CMK 4276 1/48 Modern US AH-6F/J Little Bird (Attack)Version Conversion & Weapon Set for Academy kit

The kit of the MD-500D US helicopter produced by Academy in 1/48 scale is very nice and cheap. But it lacks two essential things. The first is imprecise interior (even the MH-6 version) and dull civilian markings. Therefore CMK decided to produce detailed conversion set allowing modelers to build AH-6F/J ground attack version.
Originally, 23 AH/MH-8B and 15 AH/MH-6C machines were converted from OH-6A. These are not interesting for us since they were converted from OH-6A Cayuse that, among others differences, features four bladed main rotor. The important ones are the later versions based upon MD-500D with five bladed main rotor. Only 9 machines were converted to AH-6F version (serial nos. 84-24319, 84-24677, 84-24681, 84-24683 to 84-24684 and 85-25347 to 85-25250). AH-6J version were either converted from older AH-6s or modified from MD-500MGs (for inst. serial nos. 88-25351 to 88-25357, 89-25351 to 89-25356, 90-25357 to 90-25360, 90-25362 to 90-25364, 91-25364, 91-25365, 95-25367 to 95-25372).
The only unit to operate Little Birds is US Army?s 160th SOAR. Over the time, they were deployed in Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury in 1983), in Nicaragua (Contras forces support in 1983), in the Persian Gulf against Iranian naval forces (Operation Prime Chance in 1987), in Panama (Operation Gothic Serpent in 1989), in Somalia in 1993, in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003) and elsewhere. Since all machines are constantly upgraded, please pay attention to the instruction sheet and particular machine?s photos. Do not confuse this version with MH/AH-6M that features six bladed main rotor, four bladed tail rotor, bigger rear doors opening and winch for fast insertion and extraction.
The set contains completely new cockpit including rear bulkhead, antennas, dorsal air bleed door, new engine exhaust, lengthened tail rotor drive shaft, universal weapon pylon for various external armaments, Two M260 Hydra rocket pods, two six-barreled M134 miniguns, ammunition box and additional fuel tank. The set includes color photo-etched parts and decals. The base kit for this conversion can be used Academy 1/48 scale MH-6 Stealth kit.