Panda Kit of the 1/35 Navy UH-1N Twin Huey with modifications 

Intro

I build this helo some time ago as a 1/72 scale model, but with the great Panda kit on the market I restarted the project in a bigger scale (the last photo shows also the “little Brother”)

This special aircraft was in use with the UN-Troops at the Kuwaiti-Iraqi boarder as part of the UNIKOM-mission. There where two helicopters of this type from the Bangladesh Air Force for Casevac/Medevac, air recce, liason and transport.

In the role as CASEVAC-Helos (CASualtyEVACuation) they had a crew of 5, including pilot, copilot, flight mechanic, doctor and paramedic. The flight crew was  from Bangladesh, the medical team from Germany as part of GERMED, the German medical contigent of this UN-mission. 

The Kit / Building

The kit is the Panda Models UH-1N Twin Huey kit in 1/35. It looks mostly as an upscaled Italeri kit, but that`s ok, the Italeri kit is ok and the result looks like a Twin Huey – and quite impressive in this scale.

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As I wanted to do a Bell 212 in the “CASEVAC”-Configuration as in use with the UN-Troops of UNIKOM  I had to build up the special equipment and interior by myself. For the different cabin layout, the litters and equipment and the other differences (like the “steps”) and antennas I used a mix of plastic rod, wire, putty and plastic sheet, as usual.

I was very happy to see that the kit also includes the different types of engine cowlings and the weather radar “nose” needed for this project so there where not too much changes made to the cell.

The crew started life as a Tank Crew set from Dragon and was modified to fit into the helo and to look like pilots.

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Painting and Decaling

I used my airbrush and Gunze colours, as usual. Some weathering was made with pastel chalk, but not too much as the helos where in a very good condition.

As I had no decals for this aircraft I used dry transfers for “UN” and the numbers and handpainted some little details like the national insignia etc.

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I hope, you like it. 

Thomas

Any comments – just email me to: Thomas.neuss@t-online.de