1:48 Boeing/Hughes AH-64

Resin Set for the AH-64 Apache in 1:48 scale

This is not a helicopter kit but an accessory to one. The set is cast in resin and intended for a model of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter in 1:48 scale; it replaces the matching plastic parts of the kit with a casting that has a sharper and better rendered surface. The name does not say what the set covers. Check the contents on the packaging of the set.

The real subject

The AH-64 Apache is a twin-engine attack helicopter with a tandem cockpit, a movable cannon under the forward fuselage and pylons on stub wings. In 1:48 it is a popular model with a wide choice of accessories, precisely because small parts such as the landing gear, the rotor head or the exhausts look considerably better in resin than in injection-molded plastic.

How to work with resin

• Wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water first: mold release residue would stop the paint taking.
• Cut the casting blocks off with a saw or a knife, and never snap them.
• Sand wet and with respiratory protection; resin dust should not be inhaled.
• It is bonded with super glue, as ordinary cement for plastic does not hold on resin.
• Try the part dry before gluing and adjust the mating surfaces.
• Apply a primer before painting, as paint sits badly on smooth resin.

Who the set is for

For modelers who want to take an Apache model beyond the contents of the box and do not mind working with castings. Experience with resin is an advantage, but patience and a sharp tool matter most.

The set does not contain the helicopter model or paints; it is an accessory to a separately sold kit.