After getting the HM Armed Forces Fast Jet vehicle, this was practically a done deal. In fact, the only surprise here is that I got the Harrier first, since most folks know what a hard-on I have for helos.
So here we are with HM Armed Forces’ take on the supreme CAS (Close Air Support) weapon of the Royal (and US) Army, the AH-64 Apache. This is the helicopter your parents warned you about. Built in the post-Vietnam era as a replacement for the venerable AH-1 Cobra (still in service, I might add), the AH-64 is the Army’s front-line attack helicopter thanks to a near perfect marriage of next-gen technology and old-world toughness. It has cutting edge advanced avionics and targeting/weapon systems, while still boasting some of best combat survivability in the business. In another ironic twist, the Apache is an American bird, just built and licensed by Westland for the Royal Army. In order to get this toy in America, though, you have to import one from the UK. Come on, US toy makers, this is stupid.
Keeping in the style of the Fast Jet, the huge and expensive-to-ship-internationally box does a fine job of letting you know what you’re in for. Like the Jets I particularly like the “Actual Size” blurb on the box top, reaffirming that you are buying a giant helicopter.
Interestingly, I think it looks very similar to the chubbier proportions my kitbash Mi-24 Hind has. Seriously though, how cool would it be if there was a Russian equivalent to a line like this with a Hind in it? Of course, if you thought getting things from the UK was bad, that would be damn near impossible. Thanks, Obama…
While it might seem a little contrary to impression, making the AH-64 into a 10-inch scale vehicle is actually even tougher than with the Harrier. See, the Harrier is actually a relatively small plane, measuring around 45 feet long and with a wingspan of a scant 25 feet. Compare that to the Skystriker’s inspiration, the F-14, which at 62 feet long and a 64 foot spread, and you get the idea why the Harrier is actually a pretty smart choice for a toy vehicle.
Now, the Apache, despite being only a two-seater, is a massive helicopter, clocking in around 50 feet for the fuselage alone (the rotors make it 60 feet), so cramming it into a compact, playable size is a bit tougher.
The Attack Helicopter makes a heroic effort to keep the realistic elements while making a more kid-friendly vehicle, but the proportions here make for a little more “chibi” than the ones of the Fast Jet. Where the latter’s slightly squished fuse and cockpit sections are similar to the “cheats” that 1/18 GI Joe vehicles use, this one, unfortunately, feels more like what Combat Heroes might have come up with.
That’s not all bad, though, especially from a toy standpoint where, again, this thing hits a lot of the right notes. The massive cockpit does an admirable job of fitting a 10-inch pilot. With a couple seats and some adjusting, it would be perfect for a 1/12-1/10 pilot and gunner; you couldn’t ask for a better space to build a cockpit into. The helicopter also incorporates a carry handle, has two firing missiles from the huge rocket pods, and the fixed gear rolls freely, and the rotors turn as well. On a pure toy downer, though, the chain gun under the nose is fixed in place. The whole assembly is thick and heavy, absolutely worthy of some serious backyard operations in the field, where maintenance can be a little spotty.
Still, I’m allegedly a grown-ass man, and as much fun as it is to run around with making the “whupwhupwhup” noises, the Apache still feels a bit sillier than the Harrier does. When lined up with a more collector-focused version like the BBI one, the sacrifices made to scale this thing are hard to ignore. The rotors are just stubby, and the fuse is missing a good 1/3 section. The molded plastic Hellfire missiles and rocket pods are just too big and low on the body, which makes it look just that more stubby and chunky. Now, this isn’t going to faze me one damn bit. I knew what I was getting into, and there’s a reason I’ve had this BBI one set aside all these years, but for those of you thinking about adding this to your rotary squadrons as-is, it’s worth noting.
On the good news side, the Attack Helicopter seems to be one of the easier-to-get vehicles from this line, and there’s a fair amount of them on eBay UK where I snagged mine. It’s not cheap by any measure, but it isn’t like there’s many other options out there for big vehicles. The overall quality and detailing is still very excellent, and worth a good price, but if you’re a little self-conscious about your toys looking a little fat, take that into account. As for this one, I think some paint and weathering, changing out some weapons, and maybe changing out for a longer tail boom. We’ll see.
