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Airfix Chinook vs. Belvedere: Which 1:72 Tandem-Rotor Kit?

Published September 23, 2026 by Muncle Mikes

Assembled Bristol 192 Belvedere helicopter example for Airfix 1:72 kit A03002V

Choose the Chinook HC.1 for that aircraft and a 171-part project, or the Bristol Belvedere for its different tandem-rotor subject and 50-part listing. Both are 1:72 helicopter kits, but rotor clearance and assembly demands deserve separate consideration from the familiar two-rotor layout.

Compare Airfix helicopter kits

Chinook HC.1 A06023: the more extensive parts list

The Chinook HC.1 A06023 contains 171 listed parts and two marking schemes. Its approximate quoted overall dimensions are 16.5 inches long by 9.75 inches across.

Choose it when the HC.1 is the intended subject. Chinook is a family name, so the kit should not be treated as automatically representing every later version, service marking or specific operational aircraft.

The part count suggests a project to organize in stages. Review interior work, fuselage assembly and rotor installation before deciding when each area will be painted.

Belvedere A03002V: a different helicopter, not a smaller Chinook

The Bristol 192 Belvedere A03002V lists 50 parts and two decal schemes. Its approximate overall dimensions are 15.125 by 8.125 inches.

It is the relevant choice for a Belvedere collection or a display of different tandem-rotor designs. The lower part count does not establish that it has the same detail arrangement as the Chinook or that it can be completed in a particular time.

The product image shows an assembled example. This is still a plastic construction kit, not a finished silver helicopter supplied ready for display.

Do not measure only the fuselage

The quoted dimensions are overall model-planning figures, not confirmed fuselage-only measurements. A tandem-rotor display needs space in front of and behind the body, as well as room across the blades.

Trace a conservative outline on the intended shelf and allow a handling margin. A long fuselage can fit while the rotor arrangement still collides with a wall or another model. A display cover also needs sufficient height over both rotor heads.

Do not assume folding blades, removable rotors or powered rotation. Those functions need explicit confirmation for the exact kit and completed configuration.

Keep the rotor assemblies organized

Read the rotor-related instructions before removing similar-looking parts from their frames. Preserve the required orientation and allow the supporting structure to set before adding loads to delicate joints.

Plan a safe place for the model between sessions. A tray that supports the body does not necessarily protect projecting blades, so account for the full arrangement when moving or storing the unfinished build.

This is practical planning advice, not a report of a tested mechanical problem with either kit.

Which project suits your collection?

Choose the Chinook for its HC.1 identity and the more extensive listed assembly. Choose the Belvedere for its distinctive subject and shorter component list. Buying both makes sense for a tandem-rotor collection, provided the shelf accommodates two complete rotor footprints rather than only two fuselages.

Both kits require separate paint and cement, and the checked listings do not include stands. Select the markings and intended display before comparing the full project cost.

Choose a helicopter kit with room for the complete display

Catalog checked September 23, 2026. Overall dimensions are approximate; blade-folding and accessory compatibility are not assumed.