1:32 Hughes OH-6 Cayuse - Profi Pack

The real subject

The OH-6 Cayuse is a light observation helicopter. You will recognize it at first glance by its egg-shaped fuselage with a glazed forward section, a four-blade main rotor and skids instead of a wheeled undercarriage. It is powered by a turboshaft engine. The machine was created as a small and agile reconnaissance type for the US Army and became famous for its service in Vietnam, where the nickname Loach caught on for it among the soldiers.

What the kit offers

The model in 1:32 scale is supplied unassembled and unpainted. On a helicopter this small the scale is a rewarding one: the finished model is big enough to make it worth taking the cabin to a finish, and it still fits comfortably into a display case. The extensive glazing also means that the interior will be visible, so the seats, the instrument panel and the floor all stay in view once it is built. The exact contents of the package are given by the manufacturer in the instructions.

Building and painting tips

• Offer the parts up dry before gluing and check how they seat.
• Paint and assemble the interior before you close the fuselage up; there is no getting to it afterwards.
• Glue the glazing with an adhesive intended for clear parts, which does not fog the surface.
• Mask the cabin before spraying, not once the paint has dried.
• Let the skids settle onto a flat surface, so that the model does not stand crooked.
• Glue the rotor blades on last, so that they do not get in the way while you work.

Who it is for

For modelers who want a large helicopter with a properly turned-out interior in a display case and are not afraid of working with glazing. Choose the glue according to the material of the parts, as the manufacturer's instructions state, and wash and degrease the surface before painting. Neither paints nor glue are included in the package, unless stated otherwise.