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ACADEMY
1:48
HUGHES 500[M]D DEFENDER "TOW"
'INBOX Review'
Reviewer:
Hrvoje Šafhauzer (rec.models.scale)
Any photos supplied by the reviewer are copyright
and must not be reproduced without written consent
The second generation of the ubiquitous Hughes OH-6 Cayuse/Model 500 family appeared in 1974 as Model 500D. Improvements included a more powerful engine, a five-blade main rotor, replacing previous four-blade one, and T-shaped tail, while retaining characteristic egg-shaped fuselage. It was certificated at the end of 1976, replacing the previous model at the production lines. Being very versatile, and economical to operate, as well as popular with pilots, it has found widespread both commercial and military use. Military versions have the different powerplant, avionics, and armament, naturally, comparing to civilian versions.
Model 500MD, named Defender, was equipped with a stub pylon at each fuselage side, for carrying the TOW anti-tank missile launcher pods, Stinger air-air IR-homing missiles, rocket or Minigun pods, with applicable sights installed. While the sights were mostly mounted in port nose, a version was developed having a main rotor mast-mounted TOW sighting unit. Goal was to reduce exposure of a helicopter to enemy actions while firing wire-guided anti-tank missiles. ASW use was also planned, and offered. Military users of 500D/500MD series include Colombia, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Philippines, and South Korea. After Hughes being taken over by McDonnell Douglas in 1984, all Model 500s were renamed to MD500s, and development continued into MD520/530 family including MD500N NOTAR and Explorer models.
Besides USA, Model 500 series were built in Argentine by RACA, Italy by Breda-Nardi, Japan by Kawasaki, and Korea by Korean Air. Out of nearly 3000 Model 500s built, Model 500D and 500MD helicopters comprised more than 1000, and still are being used around the World.
I purchased this kit during a business trip and by mistake, being at the end of my browsing session through a hobby shop. Having such a low price and judging from box size, I thought it was in my favorite 1/72 scale and that it would be a nice addition to my small helicopter flight. Only after coming to my hotel room, I noticed that the scale is 1/48. OK, it was consigned for "to be built one day" pile. Or for swapping....
Kit comes in a standard Academy sturdy top-opening box, relatively small for this scale and identical in size with their box for their 1/72 F-84 G kit, for instance, and with Hasegawa equivalent. Boxtop is adorned with two Israeli TOW-armed 500MDs blasting some (Syrian?) MBTs from rear, and having both nose- and mast-mounted TOW sighting units! Someone goofed there.
Two sprues with sand-colored parts are placed in a heat-sealed PE bag, and there is slight but minimal flash. These sprues are marked 500D, obviously being from a kit release with engine exhaust centrally beneath a tail boom, and with two pilots having poseable right arm included. Ocean gray sprue for TOW-dedicated parts is placed in other heat-sealed PE bag and marked 500MD. Besides the TOW launchers, missile control stick stub pylons, and both sight parts, there are two more recent looking pilots with poseable right arms, two side exhausts and a fuselage rear cone. Cockpit transparencies are placed in a heat-sealed PE pouch and together with TOW-dedicated sprue. In line with many helicopter kits, there is no cyclic stick for pilot(s), but it could be scratch-built.
The kit instructions state no year at all and are folded to create eight pages. First page has the history and technical data in Korean and English, and while the kit box states Hughes 500D TOW Helicopter, here the title is "Hughes 500MD TOW ". The following four pages cover nine construction steps, and starting with sights and TOW pods assemblies for a change. Painting details for cockpit and crew figures are given in wording and with generic names only, but one can manage from that. Holes for placing the stub pylons should be pre-drilled referring to final assembly step and TOW sight mounting position. No nose weight is indicated, but I suppose some would be needed for preventing the tailsitting. Next two pages are with marking and painting guide, with five views of Kenyan helicopter, one only for Israeli one, and three for demonstrator plane. Paints are given as code chips and with generic names. Also, lengths and position of two antennae coming under the tail boom and to be scratch-built are given there. Final page is providing the parts locating diagram, with part names both in Korean and English. While no parts are marked as "not for use", Vietnam era-looking pilots are not to be used, obviously. Parts are shown below.
Camouflage and markings are given for three 500MDs, all with a twin TOW launcher at each fuselage side. First one is from Kenya Army, No.518, painted in sandy brown and khaki green wavy pattern. Second one is from IDF-AF, No.254, in olive drab overall as shown on the boxtop. Both these options are provided with port nose-mounted TOW sights. Third one is a demonstrator aircraft from the Paris Air Show, unspecified year, with civilian registration N8337F, and in sandy brown and dark earth wavy pattern. This one has the main rotor mast-mounted sight. For each TOW sight location, there is different position for stub weapon pylons, something to do with helicopter CofG. Why the Kenyans need TOW-armed helicopter is question to me. Considering their environment, I always thought that rocket pods would be more than enough…
Decal sheet is smallish, providing the instrument panels, national insignias, individual and registration numbers, as applicable. There are orange decals for main rotor blade tips, as well as the red-white-red decals for tail rotor tips. Kenyan insignias are given in three parts, for tormenting the modelers – how hard it was to print them correctly in register? White decals are poorly discernible at pale blue background on photo below, but here they are.
Out of the box, it appears to be relatively simple build. With amply transparencies, efforts should be made for detailing the interior, and would be rewarded. Interesting subject, that having appeal for military helicopter fans.
Kit courtesy of my stash.
SMAKR
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