Introduction:

This is a review covering Live Resin’s set, LRE35255, ANVIS-9 (currently called the AN/AVS-9(V) by the US Government), Night Vision Goggles and low profile battery case for the HGU-56/P rotary wing aircrew ballistic helmet.

The following is from the Insight/L3 website:

The AN/AVS-9, with Gen III night vision, provides improved situational awareness with large 25 mm eyepieces and enhanced binocular viewing for optimized depth perception. Ergonomically designed
interface controls include interpupillary, vertical, fore/aft, and tilt adjustments.

Features:
- Optional Class A and Class C (“Leaky Green”) filters
- Clip-On Power Supply (COPS) for pre-flight or dismounted operations
- AA battery Low Profile Power Pack (LPPP), with primary and alternate battery plus aircraft power port, provides triple redundancy for complete system confidence
- Multiple helmet mount options
- Improved 40° field of view
- Power pack securely attaches to flight helmets

Review:

The set comes packaged, like all small items that Live Resin makes in a small zipper bag, stapled into a folded piece of white card stock. Because of the limited thickness of these castings, the cardstock packaging is adequate for most shipping situations. There are photos on the packaging of CAD renderings of the set mounted on their intended target helmet, the HGU-56/P rotary wing aircrew ballistic helmet, by Live Resin.

There are seven sets of goggles and seven battery packs included. The NVGs themselves fit perfectly onto the mount on Live Resin’s version of the HGU-56/P. The goggles are shown in the lowered position and the stowed position on the packaging. The NVG will only fit well in the lowered position on the helmet with the visor stowed (LRE35253). With some sanding of the aft lenses I could have made them fit on the helmet with the visor in the lowered position (LRE35254). These parts are tiny, to say the least. The detail is up to Live Resin’s usual standard, which is to say phenomenal. They compare very favorably to photos on the internet of these NVGs. The only detail I found missing is the aft lenses. The goggles mount to their runner by way of the aft lenses. The battery pack also compares favorably to photos on the internet. The Live Resin helmets come with the wiring for these NVGs cast onto their outer surfaces. This makes it very easy to show the helmet with these NVGs and their battery pack attached. I cannot say how these will work with helmets made by any other manufacturer. One advantage to having these cast apart from the helmet is the goggles and battery pack can be shown setting loose in the cockpit of the helicopter.

Conclusion:

This set portrays the ANVIS-9 (AN/AVS-9 (V)) very well. The details are crisp and to scale. The NVGs fit perfectly to the mount on Live Resin’s own HGU-56/P rotary wing aircrew helmets. This set will add that extra degree of detail that so many people like to include on their models. I heartily recommend this set to all who build 1/35 scale helicopters and their aircrew. Live Resin Helmets LRE35253 and LRE35254 are not required for use, but are recommended.

Thank you to Live Resin and the Kit Maker Network for this review sample.