1/72 Agusta Bell AB204B

Gallery Article by Juergen “jott” Klinglhuber on Feb 10 2010

 

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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Photos and text © by Juergen “jott” Klinglhuber