1:72 Boeing Chinook HC.1

The real subject

The Chinook is a heavy transport helicopter with a pair of main rotors arranged one behind the other. Thanks to that it needs no tail rotor and all the power goes into lift. The cargo compartment runs through the whole length of the fuselage and a hinged ramp closes it at the rear. The HC.1 designation was carried by machines in British service, where the helicopter served to carry troops, materiel and loads slung under the fuselage.

What the set offers

This is a photo-etched set of metal parts in 1:72 scale. Photo-etch is made by etching thin sheet away, so the parts have a thickness injection-molded plastic will not come near. That suits above all grilles, brackets and small equipment, where a plastic part looks coarse. The parts are held on thin tabs in a fret and are cut out of it one at a time before use.

Building and painting tips

Cut with a sharp blade on a hard surface, because nippers would bend the thin metal. Sand the remains of the tabs with fine sandpaper. Make the bends along the scored lines and hold the part in a bender or between two blades. Metal is joined with cyanoacrylate glue, and cement for plastic has no effect on it. Before painting, degrease the parts and apply a primer, otherwise the shade will not hold on the smooth surface.

Who it is for

In 1:72 scale the parts are genuinely small, so tweezers, good light and a steady hand pay off. The set is made for modelers who want fine detail on a model even in a small scale. It is an accessory, not a model: the package contains no kit, paints or glue, unless stated otherwise.