In Box Review of Novo 1/72nd Scale Lynx Multi-role Helicopter
Kit no. 78083
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1979
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1979
Out of production
HISTORY:
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose twin-engined military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants.
The Lynx went into operational usage in 1977 and was later adopted by the armed forces of over a dozen nations, primarily serving in the battlefield utility, anti-armor, search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare roles. The Lynx is a fully aerobatic helicopter with the ability to perform loops and rolls.
In 1986, a specially modified Lynx set the current Fédération Aéronautique Internationale official airspeed record for helicopters (category excludes compound helicopters) at 400.87 km/h (249.09 mph), which remains unbroken as of 2020. Several land and naval variants of the Lynx have been produced along with some major derivatives.
The Westland 30 was produced as a civil utility helicopter; it was not a commercial success and only a small number were built during the 1980s. In the 21st century, a modernised variant of the Lynx was designed as a multi-role combat helicopter, designated as the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat; the Wildcat is intended to replace existing Lynx helicopters.
The Lynx remains in production by AgustaWestland, the successor to Westland Helicopters.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Multi-purpose military helicopter
National origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Westland Helicopters, AgustaWestland
First flight: 21 March 1971
Introduction to service: 1978
Retired: 2017 (Royal Navy), 2018 (British Army)
Primary users: British Army (historical), Royal Navy (historical), German Navy
Produced: 1978–present
Number built: 450 (as of 2009)
Developed into: Westland 30, Agustawestland AW159 Wildcat
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose twin-engined military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants.
The Lynx went into operational usage in 1977 and was later adopted by the armed forces of over a dozen nations, primarily serving in the battlefield utility, anti-armor, search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare roles. The Lynx is a fully aerobatic helicopter with the ability to perform loops and rolls.
In 1986, a specially modified Lynx set the current Fédération Aéronautique Internationale official airspeed record for helicopters (category excludes compound helicopters) at 400.87 km/h (249.09 mph), which remains unbroken as of 2020. Several land and naval variants of the Lynx have been produced along with some major derivatives.
The Westland 30 was produced as a civil utility helicopter; it was not a commercial success and only a small number were built during the 1980s. In the 21st century, a modernised variant of the Lynx was designed as a multi-role combat helicopter, designated as the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat; the Wildcat is intended to replace existing Lynx helicopters.
The Lynx remains in production by AgustaWestland, the successor to Westland Helicopters.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Multi-purpose military helicopter
National origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Westland Helicopters, AgustaWestland
First flight: 21 March 1971
Introduction to service: 1978
Retired: 2017 (Royal Navy), 2018 (British Army)
Primary users: British Army (historical), Royal Navy (historical), German Navy
Produced: 1978–present
Number built: 450 (as of 2009)
Developed into: Westland 30, Agustawestland AW159 Wildcat
THE KIT:
Novo is an old model company based in Russia.
This kit comes in a blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is 2 ½” too long.
The box art shows a Lynx flying over a couple destroyers.
It has an overall dark blue spine and radio antennas, a matt cream colored roof, a black nose. Its tail propeller has red and white stripes on it. It carries French Navy roundels on its sides. It has the torpedos on side pylons that are overall bright-metal. It carries a white fuselage code FZKCV.
Both side panels say: Contents -63 parts. Revolving rotors. Rotatable wheels. Decal sheet with markings for alternate versions shown on base of the box. Length of model is 7”, in 8 languages, including English.
Novo is an old model company based in Russia.
This kit comes in a blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is 2 ½” too long.
The box art shows a Lynx flying over a couple destroyers.
It has an overall dark blue spine and radio antennas, a matt cream colored roof, a black nose. Its tail propeller has red and white stripes on it. It carries French Navy roundels on its sides. It has the torpedos on side pylons that are overall bright-metal. It carries a white fuselage code FZKCV.
Both side panels say: Contents -63 parts. Revolving rotors. Rotatable wheels. Decal sheet with markings for alternate versions shown on base of the box. Length of model is 7”, in 8 languages, including English.
The bottom of the box serves as the marking and painting guide. It shows two 4-views.
One 4-view is the box art scheme (already described above). It was the 2nd French Navy prototype Lynx (ex. 1974, XX911), Bordaux & Marignac, France.
The other 4-view Lynx is overall matt dark-green, with a gloss olive drab nose. It carries Roya Navy roundels on its sides and is on landing-skids, vs wheeled under-carriage. The tail propeller has red, white, red stripes on it. The center of the main propeller is matt medium-grey. It says “LYNX” in white on the front of its nose.
It was a utility- Lynx (Rolls Royce Engine Development Prototype XX907), Filton, Bristol 1973.
One 4-view is the box art scheme (already described above). It was the 2nd French Navy prototype Lynx (ex. 1974, XX911), Bordaux & Marignac, France.
The other 4-view Lynx is overall matt dark-green, with a gloss olive drab nose. It carries Roya Navy roundels on its sides and is on landing-skids, vs wheeled under-carriage. The tail propeller has red, white, red stripes on it. The center of the main propeller is matt medium-grey. It says “LYNX” in white on the front of its nose.
It was a utility- Lynx (Rolls Royce Engine Development Prototype XX907), Filton, Bristol 1973.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit carries 3 medium-grey parts trees, a clear tree and the decal sheet in a clear sealed cello bag.
The instructions consistof a single-sheet, folded 4 times to create 8 pages in 4 ¼” x 7 ½” page format, with each page tucked over at the bottom for another 4” of length.
Page 1 just says: Novo Aircraft Kits, over instructions and Kit no. 78083, in 8 languages, including English.
Page 2 gives general instructions in the 8 languages.
Page 3 has 10 TOP MODELING TIPS shown with illustrations.
Page 4 is the history of the Lynx in the 8 languages.
Across the bottom of the pages, on the 4” extension at the bottom , is international assembly symbol explanations and the first 4 assembly steps.
Pages 5 through 8 gives a balance of a grand total of 18 assembly steps.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Novo!
The 1st medium-grey tree holds: the fuselage and tail boom halves, fuselage roof, elevator, main propeller center etc. (14 parts)
This kit carries 3 medium-grey parts trees, a clear tree and the decal sheet in a clear sealed cello bag.
The instructions consistof a single-sheet, folded 4 times to create 8 pages in 4 ¼” x 7 ½” page format, with each page tucked over at the bottom for another 4” of length.
Page 1 just says: Novo Aircraft Kits, over instructions and Kit no. 78083, in 8 languages, including English.
Page 2 gives general instructions in the 8 languages.
Page 3 has 10 TOP MODELING TIPS shown with illustrations.
Page 4 is the history of the Lynx in the 8 languages.
Across the bottom of the pages, on the 4” extension at the bottom , is international assembly symbol explanations and the first 4 assembly steps.
Pages 5 through 8 gives a balance of a grand total of 18 assembly steps.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Novo!
The 1st medium-grey tree holds: the fuselage and tail boom halves, fuselage roof, elevator, main propeller center etc. (14 parts)
The 2nd medium-grey tree holds: the other fuselage and tail boom halves, torpedos, tail propeller, wheels etc. (16 parts)
The 3rd medium-grey tree holds: alternate noses, individual main propeller blades, floor, landing skids, crew etc. (31 parts)
The clear tree holds the windshield and fuselage side windows (5 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
This is a neat helicopter kit. Each version has a different nose shape that is provided.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.