The H-21 Shawnee earned its legendary nickname "the Flying Banana" from the distinctive upward curve of its aft fuselage — a shape dictated by the engineering demands of its powerful tandem rotors. What it lacked in conventional looks it more than made up for in capability. A true workhorse of the U.S. Army from the early 1950s, the H-21 hauled troops and supplies through some of the most demanding environments of the Cold War era, including Vietnam from 1961 onward. The Gunship variant added teeth — cannons under the nose and through the side doors — while French forces in Algeria fitted theirs with an MG 151 cannon and a .30 caliber weapon on the doors.
Italeri's 1/48 scale kit includes new parts, photo-etched details, and a super decal sheet covering five versions, making it one of the most complete H-21 kits available.
Kit Highlights
- New parts with enhanced detail
- Photo-etched parts included
- Super decal sheet for 5 versions
- Color instruction sheet
- Gunship armament options — nose cannon and door weapons
- 1/48 scale | Skill Level 3
What You'll Need
- Plastic model cement
- Hobby knife and sanding sticks
- Acrylic or enamel paints
- Paintbrushes or airbrush
Paint and adhesive not included. Browse our paints and tools section to complete your build.
