Da SWO Posted June 15, 2025 Share Posted June 15, 2025 Going to buy a UH-1N kit for a friend, he's a good builder; that said, who makes a nice 1/48 UH-1N?. The kit will need USAF markings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
usmcski6502 Posted June 15, 2025 Share Posted June 15, 2025 Kitty Hawk. No question. It’s light years ahead of the Italeri offering. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted June 15, 2025 Share Posted June 15, 2025 Kittyhawk/Zimi and Italeri/Heller are your only two choices. Both have some versions of USAF markings in the box. Caracal Decals has a sheet with 3 USAF options. https://www.scalemates.com/kits/caracal-models-cd48181-uh-1n--1276957 HTH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
usmcski6502 Posted June 15, 2025 Share Posted June 15, 2025 Floyd Werner also put out a 1/48 sheet that has two USAF Novembers: https://wernerswings.com/products/#Decals-148 -Ski Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Mignard Posted June 16, 2025 Share Posted June 16, 2025 Kitty Hawk hands down. The nose on the Italeri kit is upside down; looks really goofy! Mig Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted June 16, 2025 Author Share Posted June 16, 2025 Going with Kitty Hawk then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted June 16, 2025 Share Posted June 16, 2025 Just out of curiosity, can the Italeri nose just be cut off and flipped over to correct the shape issue? Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted June 16, 2025 Share Posted June 16, 2025 19 minutes ago, Ben Brown said: Just out of curiosity, can the Italeri nose just be cut off and flipped over to correct the shape issue? Ben As I recall that is what Chris basically did for the Cobra company nose. You have to fill and remake the window locations. That said I thought it was Dragon 1/32 November kit that did that not the 1/48 Italeri but could be misremembering. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted June 16, 2025 Share Posted June 16, 2025 Thanks! Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Mignard Posted June 16, 2025 Share Posted June 16, 2025 6 hours ago, Ben Brown said: Just out of curiosity, can the Italeri nose just be cut off and flipped over to correct the shape issue? Ben Ben, you "can" do that, but just buy the Kitty Hawk kit; making that conversion would not be worth the effort. They Kitty Hawk kit is SO MUCH better. One quirk; the Kitty Hawk kit has H model blades. Both the Italeri H and N model kits have N model blades. If you've got the Italeri H you can swap the blades with the Kitty Hawk kit. I flew Air Force N models for 15 years; great helicopter. Mig Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted June 16, 2025 Author Share Posted June 16, 2025 3 hours ago, Rob Mignard said: Ben, you "can" do that, but just buy the Kitty Hawk kit; making that conversion would not be worth the effort. They Kitty Hawk kit is SO MUCH better. One quirk; the Kitty Hawk kit has H model blades. Both the Italeri H and N model kits have N model blades. If you've got the Italeri H you can swap the blades with the Kitty Hawk kit. I flew Air Force N models for 15 years; great helicopter. Mig Ever fly out of Hurlburt? I jumped UH-1's there from 98-02. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Mignard Posted June 16, 2025 Share Posted June 16, 2025 1 hour ago, Da SWO said: Ever fly out of Hurlburt? I jumped UH-1's there from 98-02. Yes, but much earlier; I retired in 92 . Mig Quote Link to post Share on other sites
okthree Posted June 17, 2025 Share Posted June 17, 2025 My son is currently a flight engineer on the N Huey at Malstrom AFB. Tomorrow is his last flight in the Huey before he transitions to the H-139. He also builds models. He has a couple Kitty Hawk kits in the stash. As others have said Kitty Hawk kit with Italeri blades and Caracal decals for USAF markings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted June 17, 2025 Share Posted June 17, 2025 Thanks, guys! Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AircraftAddict Posted July 2, 2025 Share Posted July 2, 2025 I was on the fence too, but it sounds like Kitty Hawk is the way to go. Thanks for the insight, everyone! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winnie Posted July 2, 2025 Share Posted July 2, 2025 On 6/16/2025 at 1:44 PM, Rob Mignard said: Ben, you "can" do that, but just buy the Kitty Hawk kit; making that conversion would not be worth the effort. They Kitty Hawk kit is SO MUCH better. One quirk; the Kitty Hawk kit has H model blades. Both the Italeri H and N model kits have N model blades. If you've got the Italeri H you can swap the blades with the Kitty Hawk kit. I flew Air Force N models for 15 years; great helicopter. Mig I flew the Civvy Bell 212HP for 5 years, loved the "Steamchicken", now I get to drive a 412CF around! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted July 2, 2025 Author Share Posted July 2, 2025 Got one off of fleabay and gave it to him last night. He's pretty happy, he was a FE on N models, so he'll be making it an AF Rescue version. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Mignard Posted July 2, 2025 Share Posted July 2, 2025 PM me if you need a set of Italeri blades. Mig Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Mignard Posted July 10, 2025 Share Posted July 10, 2025 On 7/2/2025 at 3:42 PM, Rob Mignard said: PM me if you need a set of Italeri blades. Mig Haven’t heard back from you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted July 10, 2025 Author Share Posted July 10, 2025 4 hours ago, Rob Mignard said: Haven’t heard back from you. Sent a PM, will send another. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rod D Posted July 11, 2025 Share Posted July 11, 2025 Caracal Decals has a nice 1/48 UH-1N set, with markings for several USAF Twin Hueys. Rod. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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