A Tale of Two Yankees (UH-1Ys)

[usmcski6502]

Greetings, all!

 

In light of recent online reviews, I pulled the trigger on what I deemed the better option for a 1/35 UH-1Y “Yankee” (nobody I know ever called it the Venom), and was delighted at what I saw right out of the box. Academy’s Yankee does have some shortfalls; the lack of a GAU-17 ammo can and messed up “eggbeater” antenna, for instance, but nothing that can’t be overcome with a bit of aftermarket or creative scratch building (Live Resin and Flying Leathernecks are great aftermarket resources). However, from what I’ve seen of the Trumpeter Yankee, it’s an absolute turd in a dress. Terrible decals (color/register), oversized ground handling wheels, inaccurate rocket pods/SATCOM antenna/RWR sensors/wrong AN/ALE-39 dispenser housings, etc… It’s like they hired the “A” team for their awesome new-tooled AH-1W and let the interns design their big Yankee. Academy is superior in every regard.

 

So, I’m curious if any of you actually have the Trumpeter offering in-hand? And I’m also wondering what justifies the exorbitant price tag for the Trumpy kit (currently $122.99 on SprueBrothers before shipping; I paid $73.46 for my Academy offering on ePay). I’ve got hundreds of hours crewing the Yankee (and November), and to my eyes, the Academy kit is superior in every aspect (BTW, the Academy kit has an endorsement from Bell Helicopter right on the box).

 

Not trying to initiate a heated discussion, but I’m curious to know if anyone has the Trumpeter kit in-hand? Further, if anyone is on the fence about purchasing either of these kits, from what I have seen, the Academy kit is the better deal, both financially and accuracy-wise, hands down.

 

Looking forward to your feedback!

 

Semper,

 

Ski

Edited October 25, 2025 by usmcski6502

[Tank]

1 hour ago, usmcski6502 said:

And I’m also wondering what justifies the exorbitant price tag for the Trumpy kit (currently $122.99 on SprueBrothers before shipping; I paid $73.46 for my Academy offering on ePay).

For a true cost comparison you would need to wait to see what SB is going to charge for the Academy kit. Would also check other US stores before using that as a claim in my opinion. At least in today’s times (late Oct 2025) the tariffs for each country of origin could also be impacting the cost difference.
 

While they could have had different design teams for the kits as suggested it could also be access to references. A lot easier to get access to a Whiskey than a Yankee. 
 

While nice having the Bell logo on the kit box, that doesn’t mean to me that they had provided any help on the kit design. Not to say they couldn’t have but I generally view that as a marketing/legal paperwork transaction marked on the box but doesn’t necessarily apply to the trust worthiness about the contents inside the box. 

 

It will be awhile before I get a Yankee kit. I would probably get the Academy as I have their Zulu kit. 

[Dave Williams]

I wouldn’t go by the Sprue Brothers price.  Squadron has the Trumpeter kit for less than $80.  I have both kits, and the Academy kit is the better of the two.

[Dave Roof]

While not 100% confirmed, there is some speculation that Snowman Models designed the AH-1W, as it's similar in design (panel lines, details, etc) to the AH-64's they designed for Takom. The fact Taiwan operates the type, would explain how they got it so accurate. 

 

Other than the partial test shot I have of the Academy kit, I don't have a full kit, or the Trumpeter kit to add anything further. Although, I did assist Academy with their Yankee. I simply mentioned the Whiskey to possibly explain how they got it right, but dropped the ball on the Yankee.  

[HeavyArty]

I also have the Academy Y and can confirm the details are awesome.  It looks much better than the Trumpeter kit.

[andyf117]

5 hours ago, usmcski6502 said:

(BTW, the Academy kit has an endorsement from Bell Helicopter right on the box).

It's not an "endorsement", Ski - many kits now carry such manufacturer's logos on them...

....they're simply acknowledgements of trademarks, licencing rights to names, designs, etc.

 

[drt786]

 

 

@Dave RoofSnowman directly told me that the Trumpy Whiskey was not their design, so that one is still due a release.

 

My hunch is Trumpeter acquired the WIP Kitty hawk AH-1W and UH-1B/C designs, hence their decent quality. The difference to full Trumpeter efforts seems very obvious.

 

The Trumpeter model seems to work when they’re the only player in town for a given kit - then they can charge whatever they want and you have no option but to pay if you want that particular aircraft. When they go head to head with another manufacturer they can’t compete - the price is comparatively too high and the quality far lower. It’s a silly model but I guess it usually works for them.

[usmcski6502]

Fantastic feedback, I appreciate it!

 

Semper,

 

Ski

[ccrqw]

On 10/25/2025 at 10:38 AM, usmcski6502 said:

Fantastic feedback, I appreciate it!

 

Semper,

 

Check my Facebook entries under Red Flag Scale Modeler ,I am building both the Trumpeter and Academy UH-1Y. I give an initial comparison of the two ,then start a break down of issues.

[usmcski6502]

4 hours ago, ccrqw said:

Check my Facebook entries under Red Flag Scale Modeler ,I am building both the Trumpeter and Academy UH-1Y. I give an initial comparison of the two ,then start a break down of issues.

Will do!

[Kevin Carroll]

Well I took the plunge a few hours ago; Sprue Brothers now has the Academy Y in stock:  https://spruebrothers.com/aca12138-1-35-academy-usmc-uh-1y-venom/

 

 

[Kevin Carroll]

So for the sake of this UH-1Y nimrod - is it true that you can't 'properly' display this bird with the actual  .50 caliber and mini-gun weapons installed when the main cabin doors are closed? I have of course seen photos with the gun mounts and rocket pods in place with closed doors, but not with the guns themselves. I'm building the 1/35 Academy kit with mostly positive results, although the front windshield to nose piece is a bit problematic presently......  

[drt786]

On 11/29/2025 at 11:19 PM, Kevin Carroll said:

I'm building the 1/35 Academy kit with mostly positive results, although the front windshield to nose piece is a bit problematic presently......  

What sort of issue are you having? gaps, interference, etc?

The Zulu canopy dry-fit quite well (hallelujah) but that seems to be a rarity for me and helos...

[Kevin Carroll]

13 hours ago, drt786 said:

What sort of issue are you having? gaps, interference, etc?

The Zulu canopy dry-fit quite well (hallelujah) but that seems to be a rarity for me and helos...

Actually, just a minor one taken in the context of the otherwise excellent fitting kit. The forward edge of the windshield doesn't quite reach the edge of the nose. A bit more vexxing in that the windshield fits fine at the left and right corners but comes up short in the center. Probably related is that I had some problems fitting the two-piece nose to the main fuselagelage. It's basically a butt joint with some tiny tabs to aid alignment.

 

No biggie, just amplified a bit by the rivet detail and clear parts preventing any easy filling of the gap. If it is my error, then something to watch for in assembly.

 

By the way, speaking of good fit, the larger photo shows the left side main cabin door in place, sans glass. It's literally just a snap fit now; the tape is just holding the interior and exterior halves together prior to glass placement.

[Sarathi S.]

On 11/29/2025 at 6:19 PM, Kevin Carroll said:

So for the sake of this UH-1Y nimrod - is it true that you can't 'properly' display this bird with the actual  .50 caliber and mini-gun weapons installed when the main cabin doors are closed? I have of course seen photos with the gun mounts and rocket pods in place with closed doors, but not with the guns themselves. I'm building the 1/35 Academy kit with mostly positive results, although the front windshield to nose piece is a bit problematic presently......  

 

Pretty sure you can close the doors with guns installed, but I'm not sure if the kit will allow that.

 

[Kevin Carroll]

21 hours ago, Sarathi S. said:

 

Pretty sure you can close the doors with guns installed, but I'm not sure if the kit will allow that.

 

It will - at least for the .50 caliber mount - but it is tight. This is just dryfitted after a quick assembly of the gun, cradle and pintle. I have a tad more clearance for this same mount on the starboard side so you may want to be sure the fuselage pylon mount is perfectly verical; the mating of it to the fuselage is somewhat tenuous.

[usmcski6502]

On 11/29/2025 at 3:19 PM, Kevin Carroll said:

So for the sake of this UH-1Y nimrod - is it true that you can't 'properly' display this bird with the actual  .50 caliber and mini-gun weapons installed when the main cabin doors are closed? I have of course seen photos with the gun mounts and rocket pods in place with closed doors, but not with the guns themselves. I'm building the 1/35 Academy kit with mostly positive results, although the front windshield to nose piece is a bit problematic presently......  

 

On the actual aircraft, the cabin doors CAN be closed with door guns mounted, but with the feed chutes not attached and stored within the cabin. When I crewed UH-1Ns and UH-1Ys, I don’t recall ever flying with cabin doors closed (seems to me that was an east coast thing, given the weather). The only time we’d close the cabin doors was on engine startup so we could access the engine panels, which would otherwise be covered by the cabin doors. We’d only connect the feed chutes once we were cleared by the pilots mid-flight to arm our guns. That said, a Huey on the ground would be correctly depicted with guns stowed either completely fore or aft and feed chutes not attached.

 

Semper,

 

Ski

Edited December 4, 2025 by usmcski6502

[Kevin Carroll]

7 hours ago, usmcski6502 said:

 

On the actual aircraft, the cabin doors CAN be closed with door guns mounted, but with the feed chutes not attached and stored within the cabin. When I crewed UH-1Ns and UH-1Ys, I don’t recall ever flying with cabin doors closed (seems to me that was an east coast thing, given the weather). The only time we’d close the cabin doors was on engine startup so we could access the engine panels, which would otherwise be covered by the cabin doors. We’d only connect the feed chutes once we were cleared by the pilots mid-flight to arm our guns. That said, a Huey on the ground would be correctly depicted with guns stowed either completely fore or aft and feed chutes not attached.

 

Semper,

 

Ski

 

[Kevin Carroll]

On point info, Ski, thanks much.

[Sarathi S.]

Concur Ski, pretty sure closing doors is mostly an "it's cold" thing, i.e. East Coast or occasional UDP thing.

[usmcski6502]

1 hour ago, Sarathi S. said:

Concur Ski, pretty sure closing doors is mostly an "it's cold" thing, i.e. East Coast or occasional UDP thing.

I’d rather be cold with excellent SA than buttoned up inside the aircraft. As aircrew, your eyes belong outside of the aircraft, regardless of weather, to call out threats, air traffic or obstacles. Hard or do with the doors shut!

 

Semper,

 

Ski

[Kevin Carroll]

You guys have me looking at photos in that regard now and I've seen ore than one with the main cabin doors removed entirely!  😉

[Sarathi S.]

That is very common to do, especially out in Yuma

[usmcski6502]

26 minutes ago, Sarathi S. said:

That is very common to do, especially out in Yuma.

 

My thoughts exactly. You’ll even see the pilots doors removed, especially during the summer WTI classes.