Huey Armed Chopper
Kit No.: PA151

A lil' Monogram Huey history

First, let me start out by saying to those of you who have, or want, the Monogram/Revell-Monogram/Revell of Germany/Revell Huey Hog, that the Hog is a very different model. It is from completely new tooling of the late 1970s, while the original Monogram Hueys are from the early to mid-1960s. The Hog is one of those manufacturers' transitional models from 'toys' to scale models.

Second, Monogram may not officially exist any more. The new owners of Revell-Monogram dropped Monogram from the brand a few years ago and now just call the company Revell. However, they reinstated the Monogram logo on the webpage and even on their catalogue. Interestingly, when Revell was merged with Monogram years ago (not the other way around), Revell was made to relocate from California to Chicago and now occupies Monogram's ancestral facility.

You whirlybird enthusiasts can better judge a good Huey model than I; view the built Hobby Boss UH-1C via Click here for additional images for this review at the end of this review.

Bell UH-1B Iroquois

Monogram released this model in 1966. This is their Huey Armed Chopper version, a UH-1B with four M60 7.62 mm machine guns. Below is their history from the instruction sheet.

VIET NAM COMBAT HELICOPTER
The Bell UH-1B Iroquois jet helicopter, more widely known as the Huey chopper, became the mainstay of the "helicopter war" in Vietnam. This chopper as used in warfare has served in all sorts of capacities including troop transport, convoy control and artillery fire control, in addition to its rescue and evacuation duties. Now there are numerous armament systems to make this helicopter a useful offensive combat tool.

This UH-1B, the favored type in Vietnam, is equipped with the Army's elaborate and sophisticated M6 system. It consists of two M60C gas operated 7.62 MM machine guns mounted on each side of the Huey. The 6,000 rounds of ammunition is stored in boxes in the cargo compartment and is fed to the guns via flexible chuting. The guns can be swiveled from 12 degrees inboard to 70 degrees outboard and elevated 9 degrees up or depressed 66 degrees down, with limit switches to prevent shooting any of the chopper itself.

The system is aimed through a flexible sight that synchronizes the guns movements with its own. The guns, each capable of firing 550 rounds per minute, have a combined rate of 2,200 rounds per minute, and an effective range of over 500 yards. This made the Huey versatile and effective.

The Huey Chopper is approximately 40 feet long by 8 1/2 feet wide. It is powered by a Lycoming gas turbine producing 960 horsepower, enabling speeds up to 120 knots.

Appreciation is due Bell Helicopter Co. for supplying information and data necessary to produce this detailed scale model.*

The Kit

Monogram distributed this model in their standard long top-tray blue cardboard box, adorned with "in-action" box art. Specific features are printed on the top. One side is decorated with a black and white 3-view of the Huey and describes Combat Helicopter As Used In Viet Nam; the other trumpets how great their model is.

Thirty-seven brown-olive "jungle green" hard styrene parts, nine distortion-free clear parts, and a decal sheet build this model.

Molding is fairly crisp. Typical of Monogram models of the era there are no sink marks and very little flash is present, although there are many visible ejector marks and seam lines. Note those huge attachment points holding parts onto the sprues and the equally big expansion knobs. All the parts are thick.

By and large the kit is a simple model. Fuselage halves fit fairly well although the nose seems to not fit well.

Details

Raised and recessed panel lines and rivets detail the airframe surface. There is no interior detail other than the 10-piece interior assembly: Ammunition box, cabin floor, cabin wall (rear bulkhead), control stick, instrument panel, pilot, rack (rear bench), rack support, and seats. The panel is, typical of the era, devoid of meaningful detail. The cabin floor features a center console and rudder pedals and floor supports molded on.

The machine guns are simply chunky. Their ammo belts are thick with crudely represented cartridges.

The pilot is simply awful.

Instructions, Painting, Decals and catalogs

I always liked Monogram instruction sheets. This one is well laid out with six easy to follow steps inside. The outer side features black and white photographs of the completed model.

No paint brands are referenced. Only five colors are used.

Decals for a single airframe are included, ARMY 63234. It has angry eyes to apply to the nose. Sixteen pieces of small white stenciling are included on the sheet as well as standard markings. This is a generic sheet including Red Cross emblems for use on the Monogram medivac version of the kit.

The decals are opaque, thick, surrounded by thick film, and slightly off register.

My model includes a 1966 Monogram catalog. I include it at the bottom of this review page for historical interest. Look at those prices!

Finally

What to say about this model? It has fair exterior detail, little interior detail, and thick chunky parts. The profile looks pretty accurate. Clear parts are good. Fit is fair.

If you want a 1/48 UH-1B or C then Monogram's model is the only game in town, as far as I know. I have found some good looking built Monogram Hueys; with some TLC this model can be built into a good representation.
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Source

* Monogram Model Inc. Huey Armed Chopper. 1966.