introduction

It has always been a lack on 1/35 scale good quality Vietnam War helicopter crew figures but BRAVO-6 made a great effort to fill this gap. They first released pilots on cockpit and door gunners in action, then Vladi sculpted crew members that can be displayed next to the helicopter or on the helipad. First kit was Helo Crew (1) Saddling Up with two figures wearing gloves and flight helmets to get ready for flight. New one is another two-figure kit B6-35098 Helo Crew (2) Briefing depicting pilots studying on a map or flight plan. Figures will look great especially with Vietnam War Hueys and also other helicopters like AH-1 Cobra,OH-6 Cayuse and more.

review

Inside standard cardboard box labeled with a photo of painted pilots, parts are served in small transparent bags. Figure bodies, small parts like arms, personal gear, weapons and PE parts for mics are inserted into seperate bags and all lumped into a larger one. I appreciate this packing style as I have never seen a damage or problem due to packing on their figures till now. Backside of the box shows a humorous photo of Nixon wearing a helicopter pilot helmet used to explain how to make photoetched boom mics.

Casting is very good with no mistakes or excess. All I noticed was vertical seamlines on one side of each figure’s body that can be easily cleaned by a quick sanding. Served on easy to remove casting blocks, each figure comes in 6 pieces - Head, body, two arms, pistol and knife.

Facial details, moustache,hair and facial expressions (Figure-A talking, Figure-B listening) are well represented. They make easy and correct fit to the holes on the neck.

Two piece Nomex Flight suits, consisting of Hip Length Shirt and and Trousers, are nicely sculpted on both pilots. Two breast pockets with flap covers of shirt, rear pockets, Velcro secured large map pockets on thighs and small calf pockets, trotters with Velcoro tabs, uniform folds and wrinkles are all well defined. Trotters are inserted into the boots. Note that the boots are different than standard canvas-leather jungle boots. They have full leather boots because of fears about the nylon boot melting in a fire, also the lack of heavy lugs on the boot soles prevented aircrew from getting hung up on things such as rudder pedals. Over the shirt, they wear Chicken Plate Body Armor, a two-part cloth carrier with large external front and back pockets containing rigid aluminium oxide ceramic plates. Quick release snap-fasteners on shoulders, wrap-around waist flaps and big front pocket for maps are well defined on the vests.

Arms are cast in long sleeves and details like small pocket on the left upper arm and cuffs with fastening pads are nicely sculpted. Figure-A arms are posed to hold a map or flight plan and point it as Figure- B shows a listening pose with his flight helmet on the left armpit. GS/FRP-1 Flight Gloves held in left hand is a nice touch.

As standard helicopter crew weapons; they carry pistols and knives. Both have Air Force Survival Knife in leather scabbard on the left hip and Smith&Wesson Model 10 in leather holsters on the right.

Headgear is given as AFH-1 - Aircrew Crash Ballistic Protective Flying Helmets showing clean and crisp details. Helmet should be in olive drab as issued but to make it colorful; names, slogans, unit insignia, home state flags, and humorous pictures can be painted.

M-87/AIC mics for 3 helmets are given as Photoetched parts.

conclusion

Another nice additon to static posed Vietnam War Aircrew figures of BRAVO-6. Good poses, clean and crisp details and flawless cast. Great figures to display with a Huey, Cobra or Cayuse.