1/700 3D Printed AH-1Z Viper

[Bill Oreto]

Ok so I will probably get shot for reviewing an E-Bay item and a designer/printer called Shendgigfu. I purchased on E-Bay a 1/700 3D AH-1Z. There were only two sources for a 1/700 AH-1Z . SNAFU of Shapeways and Orange Hobby. Both are off market. Nobody else seems to be interested in printing 1/700 USMC Helos. If you are like me and have the Orange Hobby America kit and Hobby Boss LHD kits you are in the wilderness for helos. I typically don’t buy 3D printed items based on digital pictures but I took the risk. My order arrived this afternoon. Upon opening the box the first word out my mouth was “Wow!”. Ok so you have an understanding in China printer/designers do not pack and ship their creations. It is outsourced to another firm. In this case the packer decided to glue the helo wafers into the bottom of the box. Laughable because you have to cut the cardboard bottom of box away with the wafer. It certainly ensured no damage in shipping. Suggested you take your time with this operation.

2 helos per purchase. They come printed in soft gray resin. The printer captured fuselage detail nicely. Superior was the protruding Gatling gun forward, weapons pylons loaded with definable Sidewinders. Nearly all attachment points were on bottom of aircraft. The most delicate attachment points cuts were to the printed on tail rotor and rear stabilizer. Skids are kind of clunky but understand why this was done, so the aircraft lays flat and does not pop up. Any attachment stubs are easily scrapped away with a # 11 blade. 4 blade printed open rotors are including but I prefer 1/700 FStar 700087 set which provides the 4 bladed rotors both open and folded rotors for the AH-1Z and UH-1Y. The set also includes the rotors for the AH-1W and the UH-1N. No other photo-etch provider makes the 4 bladed rotors for the Viper and Venom.

I will keep a lantern in the window for a 1/700 AH-1W, UH-1Y and UH-1N. They may arrive one day and hopefully 1 piece as Shendgigfu did.

[bgire]

Hell Bill,
Seems you forget l'Arsenal which produces a large collection of printed helos, including the Viper.

Here is the present list of US helos available at scales ranging from 1:700 to 1:200. Many non US helos are also available.

Bell AH-1 Z Viper
Bell UH-1 B Huey
Bell UH-1 B Huey with interior details
Bell UH-1 C Huey
Bell UH-1 C Huey with interior details
Bell UH-1 D Huey
Bell UH-1 D Huey with interior details
Bell UH-1 Huey UH-1 N Twin huey late with interior details
Bell UH-1 N Twin huey early
Bell UH-1 N Twin huey early with interior details
Bell UH-1 N Twin huey late
Bell UH-1 Y Venom
Bell UH-1 Y Venom with interior details

Boeing CH-47 D "CHINOOK"

Kaman SH-2 F Seasprite
Kaman SH-2 G Seasprite

Piasecki HUP-1
Piasecki HUP-2

Sikorsky CH-53 A Sea Stallion
Sikorsky CH-53 D Sea Stallion
Sikorsky CH-53 E Super Stallion
Sikorsky CH-53 G
Sikorsky CH-53 GS
Sikorsky CH-53 K King Stallion
Sikorsky H-34 A US Army
Sikorsky HH-60 H RescueHawk
Sikorsky HO3S-1 Dragonfly
Sikorsky Hss-1
Sikorsky MH-53 E Sea Dragon
Sikorsky MH-53 J Pave Low III
Sikorsky MH-60 R SeaHawk
Sikorsky MH-60 S KnightHawk
Sikorsky SH-3 A Sea King
Sikorsky SH-3 D Sea King
Sikorsky SH-3 H Sea King
Sikorsky SH-60 B SeaHawk
Sikorsky SH-60 F OceanHawk
Sikorsky UH-34 J US Army

Compared to early, three year old production I find them easy to work with. I use an ultrasonic cutter to separate from the sprues without breaking any part and without any burr left.
They're printed and shipped from Morocco, i.e. no big tariffs.
I'm not involved with l'Arsenal, just an happy customer.

HTH
_Bruno

[Bill Oreto]

By golly your right I forgot that L’Arsenal does a Viper and Venom. So I will give them a try on their Venom after the holidays. I keep my present Vipers.