Hi,

I have been inspired by the below build:

http://www.aussiemodeller.com/pages/Gallery/Aircraft/Perren_Kiowa.html

Does anyone make a good Bell 206B / OH-58A Kiowa kit in 1/35th?

If not is the Italier 1/48th kit the best on the market for a B model aircraft?

Thanks

W

Hi Wayne,

I'm pretty sure no-one does a 1/35 Kiowa as such. There is the Academy OH-58D Warrior, but there would be a huge amount of work to convert that back to a basic Kiowa.

Revell have just re-released their B206 JetRanger and this is a much more viable option. Esposing the tail rotor drive shaft and the gearbox are the biggest visual differences. If you are building an Aussie version, see if you can get hold of the Red Roo book about modelling the Kiowa. It outlines the differences between the civil B206, the US Kiowa, and the export vesrion used by the ADF, which seems to be a mix of the two.

I hope this helps.

Graeme.

Graeme,

I stumbled across the Revel model last night. Looks promising and with a little bit of work I am pretty sure I could make the exposed tail rotor drive shaft and gearbox and I think I need to modify the skids as well.

I saw the Red Roo book. It only has 4 colour photos though. Does it have any good quality interior shots?

Could not find PE for either the Revel or Italieri kits?

Thanks heaps mate.

W

Hi Wayne,

My copy of the Red Roo book has heaps of colour pics! Maybe it's a later edition. It also has lots of interior, engine and system pics, as well as excerpts from the manuals. It also describes and shows the stretcher fit and removal of the "B: pillar. Lots of colour scheme and marking info too.

I believe Gary Byk has personal experience with the type from his Army daze.

I can't help you with photo etch, I'm about to use it for the first time myself on the Trumpeter Mi-24.

I hope this helps.

Graeme.

Thx Graeme,

Must have looked at a crappy review of the book. Will look into it now.

Best of luck on your Hind. PE = annoying and fiddly but sometimes adds really good detail.

Cheers

W

Hi all,

Found a good post on the below link re how to correct several inaccuracies in the revel kit.

http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=22249

I think I might try something similar as I like the 1/32th scale as it close to 1/35th.

Other tips or suggestions are welcome.

W

hey guys, i started doing an Academy OH-58D Warrior and desided early that i'd convert it. the changing moment came when i found a 1/34th scale newray jet ranger and cast the engine fairing to see if it was viable. well its given me something to work with keep you posted when i pick it up again

Jason,
That sounds like a good idea. Do you have any more copies of the cowling? If so, let me know, I might want one.