Zvezda plastic + Eduard decals, photo-etch, eight marking choices, Brassin resin parts and even a book! The 48th scale Boxing of the Mil Mi-24D Hind looks to be the kit we all really wanted in the first place! See what Eduard has added to the kit & what to expect in our preview...
Limited Edition Kit
From Eduard
1/48th scale
Kit No # 11150
8 marking options
Masks, photo-etch, resin & reference book included
The Subject: MIL MI-24 - NATO Code: Hind
It is a two-engine attack helicopter designed for close air support of ground forces against armoured targets, and for transport of personnel.
It has a classic design with a five-bladed main rotor and a three-bladed anti-torque tail rotor. The development of the aircraft commenced in the first half of the 1960s using a dynamical set, drive units and other components from the Mi-8 helicopter. The first prototype, with late TV2-117 engines, took off in September 1969. The characteristic feature of Mi-24 is a cockpit prolonged to a cargo compartment with a length of 2.83 metres, a width of 1.46 m, and a height of 1.2 m. Up to eight paratroopers can conduct fire with small arms through openings in side windows.
Vertically opened double-wing doors are at each side of the fuselage. The wingspan is 6.536 metres. The wing helps the vertical motion of the main rotor by up to 30% in higher speeds, and is also a place for suspended weapons. The helicopter is equipped with a three-wheel retractable landing gear with a double-tyred front leg. The Mi-24 is driven by two TV3-117 engines with an output of 1,638 kW each.
The Mi-24A type, (NATO code HIND-A), is the first version produced in series since 1972. The Mi-24D type (NATO code HIND-D) was put in operation in 1976, and it is largely a modified Mi-24A type version. A double-seat cockpit has been completely remodelled, the seat of the gunner/pilot is in front of the seat of the pilot/commander of the helicopter. The cockpit is characterised by round "bump" coverings. Under the helicopter nose, there is a revolving turret with a four-barrel rotating 9A624 machine gun of 12.7 mm calibre with a supply of 1,470 cartridges.
The additional equipment is hung under four mountings. It is created by four blocks of UB-32 (each with 32 pieces of S-5 missiles of 57 mm calibre), four air bombs of 100 or 250 kg, or two 500 kg bombs, or the same number of napalm containers. It is possible to use also four-fold rocket launchers for air-to-ground 122 mm rockets. At each wingtip, there are mountings for two anti-tank guided missiles of type 9M 17P of the FALANGA system. The Mi-24DU type is a training version of Mi-24D but without a nose turret.
The Mi-24V type, (NATO code HIND-E), is another advanced version that came from the Mi-24D type. The major change is in the use of a STURM-V device, which is a modern and more efficient navigation system, and the use of 9M 114 (AT-6 SPIRAL) anti-tank guided missiles, which are fired from two cylinder-shaped containers mounted at each wingtip.
The equipment of the helicopter was further reinforced with B-8V blocks for 20 rockets of S-8 type of 80 mm calibre, cannon containers UPK-23-250 with two-barrel cannon Gลก-23L having a supply of 250 cartridges, universal weapons containers GUV9A with the mounting prepared for the installation of automatic grenade launchers 9-A-800 of 30 mm calibre, or one four-barrel machine gun 9-A-624 of 12.7 mm calibre, and two four-barrel machine guns 9-A-622 of 7.62 mm calibre. It was equipped with the improved higher flight-level characteristics of TV3-117V engines, and with a mounting for installation of outlet gas coolers, and for additional fuel tanks in the capacity of 450 litres.
The Kit: Mil Mi-24 Hind D in Czechoslovak, Czech & Slovak Service
Zvezda's recent kit of the kit Mil Mi-24D in 1/48 scale has been keenly received - and lamented in some circles, others just want a Hind in 48th scale. Eduard look to improve on the kit by adding their own details to the model and improving it substantially in their own way. Their Mil Mi-24 Hind D in Czechoslovak, Czech & Slovak Service, limited edition kit of Soviet attack helicopter in 1/48 scale will be, like the title says, focused on aircraft used by Czechoslovak, Czech and Slovak Air Force. It will feature eight markings of the aircraft, in Czechoslovak, Czech & Slovak Service.
The plastic parts are originally intended for the Mi-24V version, but Eduard's new offering includes a set of conversion parts for the Mi-24D version made by direct 3D printing including Falanga missiles, these being as well a product of our new 3D printing workshop.
The parts map of the kit...
Eduard additions to the kit:
- plastic parts: Zvezda,
- Eduard decals with 8 marking options,
- pre-painted PE parts,
- painting mask for transparencies,
- Resin parts: exhausts, flare dispensers, gunsight, optical guidance system and antenna, Phalanga missile and holder of the Phalanga racks,
A pictorial book about Mi-24D service in the Czechoslovak and Czech Air Force.
The kit includes a publication focusing on the Mi-24D version in the Czechoslovak and Czech Air Force in the Czech language. This is a reduced and revised version of a larger publication we previously released as part of the HIND 1/72 kit. And I would also like to point out that Zvezda is not offering the Mi-24D version.
The kit is going to be released in October under cat. no. 11150.
You can find out more about Eduard's kits on their Website
