MikroMir Piasecki HUP-1/HUP-2 Retriever 1/48 AMP via Mikromir

[Julien]

Piasecki HUP-1/HUP-2 Retriever 

1/48 AMP / MikroMir via A-market

 

 

The Piasecki Helicopter Corporation were one of the pioneers of rotary aviation. Founded in 1940 by Frank Piasecki & Harold Vemzie the company would build early helicopters including tandem rotor designs. Frank Piasecki would be forced out of the company to then form Piasecki Aircraft, which then become the Vertol Corporation, only then to be taken over by Boeing to become Boeing Vertol. The V107 tandem helicopter developed by Vertol would eventually become the famous Chinook while their YHC-1 would become the Sea Knight.  

 

The HUP Retriever was developed to a US Navy requirement and produced between 1940 and 1954.  The US Navy wanted a compact utility & recue helicopter able to operate from all of its ships. The Piasecki design for this would feature two 3 bladed rotors in the tandem overlapping design. As well as being used by the US Navy, the US Army would use it under the H-25A Mule designation.  Overseas the Canadian Navy and the French Navy would also use the Helicopter.  The Helicopter Museum in Western-Super-Mare has a restored Canadian Helicopter on Display, 

 

 

The Kit

It is good to see companies bringing us new tool kits of early helicopters as the are lacking. The kit from AMP (A Mikromir company) arrives on 5 sprues of plastic, a clear spure, two sheets of PE, a set of masks(not shown)  and resin part for the engine. The plastic is more of the short run type but much better than seen before, there is little flash and the detail is better. The clear parts look good but, a little polish up will improve them no doubt.  Construction starts in the cabin. The two seats are made up and added to the cabin floor. The flying controls (cyclic, collective and pedals) are added in. The centre instrument console is made up wit the panel being a PE/Decal/Plastic sandwich. The webbing seats for the rear of the cabin are also made up and installed., followed by the rear bulkhead.  The main wheels are also built up now and put to one side.

 

 

Next up the engine is built up. No turbines back in the day but a rotary piston engine. The cylinders are two parts and attach to the exhaust ring at the rear with the wiring harness and cooling fan at the front. The driver shaft to the main gear box then goes on. The mounting for the engine is assembled then the engine goes onto this. The engine shroud is then fitted. Above the engine goes the drive shaft to the front rotor. The two drive shafts then go in to the read engine compartment bulk head . The whole engine compartment can then be fitted into the right fuselage . Windows and other components are then added into both fuselage halves.  The cabin floor can then be fitted in and the fuselage closed up. After this the main door is added if you want it closed (if open then best left until later. An insert then fits over the engine which you can leave off if you want it more visible, 

 

 

 

 

Next up the two rotor heads and the blades can be assembled.  There are many small parts here and care will be needed to get everything in the correct orientation.  The rotors can then be fitted along with the main front bubble. To finish off the main gear is fitted along with various panels and aerials. Though I would think the rotors would be best left until last to avoid damaging them. 

 

 

Decals

The decals are from Decoaph and look to be good quality, they are sharp with good register and minimal carrier film. The whites do look dense enough to go over the OD schemes but only time will tel on that one. From the box there are two US Army options and one US Navy one.

 

H-25 51-16616 now in the US Army Aviation Museum. Overall OD

H-25 51-16572 US Army 1953, with large Mule on tail. Overall OD

HUP-2 1285517 US Navy, NAS Willow Grove 1961. Overall Yellow with red band.

 

 

Conclusion

This is something which is overdue, the kit is welcome addition to early Helicopters from AMP.

 

Highly Recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of