Revell/Monogram 1/48 AH-64A Apache

REVELL/MONOGRAM 1:48 AH-64A APACHE

Reviewer: Sheldon Rampersad (rec.models.scale) - Deluxe Kit #:6627
Kit Review submitted: March 2000

Aircraft:
The AH-64A Apache is far from being the most handsome aircraft in the U.S. Army’s inventory but it’s pugnacious appearance is indicative of it’s mission: to seek and destroy enemy armoured vehicles and strongpoints during the day, night or under adverse weather conditions.

The AH-64 was developed by Hughes helicopters to capitalize on helicopter experience gained during the Vietnam War. It was designed with its vital flight system able to withstand impacts from rounds up to 23mm in size.

The apache is a twin engine helicopter with four blade main and tail rotors so its noise signature is much less than that of a two bladed helicopter such as the cobra. Two GE T700 turbo-shaft engines power it, which gives it a top speed of nearly 200 miles per hour.

The primary weapon of the ah-64a is the laser guided Hellfire anti-tank missile, 16 of which can be carried on four pylons. The Hellfire has a 22lb HEAT warhead and attacks the tank from its most vulnerable position: from above. The Apache can also carry 2.75inch rockets for area suppression. It is also equipped with a 30mm chain gun with a rate of fire of 600rpm. The chain gun fires rounds made of depleted uranium which is ten times as dense as steel.

A Martin Marietta Target Acquisition and Designation Sight and Pilot Night Vision Sensor are located in the nose of the chopper. The crew sits in tandem with the pilot in the rear above the gunner. They have helmet-mounted sights, which allow them to acquire targets by moving their heads.

The Kit:
The parts are molded in a sort of olive drab and come on two sprues together with 10 clear parts, which are thankfully in a bag. This kit is an “attack deluxe” with parts for an Apache and an F-15C Eagle. Construction starts with the assembling of the engine pods. I left these of until most of the decals were on.

Construction:
The pitch rocker and lower pitch plate were then cemented in to position on the tail. The tail rotor shaft was then placed through the upper pitch plate and the tail cap attached. The fit was kind of tight so if you want the tail rotor to spin you have to enlarger the hole a little.

Reference photos of the cockpit were hard to come by; a book I used was “the men, the machines, the missions” by Andy Evans. The panels were painted black and the dials and knobs were dry brushed with and gray. Then on to the rotor assembly. Attach the roll link to the lower swash plate first then put both, while the glue is still relatively wet, on to the cockpit tub where indicated. The rotors went together pretty easily after the cockpit was cemented in place. Then the fuselage halves went together. The decals were then put on. Some dried with a white film over them so I highly recommend using setting solution. The sensors were then attached. The TADS assembly only has the pin to guide it and just a flat top so you might want to cement it into place. The fuselage bottom was tricky to fit. I positioned it so that the groves were behind the gear strut and I aligned the forward part. Then I slide the bottom into place.

The wings were then assembled and the pylons attached. I appropriated two AIM-9s to place on the wingtips and these went on horizontally at the edge. After the weapons were on the last part was the canopy.

Overall:
The parts fit together pretty well and there were only slight problems that were easily fixed. The detail is excellent and I greatly enjoyed building this kit and I would highly recommend it.

Related Reviews:-

Revell-Monogram 1/48 F-15C Eagle (Deluxe Kit accompanying this one)

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