Huey Color

Olive Drab. All Army UH-1 were painted the same basic color but due to environmental influences they faded at different rates. Are you replicating a weathered combat aircraft or a pristine new one?

Hawkeye is correct.  They were all painted FS34087, Olive Drab.

  Yep, but the OD faded so much and so fast that I could tell our UH-1Cs and AH-1Gs apart by the shade of OD they were.  One thing to remember is that it was NOT gloss. The Marine Corps used some gloss OD but the Army didn't at that time. We also had several aircraft that had newer paint on the tail booms so there were at least two different shades of OD on the same aircraft. I would recommend trying for the "weathered" look since alos all Hueys during that tiem period were older. Do you have the serial number on the aircraft your restoring? I'd like to see the "Gold Book" entry on it to see what units it was actually with.

Thank you all for the info.

HeavyArty...I was leaning toward 34088, but I will have them test panel 34087 as well and let the museum curator decide.

They have requested a weathered look as if it flew to the museum straight from combat in Vietnam.  We have some challenges with weathering it and peeling paint in areas that were worn in pictures supplied to us by the museum. This is somewhat new to us as this is the first one that we have done that is not "better than new". If you are interested you can check us out at www.nwhelicopters.com

GeneK...There is good Gold Book info.  As I understand it, there will be former crewmembers for the aircraft at the unveil. S/N 69-15140.

Any advice on creating a "weathered" look would be appreciated as well...Thank you all for being tolerant of me "hijacking" your forum.

Jeff

As you paint the aircraft, give it an overall base of the primary OD color you select. Then use a bit of yellow or white blended in to hit the top and sides, along panel seams, leading edges and anywhere crew would make regular contact with the aircraft...doors, sills, access panels etc. as hand oils and abrasion influence paint to wear and fade faster.

There are some great modelers in your area, invite them in to assist in the painting process! Contest this weekend at The Museum of Flight...you'll have a perfect opportunity to probably see models weathered in the same way you plan on doing your aircraft project!

http://www.facebook.com/museumofflight

I am one of those crewmembers of 140 that will be at the unveiling on May 26.  I have been working with several people on restoring 140 to her combat look.  Last picture I saw, taken just a few weeks ago, showed her looking all new and shiney, so I hope they beat her up a bit before she goes on display.

I was her last Vietnam crew chief.  Thanks to all that have worked so hard on this project.

P.S.  I am not a model builder.  Never had the patience for the fine detail that goes into a good model.

Gary Bowman

Loveland, CO

Mr. Bowman,

  Thanks for your service, sir.  One question I had is whether she had an OD nose or a black anti-glare nose.    Both could be found in country at that time.  Also, were the horizontal stabs orange as in the photos below?  Perhaps you have already seen these, but here are a few birds from the 69-70 time frame.  They are all 101st Airborne, but I'm not sure of the exact Aviation battalion.  I'm sure I got these from the 101st web site, but honestly I can't remember.  They were taken by John Collier.  You can see these birds look pretty new.  Also note two pics show OD noses and one black.  Furthermore, one seems to show a new tailboom.

  Ray

Note the OD nose and black trim around the chin bubble on this bird.

I assume this tail boom is very new since it still doesn't have a Army stencil yet.  However, she must have some hours on that tailboom already since it is stained with exhaust.  of course the staining seems to only be on the tail rotor drive shaft cover so perhaps that part was retained from the original tailboom.   Anyway, exhaust staining is another little detail that could be added if the goal is a war weary bird.

j

And here's a straight OD bird:

Ray,

I was asked that question about a month ago, and discussed it with 140’s pilot before I got there, John Donaldson.  We both seem to remember the stabilizers were orange on top and tips, but green on the bottom.  140’s nose was green, as were all of the company’s birds, and maybe even the battalions.(?)

You can visit the website www.thelancers.com for some pictures.

How do you insert pictures in this thing?  I have a couple I can post.

Gary

Gary,

  Thanks for the info.  i would agree on the Orange top and OD bottom to the horizontal stabs based on photos I have seen.  My understanding is they are for increased visibility from above so i guess they wouldn't need to be orange below.  That link doesn't work, but is THIS the site you mean?  As far as posting photos, I use pIacsa and Photobucket, but if the photo you want to post is already on your unit pages, just right click on the photo and select "Copy image URL".  next paste it into the "Insert Media" field (accessed by clicking the filmstrip on the menu bar) and click "Insert"  It should show up in your reply window.  HTH

  Ray

Here is a photo of 140 in 2005 posted by Gary Bowman and Dennis Souza on the above website.

Ray,

Yes, sorry. It is .org, not .com. That picture is of 140 as the museum received her from the King County Sherriff's Office, who got her from the Alaska Army National Guard.

The pictures I have are on my computer, I don't have a clue how to get them from there to this post.

If you would like to e-mail me, it's ggem01@gmail.com.  I know how to get  pictures into that.

Gary

Gary,

  E-mail sent.

    Ray

Gary,

Here are your photos with the captions you sent. Thanks for sharing these with us.

    Ray

 John Donaldson (pilot of 140 before I got there) standing in front of 140, circa 1970.  She looked a little better when I had her, but not much.  I believe this picture is from the Marble Mountain pad in Da Nang.  Not sure, though.

140 on the Lancer flight line, called the roundtable, at Camp Evans, also circa 1970.  Looking west towards the mountains.

Last time I saw 140, being slung under a Chinook after being picked up in Da Nang, late 1971.  We were ambushed and had to put her down.  The 101^st stood down shortly after this.

WELCOME HOME GARY!

Neat that you are involved in the restoration of an bird you had history with across the pond so long ago!   I was in the 174th AHC in "71" and ended up at the 344th Trans Co at Red Beach when we stood down.  A good friend of mine ended up in the 101st Eagle Dust Off and stood down there.  We have several birds across the States that survived Vietnam.  A couple Sharks, one in Pima County Air Musuem and the Wisconsin State Veterans Musuem.  A slick Dolphin "911" is around in south Louisiana somewhere after surving Katrina down in New Orleans at Jackson Barracks.  Another Shark is being restored by an individual in Pennsylvania.  Pretty much complete except hanging on some armament and thumper sights. 

I know it's not historically a real huey, but putting crossed sabres with a 1 and 9 and "headquarters" on the nose would be the best thing ever.

Sounds suspiciously like Cav!  Hope I don't get struck by lightning for typing that out loud.

After the 101st stood down I went to the 11th ACR at Phu Loi near Saigon.  Went from flying almost every day to just doing guard duty for the rest of my tour.  Gotta love the army.

Gary