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1/32 scale Bölkow Bo-105
The MBB (Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm) Bo-105 was a German light, twin-engine, multi-purpose utility helicopter developed by Bölkow of Stuttgart, Germany. First flight was in 1967. Engine was from Allison and it was a versatile small helicopter with a four bladed rigid rotor. Production of the Bo-105C started around 1973 and many helicopters were delivered to the German BundesHeer.
Used for light utility transport, recon and also a special anti tank version with TOW or HOT missiles was developed. A specialist anti-tank version armed with Euromissile HOT missiles and designated as the Bo-105PAH-1 was procured by the German Army around the same time, with a total of 212 eventually being delivered.
Thirty Bo-105 helicopters delivered to the combined Royal Netherlands Army and Air Force (KLu) group GPLV between 1975 - 1976 as a replacement for Piper Cubs. One extra heli (B-83) was taken over from KLM Helicopters in 1982. Was first used as a testbed for night-flying equipment, later was used operational. Later, some aircraft were modified with kevlar plates and chaff/flare dispensers for UN operations. They are referred to as Bo-105CB4 and also have slightly more powerfull engines. Last KLu helicopter was put out of service in 2003.
Also for civillian duties the Bo-105 was used in The Netherlands, like by KLM Noordzee helicopters in the seventies and the Dutch police "Rijkspolitie" in the nineties.
The Bo-105 CBS version had a slightly longer fuselage with an extra cabin window on each side. The KLM Helicopters operated a few of these as well as Dutch ANWB and Dutch Police.
Production of the Bo-105 type ended in 2001.
Some data Bo-105 CB:Crew of 2 and 3 passengers/ soldiers; Two Allison 250-C20B engines of 400 hp to 420 hp at take-off; empty weight: 1275 kg, max TO weight about 2500 kg; Fuselage length: 8,56 m; main rotor diameter: 9,85 m; tail rotor diameter: 1,90 m; standard skid width: 2,53 m.
For the Bo-105C: empty weight about 1154 kg, max TO weight 2300 kg; max speed 270 km/hr and cruise speed 245 km/hr; range about 575 km.
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The MBB Bo-105 was released as 1/32 scale model kit in 1978 by Italaerei from Italy. (later called Italeri). Kit #601 was very welcome at the time though it was rather basic. The approx. 80 parts in dark green plastic were in 2 sprues with also a transparant sprue.
Kit #601 had decals for:
- a basic transport helicopter coded "B-37" of the Royal Netherlands Air Force helicopter group (GPLV) operated with the Army;
- a military West German Bundesheer anti tank PAH-1 version 82+96;
- a West German civilian helicopter "D-9574".
A rear bench #16B is in the kit and a closed rear bulkhead #17A. The instrument console #18A has raised clocks and very simple. The sprues had crew figures but no helmets. The wind screen has a single wiper moulded as raised frames so not separate.
The biggest fault in the early kits were the forgotten pair of large collective pilot controls! But these can be made from some plastic rod.
Revell Germany sought cooperation with Italeri and also released this 1/32 kit as #H-2025 in 1978.
Over the years, this appeared in various Revell releases including kit #4426 in 1983 with decals for a KLM Helikopters Bo-105.
Other releases had decals for the ADAC and more.
But also by Italeri, this kit was released several times over the years with same kit number but different box tops. The kit of 1997 had unfortunately Royal Netherlands AF roundels with an incorrect a too light blue colour....
These are the common kit parts and sprues in very dark green plastic:
Here in the sprues also 2 helmets for the 2 crew are included.
(note: hatch cut out here by me)
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The interior is basic with dual pilot seat and a bench in the back. The aft bulkhead was moulded closed as often this was covered by sound isolation padding. At the rear of the cabin there was some room for cargo or 2 stretchers below the small Allison engines compartment.
Kit #4416 "HELITOW" of 1992 continued the same main parts but also had some extra sprues with new parts for Swedish TOW missile launchers and included Swedish ArmeFlyget markings.
Revell kit #04442 of 1998 for a PAH 1A1 "KWS" with decals for two Bundesheer schemes.
Revell further improved in 2014 the kit though it still has many common parts with their previous Italeri/Revell kits.
The changed REVELL kit #04906 for a PAH 1A1 / Bo-105P released in 2014 is shown here. Revell added a sprue with extra parts including the pair of collective pilot controls. HOT missile containers are in the kit. Also, it has now the option with an open lower bulkhead section leading to the rear cargo floor (which floor extension is not provided). The closed bulkhead is also still in the original sprues. The intake has protective screen and another type of roof top fairing for the targeting system.
Some smaller bits are for the protective missile warning sensors. But the pilot helmets are not anymore in the sprues and they made small changes to some parts. Also, big wind screen has now two wipers, moulded into the transparency (so not separate). If you want a better look and are brave enough, sanding off the windscreen wipers and polishing is needed. A new pair of wipers can be made from thin stretched sprue.
The skid is of the "wider" type for which the skid parts were adapted as per kit. To confuse us more... the parts have the same part nos. #24 + 25 as in the Italeri kit but are changed by Revell!. The wider skid has a thicker and longer upper bar section and differences at the joints. So for an older type Bo-105, the skid needs to be adapted.
The horizontal tailplane in this Revell kit is also the later "wider" type with more span but same chord and end-plates and are in the kit. And again, have the same part no. #29. On the end plates, the small stubs with the two anti-collision lights are correctly seen.
Decals are for a single but nice livery for the 35th anniversary of Heeres Flieger KHR 26 "Roth":
Several Bo-105 kits of various releases will be made in different schemes.
.
- Bo-105 in detail, "present aircraft line no. 10", WWP publications, 2003;
- Bo-105C bij de KLu, Wilko Jonker, "Modelbouw in Plastic", 2015-2, IPMS Nederland;
- Bo-105. Kamphuis , serie LuchtvaartEncyclopedie, Afd. Luchtvaartkennis, april 1976;
- Air international, Vol.16, pages 215-221 and 246-248;
- Svenska Flygplans, Karlstrom, 1991 (Swedish drawings);
- AVIA, Dutch magazine, February 1980.
Walk arounds on the IPMS.NL website :
PART 1: Royal Netherlands Air Force Bo-105
PART 2: Other Bo-105 helicopters such as West German
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October 22, 2020