Aoshima 1/48 Scale Blue Thunder - A Look Back

Normal version

With white metal Gatling gun

It took 25 years for another good plastic kit of this iconic helicopter to be produced. And Aoshima didn't disappoint (though I wished they did it in 1/32). They came out in 2009 with two variant, one with normal parts and another with an added white metal Gatling gun. These kits are long out of production now and the best place to secure one is probably through eBay.

By comparison to the Monogram kit (besides their relative size), the Aoshima kit had more parts, altogether about one hundred and twenty, not inclusive of it's display base. All the parts were new tooled and represented a perfect replica of the actual helicopter. Even the rotor assembly looked comprehensive.

Reading reviews around the net, assembly of this kit is straight forward with not much problems. The decals provided was also complete and the plus point with Aoshima's version is teh inclusion of a "Frank Murphy" pilot figure, and a fully workable articulated display stand. Two variants were provided, one with her normal parts, the other with an added white metal Gatling gun.

With white metal Gatling Gun

Normal parts version

I have enclosed more pictures of her parts and instruction sheets below taken from Hobby Search's page.

More after the jump.