1/48 ESCI CH-118 Iroquois

Gallery Article by Shawn "phantom" Weiler on Mar 30 2015

 

      

This is the ESCI 1/48 Iroquois CH-118 as used at CFB Cold Lake back in the early 70s, by the base Rescue Flight. Which by the way is now known as 417 squadron. 10 Iroquois were bought for 403 squadron until the arrival of the much more powerful CH-135 Twin Huey. Once the Twin Huey arrived the remaining CH-118s were assigned to Base flights to perform local Search and Rescue missions  at Canadian Forces Bases Cold Lake, Baggoteville and Moose Jaw. The Base Flights at the major bases eventually were replaced by CH-146 Griffons and assigned recently disbanded fighter squadron numbers. Except of course CFB Moose Jaw. Those SAR helicopters were replaced by a pick up truck.

 

Click on images below to see larger images

The model itself is the old standard ESCI kit which is still a darn nice kit. But the plastic on mine sure was brittle. Many cracks and repairs during assembly.

With the addition of Belcher Bits decals it makes for one colouful helicopter.

phantom

Click on images below to see larger images

 

Photos and text © by Shawn "phantom" Weiler