AH-64D Apache Longbow

The 1/48 Hasegawa AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopter is the gold standard for this subject in 1/48 scale. With that being said, the few minor negatives of this kit are the overly thick aerial antenna on the vertical tail plane and thick grab handles that are difficult to clean up. The main rotor has many small fine parts that must be installed carefully. The main rotor assembly is designed to permit rotation, however it is very fragile. During the build the main rotor shaft broke and I had to install it in a fixed position. The 30mm chin gun was also a fragile assembly that allowed for rotation and elevation. The kit has clear plastic parts for the canopy, navigation lights and lenses for the Hellfire missles included in the kit. The fuselage, horizontal tail plane and sponsons have accurate molded recessed panel lines, rivet detail and grill detail where applicable. The decal set is comprehensive in scope, providing accurate stencil, serial number, wing walk and United States Army markings. The use of Microsol for decal application is recommended. Engine and exhaust details are excellent. Assembly, masking and painting will require a high level of manual dexterity. With careful attention to these aspects of model building an exceptional result can be achieved.