Kitech 1/72 Vertol H-21C Workhorse

KITECH 1:72 VERTOL H-21C WORKHORSE
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Richard Stracey (rec.models.scale)

Kitech # 08M-3212H - VERTOL H-21C WORKHORSE

The Vertol H-21 was developed from the HRP-1 and served in the US military from 1949 to 1967 when it was replaced by the UH-1 Huey. “Workhorse” was the Army name it was actually the Model 43 Shawnee as all US helicopters are named after North American tribes. 334 were built and 32 license built in Germany for the West German Army and Air Force. It also saw service in Canada and France as well as with the US Coast Guard. Nick named the “Flying Banana” for obvious reasons the H-21 worked well in Arctic conditions and was also operated on skis and floats. Having a crew of two it carried 22 troops or 12 stretcher cases with two medics. It was armed at various times with guns, rockets and even bombs! The H-21C was 52’6” (16.00m) long and had a rotor diameter of 44’ (13.40m) and was powered by a R1820-103 supercharged radial engine of 1150hp.

Yes, this is the Hobbycraft kit #IHC2304. It consist of sixty four parts in grey plastic and five clear and has no stand, crew figures or optional parts. The instruction sheet consists of six steps, a sprue map and a three view. No brand name or FS colours are quoted only white, yellow, black, olive drab and interior grey. A small decal sheet for one aircraft is provided.

This all comes sealed in cellophane in a stout end opening box.

The cockpit is quite basic but then it probably was on the full sized aircraft. The instrument panel contains raised detail that will require dry brushing. Other than seat belts nothing else needs doing here but the cabin has no detail at all not that it matters as long as the doors are kept closed. I think the major problem is the grills either side of the rear fuselage above the engine. If one looks at a side photo of the real thing it is obvious that there is nothing inside as one can see right through the aircraft. The kit grill is solid and rather indistinct I would probably open them up and fit some mesh. The rotors I think are counter rotating so a check of a photo would be useful to check the direction. Some photos show a “lump” under the cockpit where the kit blade ariel (B15) fits and no ariel. As usual it is best if one can actually look at a photo of the aircraft to be modeled as ariel fits vary.

There is only one decal option and that is a US Army machine in olive drab. Kitec short changed us a bit as far as decals are concerned! The “stars and bars” seem to be too small and all the Army H21s that I have seen photos of in olive drab have large white “ARMY” or “US ARMY” on each side. All the decals have is three “stars and bars” and two yellow “US ARMY 54143” for the tail fins. I think aftermarket decal are called for here! The large canopy will probably be fine with the help of some Future. The framing being very lightly represented I think would be easiest to use pre painted decal film strips.

In conclusion this is a very basic kit….but at a basic price. I had a look at the Eduard site to see what they did to “tart it up”. They do two photoetch sets, Exterior #72322 and Interior #72317 but at US$19.95 each, no thanks! Somewhere out there there must be aftermarket decals, anyone know? There is quite a lot of information on the net and some useful “walk arounds” on the Aircraft Resource Center and Percys Scale Modelling page. Italeri have made two kits of the H-21C, #007 and Gunship #1203 and Revell marketed what I expect is the same kit. They are probably better, more detailed models but don’t seem to be available at the time of writing. I expect with new decals and some mesh etc. this should turn out to be an acceptable model.

RHS/08

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