Revell 1/32 UH-1D Gunship

Look here at SPAModeler kit previews and reviews!
User avatar
LyleW
Admin
Posts: 13830
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2013 7:25 am
Location: Mt. Washington KY

Revell 1/32 UH-1D Gunship

Post by LyleW »

First, many thanks to Revell for the kit. They are great folks and have terrific customer service, too!

I'll actually post the "review" in a bit. But first, these words from...ahh never mind. I've not built, finished, even been at the bench in many weeks. Just did not want to mess with it. Just about everything I've started is sitting waiting for final details, decals or paint. When this kit arrived, I decided to build it since there were no volunteers immediately available.

I am approaching this from a perspective of a so-so talented newbie to the hobby. It will be about 100% OOB and have minimal weathering as a newbie might build it. I am also going to edit and update the review post - simply adding to it, rather than creating new ones after any comments that may be made.

With that in mind, here we go...

Lyle.
To make each build less crappy than the last one. Or, put another way, "Better than the last one, not as good as the next one!"..
User avatar
KSaarni
Elite Member
Posts: 5420
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2014 7:13 am
Location: Gent, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Revell 1/32 UH-1D Gunship

Post by KSaarni »

Understood!

Looking forward to the build Lyle!

- Kari
---
On the bench:
Tamiya F-4B Phantom II 1/48
Kinetic F-16A (new tool) 1/48



https://www.facebook.com/GrundAsk-Scale ... 721218708/
User avatar
LyleW
Admin
Posts: 13830
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2013 7:25 am
Location: Mt. Washington KY

Re: Revell 1/32 UH-1D Gunship

Post by LyleW »

You guys know the history or the venerable UH-1 helicopter. It became the symbol of Vietnam for all of its uses and its ubiquitous presence. This kit was released by Revell in June 2015. I do not believe it is a new tool, but I cannot find the original release date as yet.

Product ID: 85-5536

Overview
Skill Level 2
Scale: 1/32
Length: 15-3/4"
Width: 3-1/8"
Height: 5-3/8"
Parts: 139

Image

Sprues are pretty much as you would expect, all molded in dark OD plastic, except the clear (DUH) parts.

Image

Decals:
Image

The Build:
Interior is minimal at this point. It also has some minor fit issues. Locator pins don’t quite locate, tabs don’t always slide into place. . . and flash. Not much, but it is there as are the mold seams.
Image

Image

I don’t think I’ll do much weathering. One, I’m not very good at it yet and two I’m not very good at it yet. I have gone back and added some “wear” to the floor and will hit it with some additional dry brushing.

Image

Seams and flash – could be a new TV detective show, but alas, no. Still a bit of touch up on the engine:

The choices made for attach points to the mold/sprue are curious in some cases. Below is a pretty fragile part – only one arm supported, hence:

Image

The sprue attachment to the fuselage was down the entire length of the body and they were huge, spilling over into the inside of the seam – I did use the Tamiya sprue cutters and still this is what I got. Not sure it is all my fault.

Image

Image

Image

Image

***UPDATED August 21, 2015 ***

Bought some clear green. This is the first time I've used this. It is from Tamiya. I even broke out the airbrush. One piece had some off the sprue in the bag, so I held it gently in a pair of pliers....or so I thought.

Image

I have ordered another from Revell and I've not found the other piece of that window.

The interior went together without much fuss.

Image

Image

No seat belts included, so I'm going with what is in the box. . . or not in the box.

The interior assembly fits in place with no fuss and bother, rather nice.

Image

The two fuselage halves fit amazingly well, and there were no gaps to speak of. There were a couple of small gaps, caused by my not clamping the halves together with enough force, but the seams were very straight and flat. Only problem was they were a bit uneven and required some dressing out.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Now to prime, mask or mask and prime. My favorites!

I spoke too soon on the windows. The chin, main windscreen fit very well. The upper left overhead has a gap at the forward edge, the doors and side windows all had those lovely placement tabs. These of course stick out into to the visible area. They are also not very tight fitting. I've made somewhat of a mess, but using the window glue, hoping I can clean up after myself.

Image

Then there are those $%^& hinges on the front doors! And, the ejection marks (see white dot). Used Perfect Plastic Putty.

Image

Got it masked, so to speak. Still no replacement "eyebrow" window for the right side, so I stuck tape to the inside. The front doors will not stay put.

Image

Using a flat white primer from Krylon. Why? That is all I had handy. Ran out of the trusty Tamiya gray.

Image

It looks a bit better than the pic. I had to stop when the door fell away yet again. I've learned to stop for a while when I get frustrated.

***Update Sept 29, 2015 ***

Got most all of the fiddly bits attached and so far, I've not knocked anything off.

Image

Image

Added the air scoops on the top later. I'd like to tell you it was part of the plan, but I simply missed that step in the instructions. One of several.

Image

Gloss coat applied. I used Model Master Clear gloss.

Image

And one side decaled. Those yellow stripes and little-bitty stencil are a PITA. I will be hitting them again with some MicroSol.

Image

That is all for today.

Calling this finished. There is much I like and things I don't, both in the kit and the builder.

Pros:
Not too many small bits to loose. Nice scale, 1/32.
The fit in most all cases was very, very good.
Thin decals. Laid down very well and took to MicroSol.
Several load out options and two version options.

Cons:
Thin decals - they were almost translucent so some look rather faint. I don't know if it ways my eyes or what, but the yellow stencils and anything white
(tail rotor stripes) were almost impossible to see.
Some pieces of the cockpit had small fit issues.
To me, some of the steps were not as clearly stated or marked as they could have been
Most windows fit quite good. The door "glass" was an issue with those little tabs.

Overall:
For me, it was a fun build. This is a good kit for someone needing a Huey in their collection in 1/32. This was built out of the box, but there are many, many opportunities to jazz it up if you would want to!


On much of it , I was quite satisfied with the effort. The widows are another story. Still a lot to learn in dealing with them. However, they are what they are.....and I managed to finish a build.

Image

Image

Image

Many thanks to REVELL again, for providing this kit. We appreciate you!
To make each build less crappy than the last one. Or, put another way, "Better than the last one, not as good as the next one!"..
User avatar
Stikpusher
Moderator
Posts: 19616
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:37 pm
Location: Ceti Alpha 5

Re: Revell 1/32 UH-1D Gunship

Post by Stikpusher »

You're making nice rapid progress on this Huey! Too bad about that window though. It looks like a "short shot". :hmm:
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."

FLSM
User avatar
BlackSheep214
Elite Member
Posts: 10754
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:47 pm

Re: Revell 1/32 UH-1D Gunship

Post by BlackSheep214 »

Hmmm... Looks like the parts were attached to a thick sprues typical of Revell (old mold?). Other than that, you're off and running.
“Who controls the skies, controls the fate of this Earth”

Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney

“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
User avatar
Stuart
Elite Member
Posts: 9749
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2014 1:06 pm
Location: North Wales
Contact:

Re: Revell 1/32 UH-1D Gunship

Post by Stuart »

Great work Lyle - nice to see a wip from you!
Stuart Templeton 'I may not be good but I'm slow...'

My blog: https://stuartsscalemodels.blogspot.com/
User avatar
LyleW
Admin
Posts: 13830
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2013 7:25 am
Location: Mt. Washington KY

Re: Revell 1/32 UH-1D Gunship

Post by LyleW »

BlackSheep214 wrote:Hmmm... Looks like the parts were attached to a thick sprues typical of Revell (old mold?). Other than that, you're off and running.
Some pretty large attach points on the top of the fuselage, to be sure. There is quite a bit of flash on the clear parts and some on the others. The edges are not that "crisp" but seem to show the wear. Molds could use some TLC, if that is possible.
To make each build less crappy than the last one. Or, put another way, "Better than the last one, not as good as the next one!"..
User avatar
LyleW
Admin
Posts: 13830
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2013 7:25 am
Location: Mt. Washington KY

Re: Revell 1/32 UH-1D Gunship

Post by LyleW »

portman wrote:Great work Lyle - nice to see a wip from you!
Thank you, Stuart! This has been pretty easy so far. Doing the windows now. So far, they fit very well with no bother.
To make each build less crappy than the last one. Or, put another way, "Better than the last one, not as good as the next one!"..
User avatar
Thomas_M
Admin
Posts: 4602
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:43 am
Location: Bad Wurzach - Germany
Contact:

Re: Revell 1/32 UH-1D Gunship

Post by Thomas_M »

This kit is this old! I did build it back then when Hoss still was riding his horse on the Ponderosa... :DH:
Length: 15-3/4"
Width: 3-1/8"
Height: 5-3/8"
Come on! What´s wrong with the metric system? No quotation marks, just easy to read numbers! :lashed:


Even a more skilled modeller would have some trouble to overcome the age and shortcomings of this kit. But I see you really improved the seams by your most welcome task: putty - sand, putty - sand, ...
User avatar
Stikpusher
Moderator
Posts: 19616
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:37 pm
Location: Ceti Alpha 5

Re: Revell 1/32 UH-1D Gunship

Post by Stikpusher »

Thomas_M wrote:This kit is this old! I did build it back then when Hoss still was riding his horse on the Ponderosa... :DH:
Length: 15-3/4"
Width: 3-1/8"
Height: 5-3/8"
Come on! What´s wrong with the metric system? No quotation marks, just easy to read numbers! :lashed:


Even a more skilled modeller would have some trouble to overcome the age and shortcomings of this kit. But I see you really improved the seams by your most welcome task: putty - sand, putty - sand, ...
Yes she is old... but old girls can still be made to look great... here is the original box art from way back when...

Image

Bom ba bah Bah ba... BOM ba bah BAH!
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."

FLSM
Post Reply

Return to “Product Previews & Reviews”