Fonderie Miniature’s 1/48 Piasecki H-21 (Flying Banana) By Gerry Nilles

Overview

The H-21, AKA the flying banana, was the brainchild of Frank Piasecki. Piasecki began his career in aviation with the autogiro manufacture Kellett Aircraft. Fascinated with helicopters, he established his own Philadelphia based company in 1943. Piasecki was a visionary and as such saw the helicopter as a heavy lift workhorse for both commercial and military purposes. This vision was indeed accurate and would eventually lead to the design and production of tandem rotor helicopters that are, to this day, the primary heavy lift choppers of both the US Marine Corp, and US Army. The lineage of the Boeing CH-46 Sea knight, and the CH-47 Chinook, back through the H-21 as well as the smaller HUP is readily apparent. I should note here that in 1956 Piasecki Helicopter Corporation was renamed Vertol after a bitter internal power struggle that forced the resignation of Frank Piasecki. Four years later, in 1960, Boeing acquired Vertol and eventually renamed it the Boeing Helicopter Company.

The Kit

My first impression of the Fonderie Miniature’s H-21 kit is that this is a large aircraft. The fuselage length, including the windscreen assembly is about 14 inches in length. The rotor assemblies, are 9 inches in diameter and when finished this 1/48 scale kit should measure around 20 inches from blade tip to blade tip. An initial check of some of the kits main components, (fuselage length, height, rotor diameter) shows that they are fairly accurate when compared to actual dimensions. The next obvious thing about the kit is that it is truly multi media. The majority of the airframe including the interior structure are injection molded in gray styrene. Side windows and frames are injection molded in clear. The cockpit windscreen assembly is vac-u-formed. Some of the cockpit details (foot pedals control columns), rotor hub assemblies, and landing gear assemblies are white metal. The wheels, instrument console, and main transmission box is done in resin. Finally a sheet of photo etched parts containing the instrument panel, various intake screens, as well as the pilot and co-pilot's seat brackets and shoulder harnesses are also provided.

Detailing, such as panel lines, are well done, and sink holes are non-existent. Certainly a higher quality than is normally expected for this type of limited production kits. However, if the model is to be finished in a natural metal scheme, the surface of the fuselage will probably need some work with a fine grade sandpaper. Overall the parts, in my review copy, needed relatively little clean up. Rotor blades seemed to be well cast, with sharp trailing edges and of the proper thickness. Likewise the resin and white metal parts were done well and should also require a minimum of clean up. The kit provides a complete interior to configure it as a troop carrier, including webbed style seating. Also provided are a number of structural frames, transmission boxes, drive shafts, ducting, and window framing. However, the insides of the fuselage halves are smooth and without detail. Those wanting to do that extra something might consider adding such items as stringers, wiring and junction boxes, or even some emergency equipment to mention a few possibilities.

The instructions, which are five pages long, and in both French and English are probably the biggest challenge to building this kit. The translation is obviously written by someone who does not have a complete understanding of the English language. Let me put it this way, if you can completely understand the instruction manual that comes with a VCR you will be right at home here. The illustrations although helpful to a point do not really address all subassemblies. I should note that the photo etch (PE) placement guide is combined with the decal stenciling placement guide.

The decal sheets, three in total, give the builder three finishing options. The first, and the subject of the box art, is a stock US Army olive drab troop carrier, while the other two are French schemes. The first of these is a dark sea blue French Navy aircraft of the 31st flotilla that flew in Algeria in 1956. The other is a 25th Parachute Division olive drab aircraft that also saw action in Algeria two years later in 1958. A separate sheet of stencils is also included. The decals appear to be of good quality, both in register and printing.

Conclusion

The Fonderie Miniature Piasecki H-21kit is definitely worth having. The quality is above average for a small manufacturer. It would also make a excellent companion piece to the recently released Academy CH-46.