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 Helicopter and Boeing Helicopters was awarded a development contract in 1983 for the tiltrotor aircraft. The Bell Boeing team jointly produce the aircraft. 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 Osprey'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.

Fourteen USMC and five USAF squadrons operate the Osprey. For those of us who like anime, Osprey-like aircraft are featured extensively in those series' that depict either modern or near future themes.

THE KIT

It used to be that as soon as a prototype of an aircraft was produced, Hasegawa and others would rush out and mold a kit. However, having been bitten by airframe changes between the prototype and production planes, most companies will now wait for the definitive production aircraft before expending the funds. Back in the very early 1990s, Italeri jumped on the Osprey by producing kits in both 1/72 and 1/48 of the prototypes. Your editor built the Italeri version in 1/48 and it was quite a struggle! Now, Hasegawa has provided us with what looks to be a very nice kit of this plane in 1/72 scale, the scale in which I prefer to build (as much due to diminishing shelf space as anything else).

This is the initial boxing and while there will be many Limited Editions (as there already have been), the initial boxing of the kit will remain in production for as long as Hasegawa is around. It is just their business plan when it comes to kits. The good news for modelers is that the standard boxing is almost always less expensive than the Limited Editions and for those using aftermarket markings, is the best deal.

All of the sprues are packed inside a single poly bag, as is the norm for Hasegawa. There are ten sprues of which two are clear and one is dedicated to a display stand, something that I like and that is appropriate for displaying this aircraft with the wings level. The kit provides an adequate interior with seats, control sticks and instrument panel. Decals are used for the instruments and consoles with two pilot figures included. Interestingly, one does not populate the cockpit until after the airframe is pretty much together.

While there are interior bulkheads, there is no cabin detail. The rear doors are molded as one piece and designed to be modeled closed. There are separate flaps for the wings as they are to be deployed during vertical flight. The kit cannot be modeled in the storage position. However, the engines can be moved to either vertical or horizontal flight and anything in between as they are held on the tips of the wings by polycaps. The rotor blades are two parts with a lower half to allow easy insertion into the prop hub. The builder is also provided with the option for gear up if so desired, though it means cutting the door hinges to do so. The kit provides a remarkable number of antennas and aerodynamic devices so care needs to be taken when gluing these in place.

Instructions use Gunze paint references and while the instructions look complex at first glance, studying them shows that they are quite logically arranged and should be quite helpful. Typical of Marine helos, this one is in three shades of grey. Both markings options are commander's aircraft with colorful tail markings. The box art plane is from VMM-165 based at MCAS Miramar in 2011 while the other is with VMM-265 at MCAS Futenma in Japan. Hasegawa provides the option of painting the background of the tail markings and using separate decals for the unit and serial markings, a nice touch. The decals are very nicely done and provide all the standard markings including the rather extensive wing and fuselage walk areas. For those who wish a standard 'line bird', these can be found on some aftermarket sheets.

CONCLUSIONS

One expects a nice kit from Hasegawa and in this case, you do get it. If you have the Italeri version, you might want to raffle it off or something as it is based on the prototype. Already there has been a JASDF limited edition  and I'm sure there will be more to come, including a dedicated USAF variant. Well worth picking up if you are a fan of modern aircraft. As a note, for those who don't mind waiting a bit for your kits, it is well worth picking up from Japanese retailers as even with the shipping, especially if buying more than one kit, it is far less expensive than US retail and even most discount places.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Boeing_V-22_Osprey 

November 2015

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