AH-64 Apache Conversion, Detail & Decal Sets

Armycast M&M, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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Background

Armycast is a Czech company that is new to me. It was founded in September 2007, and as their website introduction explains, the company's four members have been making models for 20-25 years. Like most of “Husak’s children”* they grew up making Czech kits with the occasional “under-counter” Revell example for variety. They are all members of a modelling club in Kaznejov, a town near the city of Plzen. Many of their products have appeared in Czech modelling competitions and shows, as well as many further abroad. Some of the most successful examples can be seen in Armycast’s gallery. They obviously take pride in their products, and proclaim that they believe “their products will speak to you.” 

Armycast M&M offer an interesting range of products in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/35 scales; and I encourage readers to take the time to check out their website.

* The generation was named after long-term communist President of Czechoslovakia, Gustáv Husák. This generation began with a baby-boom in the 1970's after pro-population legislation was introduced.

Caveat

I have little knowledge of AH-64 Apache variants; so whilst examining these sets I found various items that are unknown to me and unnamed in the instructions. I have made some educated guesses as to what they are; but have assumed, as presumably Armcast have as well, that Apache-buffs will know what they are looking at! I will take Armycast at their word and leave the images to do most of the talking.

Decal Sets

The two decal sets reviewed here both come in the almost universal A-5 sized zip-lock plastic bag. The decals are accompanied by a four-page coloured markings guide and a header sheet; all A-5 sized. The guides are clear to follow, and provide colour cross-references to FS-595, as well the Tamiya and Gunze paint ranges. The decals are printed by Eduard and with very good registration and a semi-gloss finish.

• ACD 72001 - AH-64D Apache in Foreign Service. The five schemes are:

  • WAH-64, RAF (WAH-64 are operated by the British Army, not the RAF),

  • AH-64D, Hellenic Air Force;

  • AH-64D, Royal Netherlands Air Force;

  • AH-64DJP, Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force; and

  • AH-64D, Republic of Singapore Air Force.

There is also an additional small correction sheet of Dutch roundels. This set includes some resin parts in their own plastic bag. They have simple but adequate instructions using clearly drawn diagrams. The parts provide a set of snow skis for the Japanese option, and what I believe to be two Apache Modular Aircraft Survivability Equipment (AMASE) pods for the Dutch option.  The quality of parts appears to be excellent. The instructions also provide a scale template to guide wire bending to form a rail running along the starboard side of the tail-boom of the Singaporean machine (I do not know what purpose this serves on the real aircraft).

• ACD 72002 - AH-64 in IAF Service 1991-2011. The five schemes are:

  • AH-64A Peten, The Hornet Squadron, 1991;

  • AH-64A Peten, The Magic Touch Squadron, 2001;

  • AH-64A Peten, The Magic Touch Squadron, 2003;

  • AH-64A Peten-Matrix, The Magic Touch Squadron, 2011; and

  • AH-64D Saraf, The Hornet Squadron, 2010.

Conversion & Detail Sets

The sets are all optimised for the Academy kit. In each case they come in a small flip-top box with the contents enclosed in a zip-lock plastic bag. As with the parts accompanying the Foreign Service decal set, they are all cleanly cast and nicely detailed. A picture is worth a thousand words; so I have included scans of the instructions, because these provide a much simpler explanation of each conversion than I can in writing. Images of the components are provided further down.  

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Three of the conversion sets complement the Israeli decal sheet described earlier (ACD 72002). These Israeli Apache sets are:

• AC 72002 - AH-64 Peten conversion set,

• AC 72022 - AH-64A Peten-Matrix conversion set, and

• AC 72023 - AH-64D-I Saraf conversion set.

Two of the sets apply to the British WAH-64, and so compliment the decal set “Apache in Foreign Service” mentioned earlier (ACD 72001). I do know that the British-built Apaches have folding blades like the naval version so that they can operate from ships if the need arises. However, I do not know what difference this makes to the appearance of the rotor hub, if any; but I do note that the Armycast set does not address this aspect. The relevant British Army version sets are:

• AC 72021 - WAH-64D Apache HAF/RAF conversion set:

• AC 72024 - WAH-64D Apache RR Turbomeca engine set: The Rolls Royce Turbomeca engine is used by the British machines, giving them more power than the standard Apache. This set should appeal to those who like to display things open.

It is good to see that someone has developed a series of conversions covering both the obvious and more subtle differences between variants of the widely used AH-64 Apache. Most buyers will know about the various AH-64 versions, and will have the knowledge to cover any gaps that I am not equipped to assess here. The decal sets have good registration and appear to be of good quality. The conversion and engine detail sets are also very good quality, and have with nice levels of detail. The instructions are clear enough for their purpose and well drawn.

Definitely recommended.

Thanks to Armycast M&M for the review sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2013 by Mark Davies
Page Created 8 May, 2013
Last updated 8 May, 2013

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