Giorgio N Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Truro Model Builder said: Nobody seems particularly interested in producing kits of modern helicopters, unless they are plastered with weapons or have two sets of rotor blades. It is surprising as they are most likely the aircraft types that people see on a daily basis. And while they may not be as charismatic as a Spitfire or a Red Arrows Hawk they deserve their spot in the limelight. Same as with car models, what most people see every day are Polos and Fiestas and yet what most modellers want to build are race cars and exotic sport cars. Our hobby involves many aspects and I believe one of them is that it fulfils our emotions. And for most a combat aircraft generates stronger emotions and a famous combat aircraft, one of those that made history, generates even stronger ones. Maybe it's just that there's part of the hobby that appeal to the kid inside us and this kid if given a choice would most times choose to climb at M2 and land on aircraft carrier, or fight the baddies in his Spitfire. The everyday helicopter, that's just a tool for a 9-to-5 job in the mind of the same kid. But give him a famous fighter and the same kid will be the number one ace in his personal world ! Said that, I'd quite like to build a model of the AW139, guess that the kid inside me has so many fighters to fly in his stash that he's happy to let something else in,... Edited September 2, 2020 by Giorgio N 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 I think I could be happier with a Wildcat or two to build, maybe a conversion kit for a Lynx kit huh guys But that Coast Guard 'Ferrari' looks a delight, I could/would be tempted... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 58 minutes ago, perdu said: I think I could be happier with a Wildcat or two to build, maybe a conversion kit for a Lynx kit huh guys But that Coast Guard 'Ferrari' looks a delight, I could/would be tempted... There is a 1/72 conversion https://air-graphics.uk/shop/ols/products/cs-13-leonardo-aw-159-wildcat-conversion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Model Builder Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 9 hours ago, Giorgio N said: Same as with car models, what most people see every day are Polos and Fiestas and yet what most modellers want to build are race cars and exotic sport cars. Our hobby involves many aspects and I believe one of them is that it fulfils our emotions. And for most a combat aircraft generates stronger emotions and a famous combat aircraft, one of those that made history, generates even stronger ones. Maybe it's just that there's part of the hobby that appeal to the kid inside us and this kid if given a choice would most times choose to climb at M2 and land on aircraft carrier, or fight the baddies in his Spitfire. The everyday helicopter, that's just a tool for a 9-to-5 job in the mind of the same kid. But give him a famous fighter and the same kid will be the number one ace in his personal world ! Said that, I'd quite like to build a model of the AW139, guess that the kid inside me has so many fighters to fly in his stash that he's happy to let something else in,... Actually, in terms of cars, when I was selling kits to the public what people really wanted were the cars from their childhood. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 13 hours ago, Truro Model Builder said: Actually, in terms of cars, when I was selling kits to the public what people really wanted were the cars from their childhood. And did they find them ? Just going by memory I can think of maybe 10 mainstream kits of "normal" cars from the '70s and '80s, with Revell being the main producer. No Fiesta Mk,I or II, no Cortina/Taunus or Granada, no common Fiats like the 127 128 or Uno,... Even when kits were made of cars like the Escort Mk.III or the Renault 5 they tended to be of the sporty variants like the XR3 or the Alpine (I remember well searching the Revell XR3 to see if I could modify it into my 5 door Escort GL). In the meantime companies continue to offer money to get a license from Ferrari, that would sound a waste unless they know that kits of anything with a prancing horse sell better than most... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 On 02/09/2020 at 17:52, wellsprop said: There is a 1/72 conversion https://air-graphics.uk/shop/ols/products/cs-13-leonardo-aw-159-wildcat-conversion Funny enough I found that a couple of days ago when searching for the rocket pods for my Apache, thanks Is £40 steep for a Lynx-alike I wonder, admit I could be tempted if I cannot find 1/72 scale plans one day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagRigger Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Still waiting for a 139 ☹️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeejeeZ Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 Same here! I remember a reply from mr Evans of the late Whirlybirds who stated that for a small company like Whirlybirds starting up the design of an AW139 kit was too risky when there's still a chance that the 139 would be realeased by a big manufacturer like Revell or Italeri. In the current modelling market I would guess that this risk is no longer there with Italeri nor Revell venturing into new helicopter kits. I would (love to) put my money on DreamModel, having released a very nice Dauphin and other helicopter kits, and planning to release the S-61N. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty84 Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 Unfortunately still no kit on the horizon The only option at the moment is the 3D printing route. Bought two of these years ago: They were printed using an FDM printer so the usual limitations apply. Still better than nothing, now I just need to find someone doing custom decals... Cheers Markus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertone139 Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 For those that call the 139 a civvie only helo: Italian Air Farce HH-139A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF4EVER Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 (edited) Looks USAF to me, [Star and Bar on boom,USAF on tail rotor pylon] 18-1002 MH-139A [Grey Wolf] c/n 41802 Your link refers to this: Edited April 11, 2023 by RAF4EVER image added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petetasker Posted April 12, 2023 Share Posted April 12, 2023 On 02/09/2020 at 09:38, Truro Model Builder said: Nobody seems particularly interested in producing kits of modern helicopters, unless they are plastered with weapons or have two sets of rotor blades. It is surprising as they are most likely the aircraft types that people see on a daily basis. And while they may not be as charismatic as a Spitfire or a Red Arrows Hawk they deserve their spot in the limelight. Couldn’t agree more. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertone139 Posted April 13, 2023 Share Posted April 13, 2023 On 4/11/2023 at 4:21 PM, RAF4EVER said: Looks USAF to me, [Star and Bar on boom,USAF on tail rotor pylon] 18-1002 MH-139A [Grey Wolf] c/n 41802 Your link refers to this: Correct, one was a link, the other a photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grayhawk Posted September 26, 2023 Share Posted September 26, 2023 New USAF Spec-ops bird. Now we really need a kit! Hey, Italeri, help us out! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeejeeZ Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 On 02/09/2020 at 10:38, Truro Model Builder said: Nobody seems particularly interested in producing kits of modern helicopters, unless they are plastered with weapons (...) Couldn't agree more. So, here we go: https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/03/28/poland-aw149-hellfire-missiles/ One more reason for model manufactures to bring it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davetur Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 On 11/2/2023 at 9:11 PM, GeejeeZ said: Couldn't agree more. So, here we go: https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/03/28/poland-aw149-hellfire-missiles/ One more reason for model manufactures to bring it on. Hi GeejeeZ, nice reference, however the AW149 is not a derivative of the AW139, and although very similar in general appearance, it is brand new design, longer, wider and heavier. The easiest points to look at to distinguish the two are the cabin windows (4 insted of 3 each side), the main landing gear fairings, and the engine intakes. The civil equivalent of the AW149 is the AW189. AW139: https://www.airliners.net/photo/CHC-Helicopters-Netherlands/AgustaWestland-Agusta-Bell-AB-139/1820693/L?qsp=eJwtjcEKwjAQRP9lzr3UgpDc6g/owR9YksUWaxM2KzWU/rtr8DbMe8zsCGlV/ui9ZoZHYZIwoUMmoVeB3014ryoV/uRchyfXLUk0Atr6wZlakujFOCIpjyFwVo7//iqR5Ye4hLb6sJfeAsutZQxn6%2BNc8kJtg5XmBcfxBZXTMnI%3D AW189 https://www.airliners.net/photo/Netherlands-Kustwacht/AgustaWestland-AW189/7398431/L?qsp=eJwtjDsKw0AMBe%2BiOk2%2BBnfJBZIiFxDah72wsRdJRYzx3SMv6YYZ3ltJ5snx9fdSQT0ZWGWkA1VW/hj1K3HWkqc9dt3pco1ms/pjCZHYcRdBdaS/f2qC7gkm7WaI5TEA%2BmpM51v4lK0Wbh9wzoW27QeI2S0Q Davide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeejeeZ Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 (edited) Thank you Davide, you're right ofcourse! I keep mixing those two up. All that military hardware visually got in the way of windows and landing gear sponsons I guess. I would also not mind a kit of the 189 though!😁 I keep my fingers crossed these days for a 139 kit, but so far the future looks bleak (for any civil helo kit that is...). Edited January 13 by GeejeeZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeejeeZ Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 (edited) On the Air Graphics FB page, a (resin...😒) AW139 kit is mentioned for next year. Seeing is believing ofcourse, but here's to hoping! On the other hand: Air Graphics have a 1:72 Ecureuil/ AStar for 50 pounds (!!!), so I guess an AW139 would pricewise turn out way beyond what I would spend on any kit. Edited February 2 by GeejeeZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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