MOC-208482 1/35 Scale RAH-66 Comanche Stealth Helicopter Building Blocks Set (952PCS)
Features:
.Original Design: Designed and authorized by DarthDesigner, this model is inspired by the concept of a U.S. stealth helicopter. The product has undergone multiple revisions and reviews, ensuring a solid structure, excellent build experience, and a perfect replication of the concept. Its unique design and color scheme provide exceptional visual appeal and collectible value.
.Premium Parts: Includes 952 pieces, all with accurate colors and a smooth feel. The quality matches leading building block brands, with parts sorted by type in individual bags, saving enthusiasts time on sorting and collecting while reducing costs. Compatible with sets from Denmark’s renowned building block brand.
.Clear Instruction: Comes with a PDF instruction manual that is clear and easy to follow, with moderate difficulty. Note that green parts can be substituted with any same-type parts in other colors.
.Value and Significance: Perfect as a gift, home decoration, or collectible. Ideal for beginner designers, military model enthusiasts, and building block lovers.
.Notes: Contains small parts. Handle and store safely.
Background: The RAH-66 Comanche is an American stealth armed reconnaissance and attack helicopter designed for the United States Army. Following decades of study and development, the RAH-66 program was cancelled in 2004 before mass production began, by which point nearly US$7 billion had been spent on the program.
During the early 1980s, the U.S. Army started to formulate requirements for the replacement of its helicopters then in service, which resulted in the launch of the Light Helicopter Experimental (LHX) program. Nearly a decade later, following the refinement of requirements, evaluation of submissions, and the rebranding of the program as the Light Helicopter (LH) program, during April 1991, the Army announced the selection of the team’s design as the contest winner, shortly after which a contract for construction of prototypes was awarded. The Comanche was to incorporate several advanced elements, such as stealth technologies, and a number of previously untried design features. Operationally, it was to employ advanced sensors in its reconnaissance role, in which it was intended to designate targets for the AH-64 Apache. It was also armed with one rotary cannon and could carry missiles and rockets in internal bays and optionally on stub wings for light attack duties.
Two RAH-66 prototypes were constructed and underwent flight testing between 1996 and 2004. On 1 June 2000, the program entered its $3.1 billion engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. However, during 2002, the Comanche program underwent heavy restructuring; the number of Comanches that were to be purchased was cut to 650. At the time, the projected total cost for the full production of the Comanche in such numbers stood at $26.9 billion. As early as the late 1990s, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) had reported that it had “serious doubts” about the program, observing that the Comanche would “consume almost two thirds of the whole Aviation budget by Fiscal Year 2008”. Multiple government agencies had acted to cut the number of Comanches on order, but, as a consequence of the heavy reductions to the numbers to be procured, the unit costs soared.
On 23 February 2004, the U.S. Army announced the termination of the Comanche program, stating they had determined that the RAH-66 would require numerous upgrades to be viable on the battlefield and that the service would instead direct the bulk of its rotary systems funds to renovating its existing attack, utility, and reconnaissance helicopters. The Army also announced new plans to accelerate the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which could also perform the scouting role intended for the Comanche, but with less risk. Since program cancellation, both of the prototypes have been placed on public display.
Specifications:
.Material: ABS
.Product Weight: 850g
.Package Weight: 900g
.Package Dimensions: 30.8 x 20.8 x 10cm
.Packing: Graphic Carton
.Ages: 16+
