In Box Review of Platz 1/144th Scale UH-60J & U-125A Trainer
Kit no. PD-24:2400
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: 2,400 Yen ($21.76 U.S. Dollars)
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: 2,400 Yen ($21.76 U.S. Dollars)
THE KIT:
Platz and F-toys are based in Shizuoka, Japan. F-toys manufactured this kit and Platz is the seller.
This is a two in 1 kit, containing 2 aircraft.
The kit came in an un-wrapped end opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box. Because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows color photos of the UH-60J & the U-125A posed against clouds. In the foreground is a man and women anime figures.
The UH-60J helicopter has a white spine over a canary yellow undercarriage. It has black windshield framing and black fuel tanks on pylons, a black fuselage number 578 under the cockpit and on the rear of the fuselage is black Japanese characters followed by black serial no. 38-4578.
The U-125A is pale-grey over sky undercarriage. It has a black fuse number 017 under the cockpit and black serial no. 92-3017 on the side of the rudder.
One side panel of the box has features of the kit in Japanese and English: "This is a plastic un-assembled scale model kit, glue and paint are not included, some parts are extremely sharp, handle with care, do not use paint and glue near a flame, kit is suitable for modelers over the age of 15".
This is partially repeated in French and the copyright of the kit is given as being 2018 and the kit was made in Japan.
The other side panel has a lot of Japanese text and Platz's telephone and FAX numbers and their street address in Shizuoka City, Japan.
The bottom of the box has a color side view of the UH-60J and the U-125A. Both schemes have already been described above.
Platz and F-toys are based in Shizuoka, Japan. F-toys manufactured this kit and Platz is the seller.
This is a two in 1 kit, containing 2 aircraft.
The kit came in an un-wrapped end opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box. Because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows color photos of the UH-60J & the U-125A posed against clouds. In the foreground is a man and women anime figures.
The UH-60J helicopter has a white spine over a canary yellow undercarriage. It has black windshield framing and black fuel tanks on pylons, a black fuselage number 578 under the cockpit and on the rear of the fuselage is black Japanese characters followed by black serial no. 38-4578.
The U-125A is pale-grey over sky undercarriage. It has a black fuse number 017 under the cockpit and black serial no. 92-3017 on the side of the rudder.
One side panel of the box has features of the kit in Japanese and English: "This is a plastic un-assembled scale model kit, glue and paint are not included, some parts are extremely sharp, handle with care, do not use paint and glue near a flame, kit is suitable for modelers over the age of 15".
This is partially repeated in French and the copyright of the kit is given as being 2018 and the kit was made in Japan.
The other side panel has a lot of Japanese text and Platz's telephone and FAX numbers and their street address in Shizuoka City, Japan.
The bottom of the box has a color side view of the UH-60J and the U-125A. Both schemes have already been described above.
HISTORY OF THE H-60J:
The Mitsubishi H-60 series is twin-turbo shaft engine helicopter based on the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter family for use by the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JASDF).
The SH-60J/K are anti-submarine patrol versions for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The UH-60J is a search and rescue version for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and JMSDF.
The UH-60JA is a utility version for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).
The JMSDF chose SH-60B Seahawk as the successor of the Mitsubishi HSS-2A/B Sea King. The Japan Defense Agency acquired a S-70B-2 from Sikorsky for study in 1985.
The Defense Agency was going to develop Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) Mk III for Japan, but it was declined by the United States, and most avionics sets were developed in the Technical Research and Development Institute.
The Defense Agency ordered two XSH-60Js from Sikorsky for $27 million. Their first flights were on 31 August and in October 1987. The Defense Agency designated the model SH-60J. They were fitted with Japanese avionics systems and tested by the JMSDF.
The SH-60J is built in Japan under license from Sikorsky. It began deliveries in August 1991 and entered service thereafter.
Based on a concept of the JMSDF, HQS-103 Dipping Sonar, HPS-104 active electronically scanned array Search Radar, and HLR-108 ESM System equipment of the avionics of SH-60B be different.
The engine is the GE/IHI T700-IHI-701C turboshaft, which Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries produced under license. It is a hybrid of SH-60B and SH-60F, except for avionics.
The crew includes a pilot, copilot and sensor operator. The copilot can concentrate on the role of Tactical Coordinator with the help of the Automatic Flight Management System and Inertial Navigation system
Over 100 SH-60J's have been produced by 2007.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: ASW/SAR helicopter
National origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
First flight: 31 August 1987
Introduction to service: 1991
Status: In service
Primary user: Japan Self-Defense Forces
Number built: 178
Developed from: Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk, Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
The Mitsubishi H-60 series is twin-turbo shaft engine helicopter based on the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter family for use by the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JASDF).
The SH-60J/K are anti-submarine patrol versions for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The UH-60J is a search and rescue version for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and JMSDF.
The UH-60JA is a utility version for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).
The JMSDF chose SH-60B Seahawk as the successor of the Mitsubishi HSS-2A/B Sea King. The Japan Defense Agency acquired a S-70B-2 from Sikorsky for study in 1985.
The Defense Agency was going to develop Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) Mk III for Japan, but it was declined by the United States, and most avionics sets were developed in the Technical Research and Development Institute.
The Defense Agency ordered two XSH-60Js from Sikorsky for $27 million. Their first flights were on 31 August and in October 1987. The Defense Agency designated the model SH-60J. They were fitted with Japanese avionics systems and tested by the JMSDF.
The SH-60J is built in Japan under license from Sikorsky. It began deliveries in August 1991 and entered service thereafter.
Based on a concept of the JMSDF, HQS-103 Dipping Sonar, HPS-104 active electronically scanned array Search Radar, and HLR-108 ESM System equipment of the avionics of SH-60B be different.
The engine is the GE/IHI T700-IHI-701C turboshaft, which Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries produced under license. It is a hybrid of SH-60B and SH-60F, except for avionics.
The crew includes a pilot, copilot and sensor operator. The copilot can concentrate on the role of Tactical Coordinator with the help of the Automatic Flight Management System and Inertial Navigation system
Over 100 SH-60J's have been produced by 2007.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: ASW/SAR helicopter
National origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
First flight: 31 August 1987
Introduction to service: 1991
Status: In service
Primary user: Japan Self-Defense Forces
Number built: 178
Developed from: Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk, Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
ABOUT "RESCUE WINGS"
The "Rescue Wings" is a Japanese anime series on TV Tokyo in 2006. The main character is a helicopter pilot deployed to the Komatsu Rescue Squadron, a unit of the Air Rescue Wing of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).
The "Rescue Wings" is a Japanese anime series on TV Tokyo in 2006. The main character is a helicopter pilot deployed to the Komatsu Rescue Squadron, a unit of the Air Rescue Wing of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).
HISTORY OF THE U-125A:
The British Aerospace 125 is a twin jet mid-size business jet. Originally
developed by de Havilland and initially designated as the DH125 Jet Dragon, it entered production as the Hawker Siddeley HS.125, which was the designation used until 1977.
Later on, more recent variants of the type were marketed as the Hawker 800.
The type proved quite popular overseas; more than 60% of the total sales for the aircraft were to North American customers.
It was also used by the Royal Air Force as a navigation trainer, as the Hawker Siddeley Dominie T1, and was operated by the United States Air Force as a calibration aircraft, under the designation C-29
The British Aerospace 125 is a twin jet mid-size business jet. Originally
developed by de Havilland and initially designated as the DH125 Jet Dragon, it entered production as the Hawker Siddeley HS.125, which was the designation used until 1977.
Later on, more recent variants of the type were marketed as the Hawker 800.
The type proved quite popular overseas; more than 60% of the total sales for the aircraft were to North American customers.
It was also used by the Royal Air Force as a navigation trainer, as the Hawker Siddeley Dominie T1, and was operated by the United States Air Force as a calibration aircraft, under the designation C-29
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
For the UH-60J helicopter there are 2 dark-grey trees and a clear tree in a sealed clear cello bag and a shared decal sheet that has the marks of the UH-60J and the U-125A on it. There are 2 instruction sheets. Both are 8 1/4" x 11 3/4" format, printed on both sides on slick-coated paper.
The face side of the first instructions begins with parts trees illustrations for the UH-60J and 3 assembly steps for building it.
There are 5 frosted clear parts trees and a steel PE fret in a length of clear cello that has been made into compartments.
The first compartment holds the fuselage halves that have been pressed together. (2 parts)
For the UH-60J helicopter there are 2 dark-grey trees and a clear tree in a sealed clear cello bag and a shared decal sheet that has the marks of the UH-60J and the U-125A on it. There are 2 instruction sheets. Both are 8 1/4" x 11 3/4" format, printed on both sides on slick-coated paper.
The face side of the first instructions begins with parts trees illustrations for the UH-60J and 3 assembly steps for building it.
There are 5 frosted clear parts trees and a steel PE fret in a length of clear cello that has been made into compartments.
The first compartment holds the fuselage halves that have been pressed together. (2 parts)
The second compartment holds the fuel tanks (2 parts)
The third compartment holds the elevators and individual main rotor blades (5 parts)
The fourth compartment holds the tail rotor, its hub etc. (10 parts)
The fifth compartment holds the landing-gear legs and side pylons (6 parts)
The steel PE fret holds antennas etc. (13 parts)
U-125A Trees are not alphabetized and have no part number tabs next to the parts on them. They are however illustrated in the instructions.
The first dark-grey tree holds: the fuselage, cowlings etc. (17 parts) 12 parts are shaded out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess and not needed to complete the model.
The first dark-grey tree holds: the fuselage, cowlings etc. (17 parts) 12 parts are shaded out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess and not needed to complete the model.
The second dark-gray tree holds: wings, elevators, seats, landing gear legs, wheels etc. (18 parts)
The clear tree holds the cockpit and fuselage windows (3 parts)
The decals complete the kit with the UH-60J decals at the top of the sheet and the U-125A markings at the bottom. A line divides the decals.
The face side of the second instruction sheet is all in Japanese.
The reverse side begins with a suggested listing of paint colors by GSI Creos Mr. Color and Testors/Model Master brands of hobby paints, over a 4-view line drawing of the UH-60J, another 4-view of it as a color and marking guide and a 4 view of the U-125A as a color and marking guide.
The reverse side begins with a suggested listing of paint colors by GSI Creos Mr. Color and Testors/Model Master brands of hobby paints, over a 4-view line drawing of the UH-60J, another 4-view of it as a color and marking guide and a 4 view of the U-125A as a color and marking guide.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR U-125A:
Role:Mid-size business jet
Manufacturer: De Havilland (design), Hawker Siddeley (to 1977), British Aerospace (1977–1993), Raytheon (1993–2007), Hawker Beechcraft (2007–2013)
First flight: 13 August 1962
Status: Still in active service
Primary users: Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Brazilian Air Force
Produced : 1963–2012
Number built: 1,720
Unit cost: £150,000 (1962)-600: U.S. $1.45M (1972), $12,995,000 (1995)
Variants: Hawker 800
There are no pilot or crew figures in the kit. Detail is all engraved. Flaps are all molded solid.
I want to thank the folks at Platz who sent me this review sample.
All their products can be viewed on their web site at:
Role:Mid-size business jet
Manufacturer: De Havilland (design), Hawker Siddeley (to 1977), British Aerospace (1977–1993), Raytheon (1993–2007), Hawker Beechcraft (2007–2013)
First flight: 13 August 1962
Status: Still in active service
Primary users: Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Brazilian Air Force
Produced : 1963–2012
Number built: 1,720
Unit cost: £150,000 (1962)-600: U.S. $1.45M (1972), $12,995,000 (1995)
Variants: Hawker 800
There are no pilot or crew figures in the kit. Detail is all engraved. Flaps are all molded solid.
I want to thank the folks at Platz who sent me this review sample.
All their products can be viewed on their web site at: