Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana***Finished***

Runs: September 1st to October 15th
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jssel
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Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana***Finished***

Post by jssel »

The H-21 to go here.
Besting 60 years of mediocre building of average kits in the stand off scale
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jssel
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by jssel »

Here is my selection for the group build.

Boxart:

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Parts:

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Planned finish. USAF Red Tops 1959. I am researching this one but believe stationed with NORAD in Newfoundland. More on that later.

Image
Besting 60 years of mediocre building of average kits in the stand off scale
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jssel
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by jssel »

Not sure if it was old man's insomnia or excitement about this group build but I was up early working on the "Flying Banana." A little history. The US Army called the H-21 the Shawnee. Army Aviation things are named after Native American Tribes. Like the Huey is really the Iroquios. The US Air Force called them "The Flying Workhorse." Any idea what the Canadians called them? Please let me know.

At any rate the cockpit area is detailed enough. You have collectives, cyclics, anti-torque peddles, decent seats and instrument panel.


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Here are the innards awaiting paint. There is no reference in the instructions to nose weight. Even though the main landing gear sets a ways back from the nose gear, I fear tail setting problems. I will hide weight in simulated stowage. More on that later.

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One word of caution to builders of tandem rotor craft. Front and rear rotors are counter-rotating to suppress torque. Beware the rotor blade parts and make sure you check the position of the blades so the airfoil is not reversed. Also it will require one set of blades over the other as to which is mounted front or rear. Now there is a sentence that should go in to get cleaned. Italeri instructions and part numbers need to be followed.
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

I never knew they used this for a gun ship. Very cool.
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by Saxon »

Going to be good to watch. I did some digging and was surprised to see that the Swedish Navy used them as well. There doesn't so far seem to be a different name for it in the Canadian Armed Forces.
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by TimJ »

The interior looks nicely detailed. I look forward to seeing your progress.
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splash
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by splash »

Good choice.

I remember seeing them flying around on a NATO exercise in the mid 60’s when I was on a school exchange visit to Germany.

I recall our bus drove past an airfield and it had rows of F104 Star fighters and banana shaped helicopters.

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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

I got the FM 1/48 version back in 2006 or so; took beau coup pix of one, did some extra research, even got an engine to put in it. The kit was SO BAD I gave up. I don't "do" helicopters but this is one of a small number I would like to have so I'll pay close attention to your build.
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jssel
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by jssel »

Just a little update so far today.

Rotor blades in position on the hubs. Again, keep the parts numbers in order so the blades all match up to the right hub. Italeri does a nice things with their helicopter kits. They mould in a nice sag" which eliminates a bit of work.

Image

More to follow.
Besting 60 years of mediocre building of average kits in the stand off scale
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by jssel »

Bit of an up date today.

Cockpit and cargo bay are painted up now. Another word of caution to builders of this kit. The web seat benches are only held in place by pins that are inserted into depressions on the floor board. Not a very strong point. I added a small square of sheet stock to brace the rear portion.

Image

Overview so far


Image
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by shangos70 »

Lookking tasty Jeff, looks like a nice little kit .
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by TimJ »

Making good progress.
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jssel
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by jssel »

Latest update.

Interior parts painted and in place. Was surprised when I did the first dry fit: everything fit!

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I did notice that the panel lines do not align correctly and maybe the attachment pins are the problem.

A nice touch from Italeri is in the form of a small mesh sheet. There is a pattern on the instruction sheet for trimming and the pieces go here:

Image

Now before the halves get glued together I tried to determine if the weight and balance of the airframe was enough as to not add nose weight. It appears too close to call so.........I am fashioning a box out of sheet styrene. Inside the box will go a fishing sinker. The box will be disguised as a rescue supplies container.
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by MerlinJones »

That mesh is a nice touch! Nice one, Italeri.
(Looking good, jeff).

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Bruce
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Re: Jssel's Italeri H-21 Flying Banana

Post by splash »

I like the mesh I must get one of these kits.

The build is looking good.

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