mini Pave Dio planned

littlebird,
Just sent you a test e-mail. Let me know whether you received it or not. I've been having some problems with my server lately, but have responded to several requests without incident. I honestly can't remember if I received your e-mails or not.

The short answer to your question is yes. With a little (or in some cases a lot) extra work, you can take the Vietnam helo crew and turn them into modern crews. The flight helmets and vests are the main thing, but you should be able to modify them. SOF can be created from the many figure kits that are out there. There's even a Delta kit with four figures. The Modern marine and Ranger sets are a good start, but as stated by others you can modify any modern type troops into SOF (Delta, STS, PJs, CCT, SEALs, etc..) Just use your imagination, and get as many reference shots as you can.

Sal, it seems you havent gotten the 3 messages I sent you, must be an internal problem in FSM.

My e-mail is - eldridgesteve@hotmail.com

Oh, I see.
you must forgive my Ignorance on this subject (mainly US Air Crew attire, and SF equiptment) as I really have never seen it. It is only recently that I have gotten into Helicopter moddeling. Until now my only reference is the internet (you'll find quite a few sites depicting 160th Paves).

So Sal, what your saying is that even Vietnam crew models, with a little modernising would look correct, and indeed everything modern is in a sense correct. And all that is required to make my 82md models into delta, is paint jobs and a bit of converting (grenadier vests for 203 armed guys for instance)?

Also, have you gotten the two e-mails i've sent you so far?

Littlebird,
Speaking from a Pavehawk crewdog's perspective, Avus is on target. What you (and everyone else) need to realize is that Army SOF (D-boys and SF), SEALS, and USAF CCT & PJ's (CSAR & STS) all have one thing in common. We all work together and train together operationally and we have a certain thing in common in that we use a lot of common gear. That gear is what ever we deem best for the mission at hand. Basically that means we make a lot of "of the shelf" aquisitions concerning operational gear (vests, clothing, weapons, tools, etc...) So you can see that when it comes to depicting the aformentioned operators, you really can't go wrong by referencing any and all of them together, along with the gear you see them using. Hell, it even differs from unit to unit.

When it comes to aircrew, from what I've seen in the field and in training, it's pretty much the same deal as the operators. There are some subtle differences such as the Nightstalker drivers having a modified flight helmet that differs somewhat from the one we use (USAF CSAR / SOF). You can't go wrong using any of the modern aircrew vests as I've seen everyone (SOF wise) using everything at one time or another. I've also seen the 160th guys using two-piece BDU style flight suits, but that was some time ago and I'm not sure if they still do. You'll see thigh rigs for pistols and mags, grenadier vests for guys with an M-203 under their M-4 or GAU-5, Hockey helmets, HGU-55's, the new lightweight Kevlar helmet, boonie hats, etc...

You can't go wrong. Just make it modern and paint the vests and rigs black (again for the most part). I can send you some pics if you send me an e-mail with your e-mail address. Just give me a little time as I'm having problems with my server.
Sal

Ah, I see, thanks for clearing that up.
You wouldnt happen to have pictures of a regular Air Force Helicopter crew would you?
i've been wasting my time using bloody google!!

If I understood correctly, from your other post, you are going to build a Pavehawk. This helo is used by the US Air Force for SAR/CSAR and SO missions. So your crew isn't from the 160th SOAR "Nightstalkers" wich is an Army unit. You'll have to use a "regular" Air Force crew.
There is difference in the equipment: flight suits and vests mainly.
Using the Dragon kit you'll have to make some adjustments on the helmet, too.

On SOF missions it is not uncommon to have, let's say, Deltas on Airforce Helos or viceversa PJs on army aircraft. So you can put your 82nd guys on the Pavehawk.