AIRFIX 1:72 WESTLAND LYNX HMA.8
'INBOX Review'

 

Reviewer: Dave Fleming  (taken from rec.models.scale newsgroup)

Picked up the Airfix Westland Lynx HMA8 kit, the first of 3 new RN helicopter kits due this year, the other being the Revell Sea King HAS6 and the Italeri Merlin.

This kit follows Airfix's recent practice of updating old moulds by supplying new pieces, in this case the parts to update their original Lynx HAS2 to HAS3 and HMA8 standard. To this end, the original HAS2 parts are unaltered as far as I can see (More on this later), which is fine as the Airfix Lynx were the best kits anyway; and a new sprue suppling the nose mods BERP blades, revised tail rotor, u/c sponsons and lumps and bumps applicable to later Lynxes. 

They even supply the 'smooth' nose for the Brazilian Super Lynx, and the different shaped PIR for the German and RN examples and new interior seating !! Also supplied are the Orange Crop ESM antenna for the HAS3. All the new parts are cleanly moulded and look very nice.

Markings & fit options are for an RN HAS3ICE from Endurance flight, an HMA8 from HMS Richmond, a West German Mk 88A and a Brazillian mk 21A. The decals look nice - the Union Flag on mine is slightly out of register - and have enough stenciling to keep most happy.

The only possible 'inaccuracy' I can see is that there appears to have been no change to the engine housing - I'm sure the HMA8, like the AH7, has more 'bulged' engine area - but my view is that it's hardly noticeable in this scale, and would have probably cost too much (Also remember Airfix have not modified the original 70s tool).

Some may be disappointed that the kit doesn't include the GM fit (Yellow Viel, Sandpiper, Challenger AIR) but most HMAs don't carry that in practice, and the tooling costs would have been excessive for the return. So you'll still need the Airwaves set for them.

On the down side, there are no new weapons, so we are left with the original torpedos - hope you all held onto those Sea Skuas from the Italeri weapons set !!

I mentioned earlier that the original kit remains unaltered. What this means of course is that it is possible to make any RN Navy Lynx variant straight from the kit (Except the GM mods) - finally we can have a Falklands Lynx !!

I've put up scans of the new sprue and decal sheet at:

Now Airfix, can we have the AH.7 ? And if you can mould these parts, how about a new floor and turbine engines for the Islander ?? 

Additional comments posted:  No intake filter screens are provided (which is a drawback because the shape is tricky to say the least).  Mind you it would be difficult to mold as well!!  

Maybe thin metal strip and nylon mesh. Not quite sure they got the BERP shape right, and the Orange Crop on the nose looks a bit 'big'. I'm building a Falklands HAS first, so we'll see.

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