Zimi Model upgrade Kittyhawk's little bird with metal barrels, refined moulds & Photo-etch. We look at the art, features, the machines in our preview...
Zimi Model's revised take on the little bird in 35th scale.
AH-6J Little Bird Nightstalkers
From Zimi Model
1/35th scale
Kit No: ZM35001
The Subject:
The AH-6J Little Bird - a nimble, lethal helicopter tailored for elite U.S. Army special operations, particularly the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, famously known as the Night Stalkers.The AH-6J Little Bird emerged from the lineage of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, a light observation helicopter originally developed in the 1960s. By the 1980s, the U.S. Army sought a more agile and specialized platform for covert and high-risk missions, leading to the evolution of the AH-6J. This variant was designed as a light attack helicopter, equipped with advanced avionics and capable of carrying a mix of weapons including miniguns, rocket pods, and Hellfire missiles. Its compact size and maneuverability made it ideal for urban warfare and close air support, especially in environments where larger aircraft would struggle to operate effectively.
US Army, AH-6J, (90-25362) 160th SOAR "Harley Davidson" from Operation "Gothic Serpent" in Somalia with a black paint job that was quite faded. The "US Army" marking was probably not on the tail of this chopper.
The AH-6J found its most iconic role within the 160th SOAR (A), the Night Stalkers—a unit renowned for executing some of the most daring missions in U.S. military history. These helicopters often operate in pairs or small teams, flying low and fast to insert or extract special operations forces under the cover of darkness. The Night Stalkers’ pilots are among the most skilled aviators in the world, trained to fly the Little Bird in extreme conditions and tight spaces, often with soldiers riding externally on side benches. This unique configuration allows for rapid deployment and retrieval of troops in hostile or inaccessible terrain.
US Army, AH-6J, (90-23635) 160th SOAR "Moe Better" from Operation "Gothic Serpent" in Somalia with a black paint job, here it is updated to the six-bladed latter variant (so in essence kind of a useless picture to include here but good to see the texture of the Little Bird anyway. In Somalia "Moe Betta" was the only Little Bird with a FLIR on the nose.
Over the decades, the AH-6J has been continuously upgraded, eventually giving way to newer variants like the AH-6M. However, the J-model remains a symbol of precision and adaptability in special operations aviation. Its legacy is cemented in missions from Mogadishu to Iraq and Afghanistan, where its speed, firepower, and stealth have saved countless lives. The Little Bird’s enduring presence in the Night Stalkers’ arsenal underscores its unmatched value in modern asymmetric warfare.
The Kit from Zimi Model:
This model is based on Kitty Hawk's original mould. However, Zimi have upgraded the kit's assembly fit and corrected some errors in the instruction manual
The kit also now includes machined metal gun barrels.
Kit Features:
New upgraded moulds.
Includes clear parts
Three decal options are included
There is a newly revised instruction manual included.
Includes NEW Metal barrels and photo etched parts
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