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Italeri MH-47E SOA Chinook tandem rotor helicopter
The MH-47E Chinook as kitted in plastic by Italeri
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This Italeri model Chinook kit depicts the U.S. Special Forces MH-47E machine. This version of the long serving tandem rotor helicopter has several modifications over it's counterparts. Two of the most noticable mods include the abilty for being refuelled during flight via a long nose probe and increased internal fuel capacity using larger side tanks.
This kit provides an extra sprue (look to the left) with the MH-47E specific parts. In addion to this you get the two large 'regular Chinook' sprues and a clear sprue for the tranparent parts.
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This olive coloured plastic kit shouts quality from the moment you open the large box. All the mouldings in my example are crisp and flash free, while there is only the slightest hint of sink on a few parts. All the panel lines are finely recess moulded, and what ejector pin marks I can find all appear to be well placed. It makes you understand why many modellers end up collecting unbuilt kits.
The main external fuselage is moulded into two halves with a separate moulding for the lower surfaces. These fit superbly together as does the transparent plastic nose section. This method of tackling the transparent parts of the forward fuselage looks good, enabling the builder to properly blend this area into the the rest of the aircraft.
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This being a modification of an existing Chinook kit does cause some extra work for the builder. This primarily means cutting away the existing fuel tanks from the side fuselage mouldings and attaching the larger MH-47 tanks from the extra sprue Italeri provide. This will call for some very careful plastic surgery.
The cockpit is fairly well appointed, you get a couple of seats complete with moulded harness detail, all the main cyclic and collective levers, rudder (uhm, ur, steering pedals, how do these things steer anyhow?! By mixing in opposite cyclic on each rotor head?) and a finely moulded instrument panel with dials.
For the cargo bay area a large base moulding with a finely detailed surface is used, this being a separate piece to the external lower fuselage. The rear loading door can be displayed closed or open.
The rotor blades are moulded with washout and droop, these being fitted to one piece moulded rotor heads. The undercarriage, engine nacelles and other parts are as detailed and as well moulded as the rest of the kit.
The decal sheet covers a single version of the Chinook, this is small and only has a few transfers but is well printed.
To sum up this looks like it will build into a very fine 1/72nd scale Chinook for any modeller who can give it the time it deserves. I haven't taken a micrometre to the mouldings, but I cannot see any obvious problems with the shape or sizing of the kit (Though I'm sure some will be found by the heli experts and Inspector Meticulous as per usual). When dry assembled it's looking good already.
As this kit is a appears to be a convertion of the earlier Chinook model, and includes parts not used for this new model I'm certain the savvy Chinook expert could build this into other versions of the helicopter. The nose section is very different to most Chinooks however which limits the possible alternative subjects.
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Here's a U.S. Army picture of a Chinook MH-47, I think this is a G variant however. Note how the nose section on these new birds is substantially different to a regular Chinook.
Picture courtesy U.S. Army.
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