Armycast M&M AH-64 Resin Update and Decal Sets Review by Mark Davies

AH-64D Block III Decal & Resin Conversion Sets

Armycast M&M, 1/72 scale

S u m m a r y :
Catalogue Number:	ACD 72006 – AH-64D Upgrade Exhaust ASPI (Block III) AC 72027 – AH-64D Apache Block III Conversion Set (for Academy)
Scale:	1/72
Contents & Media:	ACD 72006 – Decals for five subjects. AC 72027 – Twenty-six resin parts, pre-cut wheel-hub mask.
Price:	Surprisingly, Armycast does not list stockists on its website, although I have listed the stockists I have been able to find.
	Stockist	ACD 72006	AC 72027
	Armycast M&M	€10.00	€13.00
	Resin Improvement	€10.18	€13.52
	Aviation Megastore	€12.36	€14.83
	UMM	US$18.10	US$23.95
	Misterkit	Not yet listed
	Click for currency conversion.
Review Type:	First Look.
Advantages:	A good quality solution to create an AH-64D Block III model.
Disadvantages:	Some will not like having exhaust covers being cast in place.
Conclusions:	Decal quality appears to be very good, but the decals are obviously not a stand-alone item as they need the conversion set to create an AH-64D Block III. The conversion set is nicely done and is a good quality package. Perhaps not everyone will welcome having exhaust covers cast in place, preferring to have these open. This is not a major issue however. I am happy to recommend both of these sets.

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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FirstLook

Armycast M&M offer an interesting range of products in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/35 scales; I encourage readers to take the time to check out their website. The decal and detail sets reviewed here is intended to convert the Academy AH-64 to an AH-64D Block III airframe.

The Decals (ACD 72006)

The decals come in an A-5 sized zip-lock plastic bag. There are four A-5 pages of colours & markings guide; these provide coloured two-view drawings of each subject, and cross-reference paint colour to FS-595. Another page covers stencil locations.

The quality of the decals appears to be excellent. The subjects covered by the decals are detailed below:

AH-64D Block III, Tikrit, Iraq, 2013.
AH-64D Block III, 82nd Aviation Regiment, “Redwolves”
AH-64D Block III, 1st Air Cavalry Division, Iraq, 2009.
AH-64D Block III, Task Force “Tigershark”, Iraq, April, 2011.
AH-64D Block III, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force “Tigershark”, Afghanistan, 2011.

Conversion Set (AC 72027)

The conversion set comes in a small sturdy flip-top box with clear instructions. The set is dominated by a large casting that replaces the forward lower half of the kit fuselage. Replacement engines are provided, and these have soft covers over the engine exhausts cast in place. No doubt this made mastering and tooling easier, but I should think that some would prefer to have open exhausts. New wheels, stub-wings, instrument panels, and nose parts are also included; along with a variety of smaller details. A pre-cut wheel-hub mask is also supplied, which is a nice touch.

The resin quality seems a little better than the AH-1W sets I recently reviewed, where I equated it to on par with Pavla; whilst this set reminds me more of CMK. It seems to me that this should be a very straightforward conversion to execute, despite the fuselage surgery required to modify the base kit.

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Conclusion

Decal quality appears to be very good, but the decals are obviously not a stand-alone item as they need the conversion set to create an AH-64D Block III.

The conversion set is nicely done and is a good quality package. Perhaps not everyone will welcome having exhaust covers cast in place, preferring to have these open. This is not a major issue however.

I am happy to recommend both of these sets.

Thanks to Armycast M&M for the review sample.

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Review Text and Images Copyright © 2014 by Mark Davies Page Created 9 June, 2014 Last updated 9 June, 2014

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2014 by Mark Davies
Page Created 9 June, 2014
Last updated 9 June, 2014