Julien Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 UH-1Y "Venom"1:48 Kitty Hawk The Bell UH-1 Iroquois or "Huey" to the majority of people is probably one of the most recognisable Helicopters in the world due to the exposure it had from the Vietnam war. Developed by Bell Helicopters back in 1952 to a US Army requirement for a utility and medical evacuation Helicopter, it first flew in 1956. The Huey was the first turbine powered helicopter to enter production for the US military in 1961. At the time the US Army designation was HU-1, which would later be changed to UH-1. Hu-1 giving rise to the nickname which has stuck ever since of "Huey". The US Marine Corps seems to stick to a "if its not broke, don't fix it!" approach to procurement for a lot of items. They were a leading proponent of the Second Generation Harrier. They did not follow the US Army in replacing their Cobra Gunships with Apaches; they stuck with a modernised twin engine Cobra, the AH-1J, to be followed by the AH-1Q SuperCobra and now even the AH-1Z Viper. They also have kept the venerable UH-1 in the form of the twin engine UH-1N. In 1996 the USMC began a programme with Bell to develop the UH-1Y. The UH-1Y or "Venom" would feature a bigger cabin, four blade main rotor and more powerful engines. Initially the UH-1Y was to be re-built UN-1Ns, however in 2005 the airframe was approved for new production. The Y model aircraft would feature a leap forward from the N which had grown a bit bloated in upgrades over the years. The new helos feature an all glass digital cockpit with a modern FLIR. The uprated engines (GE T700) and four blade rotor will return the UH-1Y to the utility role again. The new rotor blades have been designed to withstand up to 23mm rounds. Overall improvements give the new helicopter a 125% increase in payload, with a 50% greater range. A higher cruising speed and less vibration will also help with crew fatigue. The first UH-1Ys were delivered in 2008 with the USMC scheduled to receive 160 by 2016 to replace all of their N models. The new Hueys have so far been combat proven in Iraq and Afghanistan where they typically fly in conjunction with the SuberCobra. A deadly Bell team if you happen to be on the wrong side of them!The Kit The kit arrives in a well packed box. Like other Kitty Hawk kits I have seen some of the sprues for this one are bent over while hot This runs the risk of damaging parts when the modeller goes to separate them. A box protects the clear sprue, and there is a small photo-etch sheet. Construction starts with the main cabin. The pilots centre console is added, the instruments on this are provided as decals. The two front seats build up from six parts each. The armoured sides are handed so take care to use the right (or left!) one. The centre housing in the cabin is the next part to be constructed. Seven seats are then made up to attached to the centre. Following this two equipment racks are constructed which fit behind the pilots. Each of these has a seat which attaches to the rear. Construction then moves to the cabin roof. The overhead instrument console is added. Once in place the cabin roof is joined to the main cabin part by a rear bulkhead and two side parts. Next the engines are constructed and placed into 5 part engine bays (one for each side). Once the bays are complete they are added to the airframe side parts. Once this step is complete the side parts are closed up around the main cabin. The lower nose of the helo is the next stage of construction. The windows are added to the floor part and then the upper & lower nose parts can be joined. There are a couple of photo etched grills to add to the nose and the aerials (though I suspect most modellers will leave these until last). Once the nose is complete the modeller can move onto the transmission housing. This is of left & right construction with a circular top part. Various photo-etch and plastic parts add grills and intakes to this area. Construction then moves back to the main part of the helo. The area on top of the cabin with the intakes is added in front of the engine housings. The main cabin doors have their glazing added before going onto the main body (though again I suspect these will be left until the end). The nose is then added, along with the main windscreen and the top transmission housing. The engine exhausts complete with photo-etch grills are completed and added to the rear of the engine section. The Engine covers can then be added at this point. They can be left off to expose the engines as needed by the modeller. The front cabin doors are then added along with aerials, windscreen wipers and cable cutters. We then move to the underside of the main cabin. The landing skids are added along with more aerials and airframe fittings, not forgetting the FLIR turret. This then completes the main body. The tail boom sections (left & right) are joined together. The tail planes, tail rotor housing, and the tail rotor are then added. The last touches are to add the tail assembly to the main body, and complete the main rotor assembly. The main rotors attach with upper and lower parts to a central core so this should provide a strong join. The final parts to be added are weapons. A weapons station is provided for each side. Forward firing rocket pods can be used along with door guns. A minigun or .50 cal machine gun can be used on each side.Clear Parts It is welcome that Kitty Hawk put all the clear parts in there own box to protect them. Decals A main decal sheet gives most of the four decal options. A smaller sheet giver you the instruments. 168402 No.6 HMLA-169 USMC. 169406 HMLA-167 Warriors USMC. 8088 US Marine Corps. 168427 HMLA-269 USMC. The decals are well printed, in register and colour dense. It is frustrating that there is virtually no information on the decal options provided. It is noted that the decals for 168402 were selected early on in the development of the kit. Unfortunately in January 2015 this Helicopter crashed in a training accident. Both crew members Maj Elizabeth R Kealy (Peaches), and Capt Adam C Satterfield (Chief) were killed in this accident. Kitty Hawk have left these markings in the kit, and dedicated the kit to all who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.Conclusion This is a great new tool kit of an important helicopter for the USMC and the latest generation of the "Huey". Helicopter modellers have been waiting for new tool kits like this and they wont be disappointed. Highly recommended.Review sample courtesy of and available soon from major hobby shops 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Thanks Julien. Am much more tempted by this one than by the cobra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 Yes if I had the choice I would do this one over the Cobra, though they are both great kits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infofrog Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 My only hobby shop order this kit for me . I pick it up last week .Its very nice and detail work is super great .. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 looks cool , now for one in 1/72.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLT Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Great looking kit just wonder if anyone here got any walkaround pictures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Thanks for the review Julien, looks like a very good kit, of what might be the last in the line of the Huey family. Don't think I'm going to be tempted though. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Morpheus Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 (edited) I love Hueys, but I have to admit I'm not a great fan of the Y Venom. I think my interest stops at the UH-1N and even then I prefer the UH-1D and H. Looks like a great kit though. If it were cheaper I'd buy it just for the weaponry and build it as an unarmed Y, then I'd have something to put on a UH-1N project I've had in my "I'm going to" list for the past year or so... Edited May 25, 2015 by Raven Morpheus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 Colin and Raven you know you want it ps if anyone has any information on the Green Painted 8088 I would love to see it, as cant find any information of this one on the net, nor a photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Colin and Raven you know you want it ps if anyone has any information on the Green Painted 8088 I would love to see it, as cant find any information of this one on the net, nor a photo. I think that's a speculative scheme as I haven't seen any pics online of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 The only picture I could find was a render on a flight sim site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rod mcq Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 The part serial 8088 would suggest a full serial is 168088 but that belongs to an MH-60R. The kit looks excellent but I have just noticed one minor error on the decal sheet. The HMLA-167 titles have been mis-printed as HWLA-167 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 The kit looks excellent but I have just noticed one minor error on the decal sheet. The HMLA-167 titles have been mis-printed as HWLA-167Well spotted I never noticed that. At least you can cut the W out and turn it upside down, the font maybe a little out but it will read better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 (edited) Great looking kit just wonder if anyone here got any walkaround pictures? There's an Aviation Classics magazine #27 which has a good feature on the UH-1Y (and other Hueys) http://www.aviationclassics.co.uk/ Edited May 26, 2015 by Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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