Messerschmitt-Bolkow BO 105 by Esci
1/48 scale
Kit No. 4058
Retail: $30.00
Decals: Two versions – Spanish and West German
Comments: Engraved panel lines; separately mounted crew access doors
History
The Bo 105 is a light, twin-engine, multi-purpose utility helicopter developed by Bölkow of Stuttgart, Germany. Production began under Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), which became a part of Eurocopter in 1991. Eurocopter continued to produce the Bo 105 until 2001, when it was replaced in the product line by the EC 135, ancestor of the EC 635.
Design of the Bo 105 lightweight, general purpose helicopter was begun in July 1962 utilising basic experience gained by the company in the preceding few years in building the Bo 102 and Bo 103. The former was a non-flying, ultra-light helicopter trainer, and the Bo 103, flown for the first time on September 9, 1961, was essentially the same aircraft minus its fixed base. An enlarged version of the Bo 103 was proposed as the Bo 104, but this project was supplanted by the more promising Bo 105.
The first Bo 105 prototype, powered by a pair of Allison T63 shaft turbine engines and using a conventional hinged-rotor installation, encountered ground resonance problems which eventually caused its destruction. The second machine, which flew for the first time on February 16, 1967, was similarly powered but introduced the 4-blade rigid rotor intended for use in production aircraft. These will be powered by two 375shp MAN-Turbomotoren shaft turbine engines as fitted in the third prototype machine, which first flew on December 20, 1967. In addition to the pilot the Bo105 will accommodate 3 or 4 passengers with their baggage, and its development continued through the end of 1967. The non-articulated rotor, whose fold-able blades are reinforced with glassfibre, was developed over several years by Bolkow in association with Sud-Aviation and was adopted by the French company for its own SA.341 Gazelle light helicopter.
The BO 105 has won a well-deserved reputation for performance and reliability since it first flew over 50 years ago. Today this adaptable craft remains in worldwide military and civilian service, although production ended in 2001. To pilots, the BO 105 is a delight to fly, offering good flying characteristics with great agility thanks to its rigid rotors. The current BO 105 with seating for six in an extended fuselage is regarded as one of the most sensible and effective light helicopters in the world, offering a superb view from its rounded contour nose. Rescue versions of the BO 105 have saved thousands of people in life-threatening situations. It has made a great impact in construction, ambulance and police work, and influenced the design of one of the most capable tank-destroyers currently in military service.
The Kit
Esci’s BO 105 is injection molded in dull silver and consists of 79 parts, including 12 clear parts for the cockpit’s bubble canopy, cabin windows and navigation lights. The cockpit is fairly detailed with individual seats bearing engraved detail, individual control yokes, foot controls, and an instrument panel to be adorned with a decal. A couch bearing engraved detail representing upholstery is to be cemented to the rear cabin bulkhead.
The main fuselage of the helicopter consists of two halves, with the tail boom integrally molded to the main body. There is a detailed rotor assembly and two of the four rotor blades are individually mounted. Skids, exhausts, antennae, blade antennae, and a windshield wiper are all to be individually mounted, as are the crew access doors on either side of the fuselage. Modelers should take note if they want to depict the cabin with open doors: the door on the right side slides open, while the door on the left side opens conventionally, as on an automobile.
Markings
Esci provides decals for two different versions of the BO 105. The first is for a Spanish version, a BO 105 belonging to the Spanish Civil Guard, calling for a two-tone paint scheme of Silver over Green. The second is for a West German machine of the Bundes Grenzschutz, or Federal Border Protection, calling for a paint scheme of overall Dark Green. Both aircraft bear the national marking only on the boom, although the German version bears the emblem of West Germany, a gold eagle on a black shield (which actually reverses the colors of Germany’s official coat of arms). As is typical of Esci, these markings appear too flat to look realistic once applied to the surface of the model and may be prone to silvering without treatment with a product such as Looks Like Glass or a similar clear lacquer.
Conclusion
This is a great kit of an internationally famous helicopter, perhaps as well-known in Europe as the Bell UH-1 Huey is in the United States. It is nicely detailed, but some modelers may want to use aftermarket replacements when it comes to the decals. Highly recommended.
Reference
https://www.aviastar.org/