Mil Mi-4A Hound A

Trumpeter

Trumpeter's 1/35 Mil Mi-4A Hound may be ordered online from Squadron.com

QuickLook Preview by Brett Green

Hands up anyone who expected to see a Mi-4A Hound A helicopter in 1/35 scale.

Anyone?

Trumpeter continue their commitment to Eastern Bloc aviation with this lovely new kit. In common with many of Trumpeter's latest releases, the size of the subject has not intimidated this prolific Chinese company. And size it has. In 1/35 scale, the total length of the model is greater than 700mm. That is more than 27", including the rotor overhang at front and rear.  The fuselage has nothing to be ashamed of by itself at 460mm (around 18").

Those who believe that quality is more important than quantity will not be disappointed either. The surface features on the Hound A are right up there with the best in the industry. Hinges, frames and mounting points are raised, several key panels overlap and the remaining panel lines and rivets are subtly but crisply recessed. There are a few very minor sink marks on the outside surface, but these will easily be filled and sanded flat.

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The kit is equipped with quite a comprehensive interior including a full engine. The cockpit is pretty good, but I'll bet that Cobra Company is already working on something in resin to replace the plastic kit parts and possibly supplement the bare cargo bay.

Any additional work on the interior will be rewarded with a fine view as all the major hatches and doors can be positioned open, including the big clamshells at the rear of the cargo bay. These doors are nicely detailed with structural features. 

Photo-etched parts are supplied for the aeration reticulation cover grilles. An acetate sheet of printed instruments completes the multi-media aspect of the kit.

Clear parts are impressive considering the challenging bulges on many of the windows. They are clear, thin and relatively free of distortion.

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Markings are supplied for six aircraft - Soviet, Czech, Chinese, Polish and DDR. There are a couple of interesting disruptive schemes amongst these options. Decals printed in register and with thin carrier film.

The engineering of this kit looks pretty straightforward despite the high level of detail. Multi-media parts are kept to a minimum, and I do not get the same sense of gimmickry that I have observed in some of Trumpeter's earlier releases. This model looks very mainstream and, even better, looks to be very high quality.

The choice of 1/35 scale should also be popular, permitting plenty of potential for posing the big Hound with figures and military vehicles.

Recommended.