ACpilot

Amercom Release No.41
Bell Canada RCAF CH-146 Griffon
1/72 Scale



Yikes!

I sure hope those aren't the final colours on the Griffon.

Both the green and brown should be much much darker (even if you allow for photo colour or computer monitor variation!).


Dan






ACTUAL AIRCRAFT #146401

CarbonPlane

Reminds me of the discussion about the brown showing as "orange" on the HM MiG-21. The final model turned out okay with the correct shade.

Looks like Amercom copied this pic as well as the kit.

firefly

I hoping too that the correct colours will be used for the actual production release.

ACpilot

Someone provided the Amercom website (entirely in Polish).

Amercom SA

I used Google Translate to convert their website to English.

Google Translate Amercom

Found a contact email and sent them a message. It is worth a try to get them to correct - but I suspect it may be too late.

If others feel the same way try to send them an email as well (see below).

prenumerata@amercom.com.pl

Dan

firefly

Sent email too. Thanks Capt. Dan.

ACpilot

Thanks for your help.

Found a photo online of the Italeri kit that Americom based their version on.

Below is how it should look (except for the erroneous rocket pods).

Dan


SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS


NOT LIKE THIS

ACpilot

Well it appears that Amercom listens! (and I will be adding the Griffon to my collection as this airframe #401 served with the Canadian Expeditionary Wing in Afghanistan).

Here is the response I received.

Dear Dan,

Thanks for your information but don't know from which page you have this picture ?
Yes, first sample has wrong colour but* it has changed before mass production .
Finally , this helicopter looks like in attachment.
Hope is now closer to true colours than previous.

Best regards,
Darek

firefly

Excellent news. I'll be thrilled to add to my collection as well. Thanks again.

CarbonPlane

That is good news. I was afraid Amercom might be a manufacturer that assumes a plastic kit is 100% accurate and not fix errors. It's good they're willing to listen.

MigHound

I gave Eric Knell at The Flying Mule a heads' up on this one, so hopefully, it'll be available on their site.

CdnDieGuy

Thanks very much Dan for helping to bring authentic RCAF diecast to market. Most recently Hobby Master's McDonnell Douglas CF-188B Hornet and now Amercom's CH-146 Griffon. I look forward to adding both of these to my growing Canadiana diecast collection.
However, since Amercom's Poland office has confirmed they do not ship internationally, if the pending eBay prices are ridiculously higher than Amercom's current 29.95 PLN ($C9.67) issue price, the Griffon will likely just stay on my wishlist

lemmings418

Don't worry. I have been able to get the Amercom's WITH shipping to Ontario for $18 or less per piece on ebay. Obviously more cheaply if you buy more.

ACpilot

Just arrived from Poland.

Not at all bad actually.

The packaging is typical for a Magazine Model. Once it is opened it cannot be sealed up again. Construction is mainly plastic but there is definitely some heft with some metal present. A display stand is also included. Overall quality is acceptable especially given the price. The only real complaint I have is that I found the rotor blades difficult to attach. Maybe I'm not doing it right - but I eventually was able to get them to stay in place.

This particular airframe #401 actually served with the Canadian Expeditionary Air Wing in Afghanistan beginning in 2008. The aircraft was from 438 Squadron in St.Hubert but once in theatre were operated by crews from 408 Squadron in Edmonton. They were armed with Dillon Aero 7.62mm M134 Mini gun and were used in the armed escort role to escort the Canadian Chinook helicopters.

Some minor inaccuracies include the rocket pods which are not part of the Canadian inventory. Also the radar nose is not typical. Only Canadian CH-146s used in Pilot training are radar equipped. All in all not at all bad for 12 bucks!

For those who collect Canadian themes I would heartily recommend it.

Dan




Griffon Helicopters arrive at Mirabel Airport in December 2008, from where they were shipped to Afghanistan via Canadian C-17s.


Based at Kandahar, The Canadian Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing consisted of eight CH-146 Griffon Helicopters, six CH-147D Chinook Helicopters,
3 CC-130 Hercules Tactical Transport aircraft, six Mi-8 Helicopters under civilian contract, and the CU-170 Heron UAV.

firefly

I received mine two days ago and I have the same issue putting on one of the rotor blades that would not fit all the way and stay in place. Found out that it has a shallow recess and I have to use a dentist tool to make it a bit deeper. The other rotor blades are difficult to put on initially and applied a bit of pressure to fit in. The model is pretty decent for the price. Recommended buy.

Excellent photos and aircraft history information. Thanks for sharing.

17275

Is the brown in the camo scheme added for the Afghanistan operations? Because as far as I can remember for seeing Griffons in Canada, the camouflage scheme was made up of two greens.

ACpilot

It is actually a greyish brown (not exactly correct on the model - but if you read the first part of the thread a lot better than on the Pre Pro).

Dan

17275

I actually think it's an olive drab reminiscent of the old NATO European 1 scheme.

BTW found this handy website regarding canadian color schemes. It specifically mention s the scheme on the Griffon as being FS34084/FS34095 (when you look at FS34084, there's the combination olive drab and medium field green).

RCAF/CAF and CDN Army Aircraft

The olive drab can wear down as a brownish green, so maybe why to the eye it looks like a brown.

Same goes with the dark grey paint on F-16s etc, FS36118. This looks very dark new, but especially on larger aircraft it appears to be lighter than what it really is.

Zendocon

Looks to be on par with the CH-149 Cormorant model. Good from far, but far from good.

CPAIR007

...is there a AMERCOM CANADIAN distributor??

i am CANADIAN...

planemark

I do not collect helicopters (though I would like to if I had more room), but I have to say that although these are not amazingly great, they still seem pretty nice and appear to be an excellent value. Should I decide there is room (space and budget) to start collecting vertical birds, I will certainly get a few of these.

moscarron

If you buy one, then you will "need" to have them all specially if you buy a nice Corgi one (even a plastic Easy Model one can trigger that need).

ACpilot

For those who missed this one - The Flying Mule has just received this and other Amercom models in stock for $19.99.

Dan



Amercom ACHY41 - 412 Diecast Model, CAF No.438 Sqn, Afghanistan, 2008: The Flying Mule

tim_1/72

Hi Dan. Nice review. You say it's mostly plastic. Are the doors plastic as well? Suppose I wanted to slice it open in order to add some crew on and display it open would that be possible for this one?