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The Bell OH-58D Kiowa
serves as the U.S. Army’s main day/night, all-weather battlefield scout,
providing both ground and airborne forces with real time reconnaissance
information, and laser designation for precision strike munitions.
Developed from the successful OH-58A/C Kiowa (Bell 206), the D
model has an upgraded Allison engine, four-blade composite rotor, and a
state-of-the-art cockpit with multifunction displays for aircraft systems,
navigation, and targeting information.
The most obvious feature is the fully articulate Mast-Mounted Sight
(MMS). The MMS contains TV
and thermal imaging sensors, and a laser rangefinder/designator for target
acquisition. |
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Initially unarmed, the Kiowa Warrior received its bite in response to the
Army’s need for a light attack helicopter to protect oil tankers from attack
by marauding Iranian gunboats in the waters of the Persian Gulf in 1987. The
Kiowa Warrior is armed through the use of universal weapons pylons mounted on
both sides of the helicopter. Among
the combination of weapons the Kiowa can carry are AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank
missiles, 2.75” FFAR pods, a 0.50 caliber machine gun, and Stinger air-to-air
missiles to cover aerial threats. For
aircraft survivability equipment, the Kiowa carries an AN/ALQ-144 IR jammer, and
a plethora of threat warning receiver antennae.
Using NOE (nap of the earth) flying, the Kiowa uses the landscape for
concealment, exposing only the MMS to locate and designate targets.
Once a target is spotted, the Kiowa can relay the information to other
engagement systems (such as heavy attack helicopters or laser guided artillery),
or engage the target with its own weapons.
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Specifications
Type:
Two seat armed
scout helicopter.
Powerplant:
One 650-hp Allison T703-AD-700 turboshaft.
Maximum
speed: 146
M.P.H. “clean” at 4000 ft.
Maximum
climb rate:
1,540 F.P.M. from sea level.
Dimensions:
Main
rotor diameter
35 ft.
Length
42
ft. 2 in.
Height
12 ft. 10in.
Main rotor disc area
962 sq. ft.
Sources:
Aircraft
of the World, International Master Publishers
Federation
of American Scientists: Military
Analysis Network-
This
is Italeri’s 1/72 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. All
in all, it’s not a bad little kit. The
overall fit is descent, and looks kind of unusual with the MMS perched above the
main rotor. The model
out-of-the box represents an earlier version of the D variant, so it was
modified to represent some of the upgrades the Kiowa has received.
The main rotor was modified by adding sheet styrene trim tabs to the
trailing edges of the rotor blades. Speaking
of which, the instructions incorrectly have you install the main rotor
upside-down (blades rotating to the right).
Like most helicopters, the Kiowa’s main rotor turns to the left.
For weapons, you get two FFAR pods and Stinger tubes.
I used one FFAR pod on the port pylon, and for the starboard pylon, I
raided an Academy AH-64 for a couple of Hellfire missiles.
Brass rod was used to replace the “towel rack” antenna and the tail
skid. The ALQ-144 IR Jammer came
from an Eduard photo-etch set, the housing is made from sheet styrene.
Stretched sprue was used to replace the main rotor pitch-change links,
and for cable cutter braces. Sheet
styrene was used to add the various lumps and bumps.
One Item I forgot to add was a GPS antenna and housing. The GPS antenna
is located on the tail boom, just ahead of the vertical stabilizer (which means
it can be added anytime!).
The instructions were erroneous again in regards to the overall color.
Like most US Army choppers, the Kiowa is painted in FS 34031 Army Helo
Drab, not FS 34087 Olive Drab as Italeri would have you finish it in (this seems
to be a problem with Italeri-bogus painting and finishing info.). I used Model Master’s Army Helo Drab enamel, then
drybrushed with a lighter shade to add some depth.
The kit decals were used, and were no problem to apply. I used Model Master Acryl flat clear to seal everything up
and give it that dull, drab, sheen.
Albert
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