Revell 1/72 Mi-28N Havoc

REVELL 1:72 MIL MI-28N HAVOC

Reviewer: Derrick Winters (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 26 August 2001

Aircraft:
The Mi-28N Havoc is the Night Attack version of the Mi-28 Gunship and is currently entering service with the Russian air force.

The Kit:
Revell previously released an Mi-28 Havoc in their range in the early 90's, which I have in my pile of unbuilts. I checked out the two kits in the box and this kit does not appear to be a re-release of that version. The Mi-28N differs a bit to the Havoc prototype that Revell previously kitted and to the company's credit this looks to be a brand new mold. I am sure there are common engineered parts but on the sprue they are hard to spot.

Boxart of the Revell 1/72 Mi-28 Havoc Prototype kit (not the subject of this review)

All the parts are packaged together including the 3 clear parts amongst the tan coloured plastic which number just over 100 in all. Detail is what we have come to expect from later Revell offerings showing some really good surface detail and panel lines are all engraved neatly into the crisp, flash free plastic. Looks like swiss chocolate on the sprue!

Instructions:
Sheets are folded into a roughly A5 sized booklet featuring sprue diagram, paint reference (naturally from Revell paint range) and brief overview of the aircraft type. Following that is a fairly numerous set of assembly steps with the modeller looking into about 35 separate sketches, which as you would imagine are pretty small. Paint call outs are provided for individual components and positioning is by way of the familiar Revell style of arrows and straight forward to follow. On the last pages are the colours and markings guide plus decal placement for the only example the kit provides for.

Construction:
As always this starts in the office, with a reasonable set of cockpit detail provided by Revell, although most will be hidden by the small cockpit windows. Seats, cyclic sticks and panels is about the most of it. Decals are supplied for instrument panels. The tub unit fits well inside the fuselage halves which are affixed together to also trap the FLIR pod and chin mounted cannon. This way the latter two are also moveable on the aircraft but are a bit stiff. A way around this is to open the holes just a very slight more but I was happy with leaving it as it is.

The fuselage halves join very well and almost snap into place. The join lines got a very slight rub down before I proceeded with the rest of construction which was as you could imagine with a relatively new Revell tooling, quite painless.

The main rotors fit on the main shaft without any problems and are designed so that you assemble them in the correct manner. These of course are moveable. As is the rear rotor which fits easily on the rear shaft, although a stopper is so small as to render it almost useless. The spares box, a bit of stretched sprue or even applying a hot blade against the end of the shaft will secure the rotor in place, albeit render it most likely unmoveable. The main rotor housing and engine assembly is a bit fiddly and you need to also leave it to set for some time afterward to allow to dry fully before finishing off construction.

Construction thereafter is very straight forward because of the excellent engineering of the kit. The smaller detail parts like pilot step, boom rails and even the tailwheel are the only cause for concern in that they are quite fiddly to put onto the model. Since there are over 100 parts there are a few fiddly pieces to watch out for, but this would only be a real challenge for the very novice at the hobby. Parts fit very well and would thus ensure more experienced modellers hardly need to bat an eyelid when affixing these smaller assemblies together.

Stores options are limited to only the stub wing mounted anti-tank missiles and rocket pods as shown on the box art.

Versions & Decals:
The kit provides for only one version to be replicated which is the demonstrator aircraft wearing the "014" unit number. The camouflage markings are not covered in the Revell range and need to be mixed according to their instructions. I converted this to Humbrol colours and used Pale Stone for the sandy colour and a mixture of Russian and Dark Green for the Green. The decal sheet is in excellent register and includes revised Russian insignia and all the stencilling required for the subject, including manufacturer logos etc. These conform to the model surface very well with Gunze Sangyo decal solution with virtually no carrier film showing through.

Accuracy:
The only question mark over the kit in my opinion is the mast mounted radar which comes out as a round ball on the model. I expect this is because the first roll out of the Mi-28N on static display at a Russian airshow shows a spherical shape and Revell must have used this as a basis for their kit. However, all the "in-flight" shots (see below) clearly show the radar as more an egg shape. Otherwise the kit looks great, capturing both the profile and measurements very well.

Overall:
Well there is not much to say about this kit other than it is superbly engineered and a typically straightforward excellent new tooling type from Revell. Construction is hassle free with components fitting well and it was a joy to make. The excellent decals also capped it off. Very highly recommended for all modelling skills other than perhaps the very novice.

Photo Credit: Unknown

Mi-28N Havoc, clearly showing egg shaped mast mounted wave radar.

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