Next on the bench will be Airfix’s brand new tool Chinook HC1 in the BN markings.The only Chinook that made it to the Falkland Islands in one piece, of the others embarked for the journey south one was off loaded at Ascension while the other three were lost on Atlantic Conveyor.
Bravo November, serial number ZA718 has the distinction of being the mount flown by no less than four Dintinguished Flying Cross winners.
The detail on the newer hard plastic is very crisp and fine, some of the smaller parts look quite delicate and will need careful handling. This boxing can only be built as an HC1 from what I can see. The fuselage halves are on separate sprues suggesting a different sprue for later marks. One of the obvious differences between an HC1 and HC2 is the front face of the aft rotor pylon. The HC2 gained a large opening resulting in two new liney slang terms - the bog seat and the Bentley bonnet.
The detail parts include very nice pipework around the ramp but this was not a feature on HC1’s as this was covered over, later marks have this exposed. The troop seats are as good as you’ll get with injection moulding. Cargo hooks and load beam are well detailed as are the cabin floor and (rudder pedal-less) cockpit. But no cabin interior quilted sound proofing.
The glazing is super clear with moulded on RHWR fairing on the nose. One other clue of a later marks is the inclusion of IR jammer equipment similar to those fitted to RN Sea King HC4’s for example. However, this is moulded in regular plastic while the same part in Airfix’s HC4 is on the clear sprue.
Chinooks could be armed with M60 machine guns mounted on the ramp or, as was common in Northern Ireland, at the forward entry door. Mini guns were also sometimes carried hut Airfix has not included these as a build option.
I’ll make a start this weekend or during the following week when I’m away on business needing something to occupy me other than the hotel bar and football.
Box art and sprue shots.
The cargo hooks above and load beam below.
Delicate cyclic control columns.
Forward entry door has open or closed option with neat detail.
The RHWR fairing moulded into the nose glazing piece.
Bravo November, serial number ZA718 has the distinction of being the mount flown by no less than four Dintinguished Flying Cross winners.
The detail on the newer hard plastic is very crisp and fine, some of the smaller parts look quite delicate and will need careful handling. This boxing can only be built as an HC1 from what I can see. The fuselage halves are on separate sprues suggesting a different sprue for later marks. One of the obvious differences between an HC1 and HC2 is the front face of the aft rotor pylon. The HC2 gained a large opening resulting in two new liney slang terms - the bog seat and the Bentley bonnet.
The detail parts include very nice pipework around the ramp but this was not a feature on HC1’s as this was covered over, later marks have this exposed. The troop seats are as good as you’ll get with injection moulding. Cargo hooks and load beam are well detailed as are the cabin floor and (rudder pedal-less) cockpit. But no cabin interior quilted sound proofing.
The glazing is super clear with moulded on RHWR fairing on the nose. One other clue of a later marks is the inclusion of IR jammer equipment similar to those fitted to RN Sea King HC4’s for example. However, this is moulded in regular plastic while the same part in Airfix’s HC4 is on the clear sprue.
Chinooks could be armed with M60 machine guns mounted on the ramp or, as was common in Northern Ireland, at the forward entry door. Mini guns were also sometimes carried hut Airfix has not included these as a build option.
I’ll make a start this weekend or during the following week when I’m away on business needing something to occupy me other than the hotel bar and football.
Box art and sprue shots.
The cargo hooks above and load beam below.
Delicate cyclic control columns.
Forward entry door has open or closed option with neat detail.
The RHWR fairing moulded into the nose glazing piece.
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