1/72 Italeri USAF H-19B & 1/72 Revell Germany VNAF H-19C

Gallery Article by Lou Anatrella on Sept 2 2010

 

Kits are Italeri USAF H-19B and Revell Germany H-19A converted to the VNAF H-19C. What makes an H-19A into a C model?  Externally they are almost identical.  The A model had a smaller diameter exhaust stack and, I believe, a slightly smaller rotor diameter.  Both the B and C have identical specs and flight characteristics.  The H-19B represents the USAF helicopter school livery in 1959.  The H-19C represents the VNAF helicopter school livery in 1963.  The kit construction is virtually identical.  On both kits, the left side (excluding the exhaust stack) is molded the same as the right.  As a result, the oil filler cap and dipstick had to be removed from the left side.  Both kits were equally difficult and frustrating to build because of the scale.  Many parts disappeared into the carpet and had to be scratch rebuilt.  The nose gear are very fragile.  Plenty of weight went into the engine compartments to prevent tail sitting.  The blades on both kits were nicely "drooped".

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Scratch built on both models is the aft fuel tank cap, MLG brake lines, pitot tube, right hand access step, wire antenna, opened left side inspection stand, rescue hoist and loop antenna on the B model. 

Decals are a mix of kit and inkjet made, with the VNAF roundels kindly provided by ARCer Danny Dinh.  Both kits were sprayed using Testors  enamels.

Lou Anatrella

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Photos and text © by Lou Anatrella