SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

OH-6A

10017 views
24 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
OH-6A
Posted by midnightprowler on Thursday, October 22, 2009 8:55 AM
Dragon's OH-6A in Hugh Mill's Miss Claude IV livery.

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: California
Posted by Heloguy on Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:28 AM
Another great build.  It's amazing how clean you kept that canopy!  Is that Future on the canopy?
"You scratched my anchor!"
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Friday, October 23, 2009 6:03 AM
Yes, I dipped it in Future. I'm using it as a clear coat for my cars now too.

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Friday, October 23, 2009 7:33 AM

That canopy is very nice.  Great build and if you're ever at Ft. Rucker, you should stop in and see the real one.

    Ray

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Monday, October 26, 2009 10:22 AM
I'd love to. You dont happen to have pics do you?

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Monday, October 26, 2009 10:55 AM

You don't know me very well, I take itBig Smile [:D]  Here ya go, enjoy!

   Ray

 

Photobucket

[img]http://Photobucket

[img]http://[img]http://Photobucket

[img]http://Photobucket

[img]http://Photobucket

" border="0" />[/img][/img]Photobucket

[/img][/img][/img]

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:11 AM
Is this Mill's actual bird, or a reproduction? You have shots of the Huey and the OH-58? Thanks!

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 10:25 AM

That is the actual bird.  She was brought back to the states and flew with the Silver Eagles demo team.  I believe Hugh Mills recognized her on a visit to the museum.  Anyway, she was reapinted to her original colors.  However, if you look at where the skids join the fuselage, you can see the Silver Eagles blue where the skids moved after she was lifted in the air.  I'll try and post pics of teh 58 and Huey in a bit.

     Ray

  • Member since
    September 2004
Posted by hmills16 on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 10:12 PM

Great piece of work and yes the ship at Rucker is the original bird, 68-17340  log books and all.

Hugh Mills

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 10:52 PM

Hugh,

  Glad to see you stopped by.  Am I correct that you were the first to realize that Miss Clawd was at the Museum?  Also, do you know which aspects, if any, of Miss Clawd at Rucker are NOT set up the same as when she flew in Vietnam?  I know the M-27 system seems different from the setup I've seen in pictures, for instance.  

    Thanks,

         Ray

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:14 AM
What a honor, MR. Mills, to have you comment so kindly on my build! Thank you sir! I know there were at least 3 Cobra's named Squatter Swatter. Which tail number was the bird you flew?

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    September 2004
Posted by hmills16 on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:16 PM

All three Squatter Swattersw were the same ship with variations in the sharks teeth.  It flew from mid 1969 to mid 1972.  I don't recall the tail number but I may have it around somewhere.  The arching teeth were early D 1/4 and the larger drawn out teeth were during it's time with C 16.

Hugh Mills

  • Member since
    September 2004
Posted by hmills16 on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:21 PM

340 is as flown with C 16 Cav circa June 1972.  In Jule she got Strella stacks and was shot down with 1LT Drew Scheele at the controls in September.  It was rebuilt at Hughes, sent to Rucker and flew as Eagle 2 until 76 and went to the museum when the team disbanded.  I saw it there in 91 or so in the non-public area and recognized it.  Steve Maxham agreed to redo it as the Nam marked ship and now it will outlive me.  I am glad for that.  M-27E1 is not right (it's some odd variation) but the rest is pretty close to as flown in Nam.

Hugh

  • Member since
    September 2004
Posted by hmills16 on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:23 PM

PS, the skids on the VIet Nam scheme were black as well as the oleo strut covers.

Hugh

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:03 AM
Hugh, on the cover of Squadron's Gunslingers in action, it shows Squatter swatter with tail number 16369, Osprey Publishing'as book, Viet Nam Choppers shows a pic of Squatter Swatter with tail number 15070, and Jonathan Bernstien, in his book, Cobra Units in Viet Nam, has a profile of Squatter Swatter with tail number 15139. Do you recall which, if any of these tail nubers you flew? I have decals for Squatter Swatter with tail number 16369. When I built my OH-6 of yours, I didnt have any color pics to go by, so I was not aware she had black skids and struts. I will have to change that. Thanks for the info.

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    May 2009
Posted by SofaKings on Friday, November 6, 2009 1:13 PM
My uncle flew one of those in Vietnam during Tet.  Thinking about putting one together for him
  • Member since
    July 2004
Posted by goose814 on Friday, November 6, 2009 4:48 PM

Mr. Mills,

I wanted to ask a few questions.

First, it's been speculated that Miss Clawd may have had the tailboom replaced and that the white stripe originally continued down the length of the tailboom along with a red painted tail.

Second, there is a photo of her that looks as if the left side overhead window in the aft compartment has either been painted over or replaced with sheet metal.

I was wondering if either of these is true.

Also, I wanted to thank you for your book "Low Level Hell". I have both the hardback and softback versions and have read it over 20 times. I thought I remember you stating that you were working on a book about your tour flying Cobras. Any update on that?

Lastly, thank you for always being so accessible and answering all these questions we seem to throw at you. It is much appreciated.

Gus

P.S. Is there any chance you have more photos of the helicopters you flew during your tours than what we've already seen.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Fresno, CA
Posted by Dan A on Saturday, November 7, 2009 12:24 AM
That is one great-looking rotorcraft! I'd love to build one of those, but due to space issues, I must ask: how big is it?

In progress: Hasegawa P-51D/K (being built as a D), Tamiya Morris Mini Cooper 1275S, Testors Kaman H-43B Huskie (held up by lack of parts)

To be resumed sooner or later: Academy M151A2 with Eduard photo-etch

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Saturday, November 7, 2009 7:24 AM
It's not that big, less than 10" long I'd say. Thanks!

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    September 2004
Posted by hmills16 on Friday, November 20, 2009 9:26 PM

When I first saw up 340 at Vinh Long in IV corps in March of 72, it was minus a tail boom.  It had been knocked off in a poor autorotation in training, but had only about 30 hours on it.  I had a tail flown up from Can Tho and flew it home.  We picked up 7/1 Cavs OH-6's when they stood down and this one became mine.

Never saw the tail so I am not sure aobut the red.  The spine was however, white as a visual aid for the cobras. 

Still working on the 2nd book and yes I have a lot more photos, most unpublished.  SOme will spring up in book 2.  The others will show up I am sure.

Hugh

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:44 AM
Hugh, a forum member commented to me that you had told him that Robert Mason's exploits in Chickenhawk are not his own, but a conglomeration of things from his unit. Is this true? I was going tomodel the bird he flew, but if he is fabricating this stuff, I do not want to pay tribute to him. thanks.

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    September 2004
Posted by hmills16 on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 9:48 PM

I have no idea about Roberts book other than he was in prison when he wrote it.  I know him and have no reason to believe it was any way other than he intended it.  I have never make any such comment.  You need to find someone in the unit to comment.  There are plenty out there.

Hugh Mills

  • Member since
    September 2004
Posted by hmills16 on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 9:51 PM

You may have heard my comments about Taking Fire by Ron Alexander.  His own unit members widely decried his book as based on the actions of others.  This is no way relates to Mason.

Mills

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 5:38 AM
I have gotten in contact with Resler from his book, and whoever said those things is wrong. if you want the name of the forum member who said you told him that info, pm me. Thank you for your help.

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    July 2004
Posted by goose814 on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 8:42 PM

 Mr. Mills,

Thank you for the info about Miss Clawd. It is truly appreciated. I am really looking forward to your next book. 

Gus

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.