Trumpeter UH-1B 1/35 about to drop

[UH-1Mad]

About to drop; 

While I can see some issues in these test shots (skid arms/ canopy fit / frustratingly recessed rivets..) overall it looks promising.

 

Hopefully a D/H is next!

 

http://www.trumpeter-china.com/index.php?g=home&m=product&a=show&id=4020&l=en

 

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2024 by UH-1Mad

[Rotorman]

Is this a MRC  kit with Trumpeter's name on it.

Edited July 24, 2024 by Rotorman

[UH-1Mad]

2 minutes ago, Rotorman said:

Is this a MRC  kit with Trumpeter's name on it.

no - this is a new tool from the KittyHawk moulds

[Sarathi S.]

Pretty cool.  The MRC kit's pretty long in the tooth at this point.  

[11bee]

On 7/23/2024 at 9:21 PM, Sarathi S. said:

Pretty cool.  The MRC kit's pretty long in the tooth at this point.  

That’s still a very nice kit.   Can’t believe they are releasing another B while the true classic (D/H) goes ignored.  

[UH-1Mad]

3 hours ago, 11bee said:

That’s still a very nice kit.   Can’t believe they are releasing another B while the true classic (D/H) goes ignored.  

agreed..

 

They are advertising a UH-1B 'gunship' next but the box art is a D/H. Will be interesting to see what it turns out to be. My guess another B model with gunship weapons and still no D/H hits the market.

 

I was hoping ICM would have done a D/H by now..

[Rob Mignard]

Wow! A model company finally figured out that rotor blades have washout (twist)! The last helicopter kit I remember having blades with washout is the old Aurora 1/48 AH-1G Cobra.

 

Mig

[JohnEB]

It would be fun to build one as a civil Bell (or Augusta Bell) 204.

Or a surplus "B" in civil use.

Around my area, they are used for firefighting and logging.

 

Either way would allow for a revised interior, panel, aerials and paint.

Edited July 26, 2024 by JohnEB

[11bee]

Is it me or does the surface detailing look...  horrible (especially on the bottom)?   Classic Kittyhawk, opting for the inset divots instead of the prominently cover the real thing.   It really didn't work well on their 48th UH-1D, looks even worse in 35th.    Hoping ICM finally delivers.

[Tank]

While not a fan of the divots, that fight appears lost as manufacturers prefer it. What makes the bottom gross to me is the over scaled raised panels. Looks worse the F-35 tape issue. Given the appearance of fit issues, divots might work in our favor. 
Feels like the air intakes should be visible open and not just raised plastic.

 

I will probably pass on the kit, mainly for the scale issue as 1/32-35 doesn’t fit my helo needs but the results so far don’t make me want to change for this kit. 

[Winnie]

On 7/26/2024 at 12:14 AM, JohnEB said:

It would be fun to build one as a civil Bell (or Augusta Bell) 204.

Or a surplus "B" in civil use.

Around my area, they are used for firefighting and logging.

 

Either way would allow for a revised interior, panel, aerials and paint.

 

I've flown one real B in Canada on firefighting. In Canada they can't sell the Bell '204' models outside of Canada, because they were all grandfathered in under the '204' nomenclature, but there is a real mix of 204 and UH-1B/E in the civvy market... I don't know how many are left, less than 30 i'd say. Fun machine!

 

I might build the one I used to fly...

[11bee]

On 7/26/2024 at 8:00 AM, Tank said:

While not a fan of the divots, that fight appears lost as manufacturers prefer it. What makes the bottom gross to me is the over scaled raised panels. Looks worse the F-35 tape issue. Given the appearance of fit issues, divots might work in our favor. 
Feels like the air intakes should be visible open and not just raised plastic.

 

I will probably pass on the kit, mainly for the scale issue as 1/32-35 doesn’t fit my helo needs but the results so far don’t make me want to change for this kit. 

 

For those that really want to build this "rough" looking kit and can't stand those divots, there are solutions (if you are crazy enough).   I'm doing a conversion of the KH 1/35 MH-60S into a UH-60L and decided I couldn't stand the look of the divots on that kit.

 

[Tank]

40 minutes ago, 11bee said:

there are solutions

Yes but the demise of Archer (rumors of the rivets etc coming back), quality options are almost nil. Eduard tried with the Hind and said no more. Qunita is another expensive option but harder as they are individually added and not a strip like Archer.

[drt786]

2 hours ago, Tank said:

Yes but the demise of Archer (rumors of the rivets etc coming back), quality options are almost nil. Eduard tried with the Hind and said no more. Qunita is another expensive option but harder as they are individually added and not a strip like Archer.

you can always go down the solder ball route if you ever want to question your sanity.

 

love that we have another 1/35 helo on the market, but pretty disappointed by the execution. The fit looks horrible, just look at the canopy gaps! 

[UH-1Mad]

I hope ICM is listening - we need a decent 1/35 Huey series!!

[11bee]

8 hours ago, drt786 said:

you can always go down the solder ball route if you ever want to question your sanity.

 

love that we have another 1/35 helo on the market, but pretty disappointed by the execution. The fit looks horrible, just look at the canopy gaps! 

I did solder balls on about 30% of my Blackhawk, it’s sounds crazy but it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.  In some area, the Archer decals just aren’t practical.  

[UH-1Mad]

some sprue shots..not sure what is going on with one of those rotor blades, looks a bit short!

 

[HeavyArty]

2 hours ago, UH-1Mad said:

not sure what is going on with one of those rotor blades, looks a bit short!

The short part is the underside root end of the longer one.  You get 2 of these sprues to make up the complete rotor blade.

[Floyd S. Werner, Jr.]

Got the kit recently and overall, a very nice kit.  Here is my quick review.  The kit does not appear to be the Seminar kit, but a brand-new molding.  

 

The box top is not what is in the box.  This is often the case as the artist does not have access to the parts when they design the box top.  I didn't know this until working with Kitty Hawk.  Things that either aren't or are on the box top that shouldn't be.  There is a pitot tube in the box, there is no IPS filter, onlyl the bell mouth. There is no SINCGARS antenna on the top of the vertical fin.

 

Inside-There are no unarmored seats, but the armored seats are really nice.  Early B Models, including those in Vietnam, had unarmored seats.  Armored seats were eventually added.  There are no seatbelts, in the front or the back. That said the interior is REALLY nice.  B pillars are missing first aid kits.  A nice touch is the inclusion of actual door handles inside and out.  The kit even has an Outside Air Temperature (OAT) probe.  

 

The engine is a little simplified but adequate, especially if modeled closed up.  The transmission is nice looking as well.  The main rotor system looks to be spot on and has the mass weights that are unique to the B model.  The breakdown of the main rotor blades is unique but shouldn't present any problems.    

 

There are recessed rivets, which I like but some will disagree.  There are some mold marks on the top of the synch elevators (horizontal stabilizers for fixed wing guys).  They should be easily filled thanks to the recessed rivets.  There are no gunship parts in this release.  That will come with the next release.  There are three taillights, the ones on the side will need to be removed.  Taking care of them is easy.  Fill the holes on the fuselage, sand flush and don't add the parts for the side mounted lights.   

 

The extras- It does include canopy masks, a nice touch.  It also has a small PE fret.  

 

Marking options are for two birds, one full color markings and one in three toned tiger striped camouflage with just a tail number.  So, if there is any decal artist available, I'd love to do a sheet for this and the upcoming gunship one.   It really could use aftermarket decals.

 

So overall, I love it.  Seatbelts would have been nice.  More marking options would also be nice.  The detail is beautiful throughout.  A very nice job.  Let's hope they do a UH-1D/H as well.  I look forward to their AH-1W and the UH-1B gunship.

[Niels]

@vingtor

[zerosystem]

9 hours ago, Floyd S. Werner, Jr. said:

Got the kit recently and overall, a very nice kit.  Here is my quick review.  The kit does not appear to be the Seminar kit, but a brand-new molding. 

 

Thanks for getting down to the important stuff Floyd, much appreciated. 

[UH-1Mad]

On 12/10/2024 at 3:05 AM, Floyd S. Werner, Jr. said:

Got the kit recently and overall, a very nice kit.  Here is my quick review.  The kit does not appear to be the Seminar kit, but a brand-new molding.  

 

The box top is not what is in the box.  This is often the case as the artist does not have access to the parts when they design the box top.  I didn't know this until working with Kitty Hawk.  Things that either aren't or are on the box top that shouldn't be.  There is a pitot tube in the box, there is no IPS filter, onlyl the bell mouth. There is no SINCGARS antenna on the top of the vertical fin.

 

Inside-There are no unarmored seats, but the armored seats are really nice.  Early B Models, including those in Vietnam, had unarmored seats.  Armored seats were eventually added.  There are no seatbelts, in the front or the back. That said the interior is REALLY nice.  B pillars are missing first aid kits.  A nice touch is the inclusion of actual door handles inside and out.  The kit even has an Outside Air Temperature (OAT) probe.  

 

The engine is a little simplified but adequate, especially if modeled closed up.  The transmission is nice looking as well.  The main rotor system looks to be spot on and has the mass weights that are unique to the B model.  The breakdown of the main rotor blades is unique but shouldn't present any problems.    

 

There are recessed rivets, which I like but some will disagree.  There are some mold marks on the top of the synch elevators (horizontal stabilizers for fixed wing guys).  They should be easily filled thanks to the recessed rivets.  There are no gunship parts in this release.  That will come with the next release.  There are three taillights, the ones on the side will need to be removed.  Taking care of them is easy.  Fill the holes on the fuselage, sand flush and don't add the parts for the side mounted lights.   

 

The extras- It does include canopy masks, a nice touch.  It also has a small PE fret.  

 

Marking options are for two birds, one full color markings and one in three toned tiger striped camouflage with just a tail number.  So, if there is any decal artist available, I'd love to do a sheet for this and the upcoming gunship one.   It really could use aftermarket decals.

 

So overall, I love it.  Seatbelts would have been nice.  More marking options would also be nice.  The detail is beautiful throughout.  A very nice job.  Let's hope they do a UH-1D/H as well.  I look forward to their AH-1W and the UH-1B gunship.

 

I have to agree with everything you said Floyd.

 

I recently got this kit also (thanks Floyd for the Sprue brothers tip!) and it really is a nice beautiful looking kit.

 

Most impressive for me is some of the little, interior details. Inner panels/handles for the pilots doors. Detail on the insides of the Cargo doors and engine cowlings. Overhead roof and panel are really nice and correct. Accurate B pillars and rear cargo wall looks nice too. Map case. Nicely detailed and accurate centre console (even with air vents!) and IP area. IP shroud is really nice and fits (dry fir) to the IP really nicely.

 

Some really nice touches overall.

 

Fair bit of clean-up with a lot of injection/mould marks in annoying places but that's all part of the hobby..

 

Please bring on an accurate D/H

 

Chris.

Edited December 11, 2024 by UH-1Mad

[jgrease]

It's good to hear some positive feedback on this kit! As mentioned already - if they do a -D then I'm in for a couple!

[dehowie]

Thanks for the rundown Floyd im excited for a gunship.

Discussing rivets Quinta rivets come in strips similar to Archer but far cheaper.

They are easy to apply and once applied a brush over with thinner dissolves the carrier film leaving just nice neat rows of rivets.

Multiple sizes etc they are fantastic and you can get piles for the price.

 

[drt786]

4 hours ago, dehowie said:

Thanks for the rundown Floyd im excited for a gunship.

Discussing rivets Quinta rivets come in strips similar to Archer but far cheaper.

They are easy to apply and once applied a brush over with thinner dissolves the carrier film leaving just nice neat rows of rivets.

Multiple sizes etc they are fantastic and you can get piles for the price.

 

+1 on the Quinta rivets. They are *way* better than the HGW ones which I also bought to test out.

 

Quinta rivets all over the IP and cockpit sidewalls in my ongoing AH-1Z build.