ITALERI 1:72 BELL OH-13S SIOUX

Reviewer: Richard Stracey (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 7 April 2002 (#40)

BELL OH – 13 S SIOUX Italeri 085 1/72

Aircraft:
The OH–13 is better known as the Bell 47 which first flew on 8^th Dec. ‘45 and remained in production to 1973! It was awarded the world’s first civilian approved type certificate in ’46 and was also licence built in Italy, Japan and UK. The military designation was H13 Sioux and the –S was a three seat version. The Sioux was one of the stars of the MASH TV series and was powered by a Lycoming Flat Six Engine. It had a top speed of 105 mph and a rotor diameter of 37’ 1 ½”.

The Kit:
I think that the reason for helicopter models not selling as well as aircraft models is that the real thing is not really an aircraft. I mean, all that undignified roaring and thrashing about just to get off the ground let alone get anywhere! Nevertheless, I have always had a soft spot for the “old 47”. Many, many years ago while still at primary school I actually wrote to Airfix suggesting that they make a 1/72 Sioux. Fortunately they didn’t take my advice as I reckon that model making technology of them there far off days would not have coped with the lattice fuselage. More recently Esoteric made a largely photo etch offering but I didn’t fancy it as photo etch just doesn’t look like tube. In ’97 Italeri delivered this eighty one piece kit and very nice it is too.

Construction:
Construction starts with the very detailed engine that looks complicated but with care and thought goes together perfectly well. The cockpit interior comes next followed by the lattice airframe. It is important to do a good job on Section 3 and let it dry before continuing with Section 4. Part 33B needs careful fitting so as not to distort the airframe, Section 4 also deals with the tail rotor or rather rotors (44A and 45A) as there are two to choose from and Italeri give no clue as to which one to use or for that matter which colour as that too has two decal/paint options. Italeri do, however , advise on which of the two fuel tank options to use. While on the subject of the fuel tanks I drilled two small holes and using lengths of fuse wire, added the fuel lines as shown on the box art. They are, quite understandable omissions, as they are far too fine to reproduce in plastic. Obviously the ariel mix varied from machine to machine as did the armament and often the wheels were left off. The small ariel shown in Sector 7 should actually read 39B not 39A. The main rotor blades are nicely “drooped” but if assembled as per instructions (Sector 9) to hub (26A) and mast (28A) they would droop upwards! The obvious answer is to glue the blades to the hub, then fit the whole thing upside down to the mast and drill through the holes to accept the two parts 60A. I am sure that in cold climates the doors would be very welcome but in tropical Vietnam were probably an unnecessary and uncomfortable luxury so I left them off.

Versions & Decals:
You can put away your air brush for this kit! Three decal options are supplied, all similar Vietnam schemes in standard olive drab FS 34087 (Testors 1711/ Humbrol 155).

Overall:
In conclusion, this is a very nice kit which looks very complicated and detailed when finished but, with a little thought, is quite straight foreword. The lattice work is probably slightly overscale but I doubt if technology could make them much finer without compromising strength and also making it too delicate for the average modeller to complete successfully. If you were good at soldering (and I’m not) you could use the kit parts as a pattern and make the whole thing from brass wire. I haven’t seen it but Italeri also make an AH-1/ AB-47 (No. 095) which, I suspect is the same kit with appropriate decals. Nice one Italeri.

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