1:144 Westland Puma HC.1 (Model Set)

Westland Puma HC.1 in 1:144 scale as a starter set

A plastic kit of the British transport helicopter Westland Puma HC.1 in 1:144 scale, offered as a starter set with paints. The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted; the parts are polystyrene and are glued with ordinary modeling cement for plastics.

The real subject

Puma HC.1 is the British designation of a transport helicopter built under license by Westland. Powered by a pair of turboshaft engines, the machine carried troops and cargo and the Royal Air Force operated it for decades. Its characteristic features are the boxy fuselage with large sliding doors and the high-set main rotor.

Building and painting tips

• In 1:144 scale the result is decided mainly by clean joints, so sand and polish the seams after gluing.
• Mask the cockpit glazing before spraying, not after the paint has dried.
• Apply the paint in thin coats; a heavy coat floods the surface relief in this scale.
• Glue the rotor blades on at the very end, after the fuselage has been painted.
• Apply the decals onto a gloss base and put the matte varnish on over them.

Who the set is for

For modelers who are starting out and for anyone who wants a finished model in one longer afternoon. The small scale means fewer parts and a quicker build, but the tiny items call for tweezers and a steady hand. The set also works as a gift for someone who just wants to try building a model.

It is a starter set with paints. What exactly it holds besides the kit is stated by the manufacturer on the packaging; further tools are not included, unless stated otherwise.