Review by: Geoff Coughlin (Dec 2011)
Our thanks to Revell for supplying our review sample. 
A little bit of Inspiration & Reference…
The Kit
This is another impressive package from Revell, with what looks like the two main grey sprues from an earlier release plus one new one (lighter grey) for the “Navy” variant. Recessed panel lines – looking restrained in this scale, plus a look and feel of high quality moulding with parts crisp and sharp.
I guess The NH 90 was Europe’s answer to the Westland Lynx package and, like the Lynx, has been adapted and improved to become a multi-purpose helicopter used by many air Arms in many different countries.
Box and Contents
The Revell box artwork is usually impressive enough, which is the case here – an image of a Dutch Navy NH 90 on anti-submarine duty banking to go in for the ‘kill’.
Let’s go inside…
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images.
The light grey sprues are packaged well and no damage is apparent.
Taking the main components first, they are well tooled, recessed panel line detail and have a quality feel, that isn’t too heavy for the scale. No distortion was apparent and a dry fit of the fuselage promises a decent fit; the initial impression is one of a lot of detail parts that will go to make up an impressively large model in 1:72 scale.
Cockpit and Interior
These are definite highlights of the model with bulkheads, seats, floor and rear seating all well detailed. The option to open the rear cabin doors and reveal the detailed interior is also a positive feature.
Decals are available on the decal sheet to add to the instrument panels in the cockpit. The tubular mounting frames for the cockpit seats look good, as do the rest of the instrument panel mountings.
There are operator systems positions and various weapons/stores dispensers that all attach to the floor and will make the rear cabin look pretty busy.
The main airframe has a multitude of sensors and antennae that, when added and later painted, will create good weathering opportunities if that’s your want.
Engine and Rotor Assemblies
This is certainly another highlight of the kit, with detailed rotor head assembly, as well as blades, crisply tooled. The rear tail rotor unit is separate so that it can be mounted in the folded position.
Undercarriage Units
Impressively detailed units are supplied, although not a lot of the actual units will be visible when the sponsons are attached over the main gear units.
Stores
The main items included and what look like torpedo/depth charges, frequently carried of course on the Navy versions of the NH 90.
Nose Weight
Not sure if you need this, but it will be as well to look for an opportunity to add some somewhere around the forward area to avoid the risk of a tail-sitter.
Clear Parts
The clear parts look clear and the canopy/windscreen is provided as a one-piece moulding.
In addition, there are various windows provided in all the right places. Internal fitting looks clean, so they shouldn’t detract too much from the internal look of the model.
Instructions and Decals
The Revell instructions follow their usual exploded stages format. 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 modeller’s will part company with the stated order to suit their experience.
The decals look to be good quality with two options to choose from in terms of finish:
- NHI NH 90FTH Netherlands Navy 2011
- NHI NH 90FTH CEPA 105 Hyeres
Stencil detail is also provided, which is almost always well worth adding, even in 1:72 scale to add additional interest to your completed model. All the colours are in register and colour density looks impressive and carrier film limited, so I wouldn’t expect any problems with application.
Conclusion
This is a good subject and will provide all helo fans with an opportunity to expand their collection to include an important European type.
The inclusion of quite different colour schemes on Revell’s decal sheet is attractive and the model itself looks to be well engineered at first glance and from the dry/test-fit.
Moulding is good and the panel detail perfectly reasonable for current 1:72 scale kits.
FEATURE STAR RATING (out of five)
Quality of moulding ****
Accuracy ****
Instructions ***
Decals ****
Subject choice ****
Overall ****
Highly recommended for all scale modellers.
Geoff C.