasionally tempted into "that other scale". I happened to stumble upon this kit: http://modelingmadness.com/scott/viet/previews/has/has7201preview.htm for about US$34. Is that a good price? It was an impulse buy so I'm not really up on these things. I'd like to know what other versions I can build this baby up as. More interested in foreign military operators as well as civilian, rescue, law enforcement ( any country), etc. The coolest I've seen is the L.A. Sheriff's Dept gold/green bird. But what else is out there as an option for a SH-3? Can I make a Brit version? I'd like to build the Hase kit without too many modifications. In fact, I'd prefer to keep it as an SH-3H. So I guess my options are limited? By the way, are all variants of the Seaking the same length, irregardless of nationality? Including the civilian ones? Asking in case I have to print my own cheatlines along the fuselage for some of the civilian ones I've seen on the web. Thank you in advance :cheers:/>/>/> Jackman, You might consider building a fictitious bird. This way you could make it for any mission profile or service. Choose color and graphics schemes that are pleasing to your eye, and have fun with it! I know with myself, doing fictitious builds ensures that I enjoy the build and don't get bogged down in the "authenticity factor". I look forward to seeing what you decide! David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted August 31, 2013 Author Share Posted August 31, 2013 (edited) Jackman, You might consider building a fictitious bird. This way you could make it for any mission profile or service. Choose color and graphics schemes that are pleasing to your eye, and have fun with it! I know with myself, doing fictitious builds ensures that I enjoy the build and don't get bogged down in the "authenticity factor". I look forward to seeing what you decide! David Ah, a What-If, bird. I've seen some profiles done by the what-if guys and to be honest, I had to tear myself away from the PC because A LOT of their schemes are just plain awesome! You just wanna build them all! But I think for this kit, I'd rather just go for a real one. I think I saw a Saudi VIP bird on airliners.net. Mighty tempting. An Eqyptian Commando sounds good too. Wondering whether I can also make an Indian or Iranian Navy bird. I think also saw pics of a derelict Iraqi Sea King in a 3-tone sand/brown/green scheme. By the way, anyone know where I can find close-ups of those Arabic words found on Iranian Navy & Iraqi helicopters? Might be able to get a friend who is an artist to paint those characters on my Sea King should I decide to go for one of those. Although she's more into Chinese calligraphy, I think I can convince her to paint a few Arabic characters :D But I'm still open to options of different schemes. Does anyone make decals for that L.A Sheriff's chopper? Or Saudi VIP? Edited August 31, 2013 by JackMan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barkin mad Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 An Eqyptian Commando sounds good too. Wondering whether I can also make an Indian bird. Just FYI these 2 countries types are more than likely Westland built. ------------------- Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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