The latest from Werner’s Wings provides an external auxiliary fuel tank for any 1/48 USMC AH-1W, AH-1Z, UH-1N, or UH-1Y kit. Floyd Werner provides great instructions showing exactly how to assemble the three parts along with color photos of various options for installation. A re-sealable zip lock bag holds the parts and the instructions.

Werner’s Wings has molded the external auxiliary fuel tank in grey resin with only a few minor bubbles. According to his website, the external auxiliary fuel tank is designed to be supplied on a resin sprue, but the kit as received has had the sprue already removed from the tank. The two other parts are supplied on a short resin sprue and will need to be detached with a photo-etch razor saw. I used a #73 drill bit to open up the mounting holes a bit and secured the parts with superglue. The connecting hoses are not supplied and will need to be scratch-built.

Although most paints will adhere to resin alone, I would recommend that you wash the part to remove any remaining mold release and prime it first. It will need to be installed with your favorite CA (super glue) or epoxy, as the normal plastic glues or solvents will not react with the resin. The auxiliary fuel tank can be painted either Marine Green or Light Ghost Grey. The pump assembly is a bit more colorful with red, blur. green, aluminum, grey, and black just for fun.

Floyd Werner’s external auxiliary fuel tank is a nice addition to late model AH-1 and UH-1 choppers. The instructions provided are top notch and should be a model for all aftermarket producers.

Highly recommended!

Thanks to Werner’s Wings and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this set.