1:144 Westland Puma HC.1

Revell Westland Puma HC.1 (1:144)

This injection-molded plastic kit from the brand Revell captures the transport helicopter Westland Puma HC.1 in British service, and in the small 1:144 scale. The compact model suits a shelf and a collection of helicopters alike; it contains decals for the British finish. The exact number of parts and the particular marking variants follow the given edition, so they are not stated here as certain.

The real subject

The Westland Puma HC.1 is the British licensed version of the French medium transport helicopter Aerospatiale SA 330 Puma, built in Great Britain. For decades it formed the backbone of the tactical helicopter transport of the Royal Air Force (RAF): it carried troops and materiel and was deployed in a range of conflicts and operations from Northern Ireland to the Persian Gulf. The twin-engined machine with a classic main rotor and retractable landing gear was valued for its reliability, speed and load capacity even in demanding conditions.

Building and painting tips

In the small 1:144 scale, watch for clean joints on the fuselage and fine sanding, so that no seams show. Paint the cabin and the rotor before the final assembly. Use a quality primer and thin coats of paint, so that the fine details are not lost; settle the decals onto a gloss varnish, so that they do not silver. Given the small dimensions it pays to work with a sharp knife and tweezers and to paint the individual parts while they are still on the sprue.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of helicopters and RAF equipment
• Lovers of the small 1:144 scale
• Modelers who want a quick and undemanding project

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.