The
Bell 204 and the Bell 205 helicopter, best known as UH-1 "Huey" or
"Iroquios",
are for sure one of the most legendary helicopters ever built. Vietnam War and
all the movie adaptations that followed made this chopper kind of "immortal".
The Huey-/Iroquios family started 1950 with the development of Bell
204, which was designed to assist US Army in rescue, transport and training
operations. Finally in 1956 3 prototypes, called XH-40, started for a maiden
flight. Since that time the Huey was constantly improved in various ways which
finally lead to a multitude of different versions and derivates.
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UH-1A
and -1B were followed by the power-increased UH-1C version with a Lycoming
T-53-L-11 turbine (1100 Hp), that of course also increased payload to be
carried. US Army ordered 2000 choppers of that kind. This new version was very
successful for military operations so this helicopter soon was built under
licence in
Japan
(
Fuji
company) and also in
Italy
(Agusta). So the versions Fuji-Bell 204B-2 and Agusta Bell AB 204 were born.
Since
the mid Fifties the UH-1 was build for roughly 16.000 times. The Austrian
Airforce bought 26 choppers from Agustas AB204B during the years 1963 to 1970
and the birds were in service until 2001. I will hand in pictures of my
helicopter model with a special paint scheme that was made due to the retirement
in 2001 in the near future.
The
model I built is the AB204B Kit from Italeri box #1201. You have the options to
either build a chopper in Austrian, Dutch or Italian colours & markings. I
used Eduard PE parts for detailing the bird. The used of ski’s under the
landing-skid is quite common on Austrian helicopters due to winter and alpine
operations. I scratched antennas and the mirror which assist pilots during
external load hook operations. Finally I added slings, hooks, sheets and covers
to present the AB200B in “parking position”.
Juergen “jott”
Klinglhuber
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