Special Hobby MD-500E - 1:72 Special Hobby

[Julien]

MD-500E

1:72 Special Hobby

 

 

The MD 500 is one of the latest in a series stemming from the original Hughes OA-6A.  Boeing sold the former McDonnell Helicopters business it acquired in 1984 to MD Helicopters 1999 and the type continues to be produced today. The 500E is a conventional tail rotor aircraft with a five bladed main rotor. The E model features a more pointed nose than other models allowing more head & leg room for the pilots.

 

The Kit

This is a new tool kit from Special Hobby. The main feature you notice on opening the box is that the main cabin is made from clear plastic which means not trying to avoid getting glue on the main transparency when gluing it in.

 

 

Construction starts with the interior for the main cabin. The front and rear seats are attached to the main cabin floor along with the bulkhead which separates the cabin. The rear bulkhead needs to be added which support the back seats. The front instrument panel is added (instruments as a decal). Controls of cyclic & collective sticks are added long with rudder pedals. The completed interior can then be added into the clear fuselage. The tail boom is then attached.

 

 

Depending on the version being modelled long or short skids are attached. The front & rear cabin doors can be added along with the T tail, and the tail rotor. The main five bladed rotor is then made up with each blade being individually added to the hub. The Chilean version has two photo-etched vents added to the upper transmission housing. Various antenna, cable cutters and light housings are added depending upon which version is being built. 

 

Decals
Decals are from Aviprint and should pose no problems. Markings are provided for 3 examples;

 

• Kawasaki OH-6D, 2118779 Japanese Maritime Self Defence Forces.
• MD-500E, HH-11 Finish Army.
• MD500E (MDD-369FF) Chilean Army.

 

 

 

Conclusion
This is a great little kit with an innovative way of making the main fuselage . Highly recommended. 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[AaCee26]

Hi,

 

I believe this is a former Profi-Line mould.

 

I can't comment other decal variants but for the both Finnish ones there are serial missing from the belly. Easy to fix for HH-11 using HH-10 decals and roundels, that shouldn't have black outline. It has never exist in 20 cm roundels.

 

Cheers,

 

AaCee

[k5054nz]

I was about to point out that it's Profiline's moulds but then I saw their name on the sprues!