We also have a YouTube video-review for this kit.  Did we get our money's worth hiring Low-Cost Pitchman Roddy Redshirt?  You decide.

What's-it:  Atlantis resurrects a long-lost classic.  Modelers of all ages will be pleasantly surprised with this model of a truly unusual aircraft.
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Atlantis Models has released a classic AH-56 Cheyenne kit, adding another interesting entry to their growing collection of helicopter models.  This was originally an Aurora kit, debuting in 1968.  The Cheyenne helicopter was intended to replace the AH-1 Cobra.  While the Cobra helicopter, based on the famous Huey, was effective in the Vietnam War, it was perceived to have some limitations that could be eliminated with a new, ground-up design designed from the outset to be a fast-attack helicopter.

That's the original Aurora box art!  MSRP is a low $21.99.  Atlantis kits are made in the USA.

Development issues finally cancelled the Cheyenne project by 1972, and the Apache helicopter was developed instead.  The Aurora kit of the Cheyenne was discontinued and never re-released until Atlantis Models took ownership of the tooling.
 
Like the HH-53, the Apache was one of Aurora’s better aircraft kits.  It has no rivets to speak of.  Panel lines are engraved and perhaps a bit on the heavy side, but they’ll look great on the finished model.

The dry-fitting I’ve done makes it appear that this kit should go together with no issues.  The canopy is well done; one cool little detail is that the canopy sits nicely inside a pair of simulated slide-rails.  The canopy does have a couple of round mold-extractor marks on the inside.  If these bother you, you’ll need some fine sandpaper to sand them flat, and then ultra-fine sandpapers to polish the area back to being crystal-clear once you’re done.

There are some typical ejector pin marks in places like the bottoms of the rotor blades, but nothing that is a show-stopper as far as producing a very nice model.  Assembly isn’t difficult and any modeler who has had an introduction to glue-kits should enjoy building this model.
 
Atlantis provides a few color scheme suggestions including a camouflage version and an overall olive-drab option.  The decal sheet is pretty comprehensive including some stencils and it appears to be of the same high quality we’re coming to expect with an Atlantis kit.

There are two sets of markings, one with full-color insignias to build the olive-drab version, and a set of black stencils for the camouflaged version.  You could do any number of hypothetical camo schemes, and these stencil-decals will look great on the kit!

Parts have a minor amount of flash.

Here's the other side of that stub-wing sprue.

This is the flip-side of the rotor blade sprue.  There are some ejector pin marks on the blade bottoms.  They are minor enough that anyone but a contest modeler may not even bother with them.

We love Atlantis' info-packed boxes!  This side has kit specs, AH-56 history, and the paint color list.  Don't forget that olive drab paint!

Atlantis shows you what the decal sheet will look like!  There's a set of specs for the AH-56.

The canopy is nice and clear.  Note the ejector pin-rounds.  Remove them--or not!

TWO choices for markings.  Note black stencils at the bottom.  Those are intended for the camouflaged version.

At top left is one of two instrument panels.  It has gauges and stuff!

The instructions don't really mention the fact that there are two sets of markings, one for the olive-drab version (insignias are red, white and blue) and the camouflage version (all-black stencils).  This may throw very inexperienced modelers.  It will make the more experienced modeler want to buy at least two kits.  In addition to markings to duplicate one of the camouflaged Cheyenne prototypes, you could do all sorts of interesting hypothetical versions.  Those black stencils would look pretty cool over a dark-gray finish, for example.

Assembly page appears to be from vintage Aurora instructions.

The back of the box has a photo of a built model.

Dem Brudders were very excited that Atlantis generously sent each of us one of these kits and we really like what we see.  If you plan on a leisure weekend-build, or a contest model, you won't be disappointed with this kit!  Younger modelers who've built a simple kit or two using glue should have no problems with this, so it's suitable for just about everyone.  Dem Brudders give this model four enthusiastic thumbs up!

DEM BRUDDERS THANK ATLANTIS MODELS FOR PROVIDING KITS FOR THIS WEB REVIEW AND OUR YOUTUBE VIDEO REVIEW!

The three-blade rotor is the pusher-rotor.  The four-blade rotor is the tail rotor, which operates like a tail rotor on any conventional helicopter.  To the left of the photo are the main rotor hub components.

Two seated figures are included.  A nice perk is that they are not identical; this adds a small measure of realism if you decide to use them in your finished model.

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We decided to provide some side-by-side photos of AH-56 Cheyenne parts with AH-64 Apache parts.

In the photo on the left, the Atlantis Cheyenne (bottom) is just in front of the Revell/Monogram snap-Apache, so it appears larger than it is.  Picture on the right shows that the helicopters are about the same size.  The Cheyenne airframe seems pretty graceful compared to the tank-like Apache.  Note how narrow each airframe is.  The tandem layout presents a narrower target area from the front.

MORE ABOUT THE AH-56 CHEYENNE HELICOPTER:  BACK IN THE NEWS

Atlantis Models provides a fairly detailed history of the Cheyenne on Page One of the instruction sheet.  It's much more than the typical paragraph you might get on an instruction sheet from other model kit companies.  We left it off here on purpose - you'll just have to buy the kit to check it out! 

The AH-56 Cheyenne was built by Lockheed.  First flight occurred in 1967.  Ten prototypes were built and studied, but the program was cancelled in August, 1972.  Aurora Models was often the first model company to introduce a brand-new aircraft type as a kit before the real aircraft went into full-scale production.  This generated excitement among modelers - and gave Aurora the exclusive priority for the first sales for a model of the aircraft.  A few other examples besides the Cheyenne include the XB-70 and F-111.  Of these, only the F-111 went into production, and that version differed from the Aurora model.  It's pretty unusual to have an injection-molded model kit of an aircraft prototype, but Atlantis Models has resurrected this unusual model kit after an absence of four decades!

Two innovations of the AH-56 Cheyenne were a rigid rotor system (the blades were all connected at the hub; there was no articulated linkage that moved them independently), and a compound propulsion system, meaning a pusher-prop separate from the tail rotor at the rear of the aircraft.  

The Sikorsky/Boeing SB-1 Defiant has a pusher-prop like the Cheyenne.  The counter-rotating main rotors negate the need for a conventional tail rotor.

The pusher, plus a pair of stub-wings, would generate a considerable amount of forward velocity and lift, and at speed, the main rotor drive would be dialed back considerably as the Cheyenne reached speeds much higher than conventionally configured helicopters.  Alas, a number of problems resulted in development delays and finally, in 1972, cancellation of the Cheyenne program.  The AH-64 Apache took over as a new attack helicopter project, utilizing a much more conventional layout.  One would think that with the advent of new technology such as stealth and the tilt-rotor Osprey, the Cheyenne and its rigid rotor/pusher prop would fade into obscurity, but such is not the case as we approach the meaty part of the 21st Century.

While the Apache helicopter has been in service for decades, a successor is still far on the horizon.  In the meantime, plans to upgrade the Apache happen to involve a second look at the Cheyenne compound pusher-prop concept to increase top speed.  Boeing added a pusher-prop to an Apache test helicopter to research the possibility of adding it to a new variant.

The Sikorsky/Boeing SB-1 Defiant made its first flight in 2019.  While this new multirole helicopter is not specifically designed for an attack role, it utilizes a rigid rotor system and a pusher prop, just like the Cheyenne.  So your Atlantis AH-56 Cheyenne is relevant in cutting-edge aircraft design concepts again, and Atlantis has brought it back after nearly a half-century.  No other injection molded kits exist of the Cheyenne and many modelers were overjoyed when Atlantis announced its return.

Some of us had a hard time getting a hold of one of these on eBay and prices were getting pretty high.  Thanks to Atlantis for bringing it back!

An Apache wind tunnel test-model with a pusher-prop--just like the Cheyenne!

Click the Amazon link at left to check out their listing for this kit.  If you decide to buy after clicking the link, Amazon will provide us a small commission, so your purchase there helps DemBrudders.com at no extra cost to you!  We're Amazon Associates through the Amazon Affiliate program. ​

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