Revell MV-22 Osprey 1:72 scale

Ref: 03964
Review by Geoff Coughlin (November 2015)
Price around: £16.99 GBP

Our thanks to Revell for supplying our review sample. Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For details visit www.revell.de/en

The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.

The V-22 originated from the United States Department of Defense Joint-service Vertical take-off/landing Experimental (JVX) aircraft program started in 1981. The team of Bell Heli-copter and Boeing Helicopters was awarded a development contract in 1983 for the tiltrotor aircraft. The Bell Boeing team jointly produce the aircraft.[5] The V-22 first flew in 1989, and began flight testing and design alterations; the complexity and difficulties of being the first tiltrotor intended for military service in the world led to many years of development.

The United States Marine Corps began crew training for the Osprey in 2000, and fielded it in 2007; it supplemented and then replaced their Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knights. The Os-prey’s other operator, the U.S. Air Force, fielded their version of the tiltrotor in 2009. Since entering service with the U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force, the Osprey has been deployed in transportation and medivac operations over Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Kuwait.

The Revell Kit

This isn’t a new Revell kit, being first released some years ago (apparently 1989 by Italeri and later in 1996 by Revell) but with new decals this time. It is pretty well detailed, has inte-rior details – including the prominent Tiltrotor double engine assemblies and raised interior cockpit detailing. Raised panel lines are evident but these are very restrained and the shape overall looks good.

It’s also worth pointing out that the model as presented is more akin to a V-22 Osprey, lack-ing a number of the antennae and other surface details applicable to the later MV-22. To be honest, these are pretty minor and many of these can easily be added using reference pics – the Net has many to choose from!

The grey sprues (including the clear one) look and feel good quality with most parts clean and well-defined and some of the smaller details like lap belts on the seats look fine in this scale. Here are a few of the manufacturer’s made up model to give you a good idea of what this model can look like – certainly looks like an Osprey to me!

ZOOM - Move your mouse over image

Box and contents

The Revell box artwork is usually impressive enough and that’s the case here – an image of an V-22 (rather than an MV-22 as advertised) getting airborne in the desert.

Let’s go inside

The grey sprues are packaged well and no damage is apparent. Taking the main components first, they are well tooled, raised panel line detail may not suit everyone but it has a quality feel and is refined – a little surprising given the age of this kit. No distortion on the main grey parts was apparent and a dry fit of the main fuselage promises a decent fit; the initial im-pression is one of detail parts that will go to make up a nice representative model in 1:72 scale.

Cockpit and interior

Raised detail on the cockpit panels is provided. The other internal details are well detailed too as you can see from the attached photos and will add a fair bit to the eventual look.

Engines

This area of the model is well dealt with – two detailed faces to the engine intakes is there and the blade arrangement looks fine.

Other observations…
There is an option to open the rear cargo door and the interior fuselage is well detailed too with rows of seats and a moulded floor that looks convincing.
Undercarriage units and wheel hubs look good and ideal for the scale.

Clear parts

The clear parts look clear and defect-free. Looking at the completed manufacturer’s model the canopy fit looks ok but may be one to watch with perhaps a little filler needed around the edges.
Gallery Grid PICs 10-16

Instructions

The Revell instructions look rather different this time – colour would you believe! Location of parts is clear but colour paint coding is for Revell paints only. You’ll have to match your own choice of paints if you go elsewhere for your choice of colour. The build sequence is pretty standard and logical but many modellers will part company with the stated order to suit their experience.

Decals

Options for only one aircraft is included:
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264, VMM-264 “Black Knights” MCAS New River, NC-USA, MV-22C 168300 2013 – present.
Looking at the manufacturer’s completed model (above) the decals will look good when carefully applied.

Conclusion

This is a great subject and it’s great that it’s back and readily available at the time of writing. This model will provide all military fans, especially those with interest in a US Navy / Ma-rines theme or if you are just looking for something ‘different’ to build, an opportunity to expand your collection.

The model itself looks to be well engineered from the dry/test-fit. Moulding is good and the raised panel detail ok in my opinion although you may have a different view and feel that a complete panel line re-scribe is justified – your call.
Geoff C.

SMN Quick Summary Rating out of 5

FEATURE	STAR RATING (out of five)
Quality of moulding	***
Level of detail	***
Accuracy	***
Instructions	***
Decals	****
Subject choice	****
Overall	***