Decals for 1/35 Academy MH-60

Yes , there is now a set of decals that covers most of the 160th SOAR (Spec Ops Aviation Reg) decals from Werner's Wings.

160th SOAR decals

www.wernerswings.com/NightStalkers.html

Werner's Wings

www.wernerswings.com/product.html

They have decals that cover most of the helos in Op Gothic Serpent (Black Hawk Down).   At the time Aaron and I built our MH-60Ls, they were not available.  I helped out on them as well.

For the helo, a better choice is the Academy MH-60L (incorrectly labeled by Academy as an AH-60L) DAP kit.  It includes pretty much all the parts needed to build an Army MH-60L.  The MH-60G kit is for a USAF version and does not have all the same parts.

Thanks HeavyArty.

Just came across the 160th SOAR set by Werners Wings (and your review of them on a site (forgottem the sites name now though)), whilst continuing my google search.

They look fantastic and even if I just use the generic decals applicable to all MH-60's (like the US Army decals) it'll look good.

Thanks also for the tip on the kit choice, you may have just saved me a whole load of headaches.  

I came across the Academy MH-60G after looking at several kits of the Blackhawk, most with what look like M240's on them, and I want the miniguns on mine (I originally planned on buying an Italeri 1/48 UH-60K SOA kit and kitbashing it with a Minicraft 1/48 MH-60K for the miniguns, but decided to "up-scale" instead as the cost difference isn't all that great and I won't be left with the majority of a Blackhawk kit just sitting doing nothing).  

I wasn't sure if the Academy MH-60L DAP kit came with the miniguns (and I had seen the kit rather overpriced at something like £50+), but it appears that kit does have the miniguns and it has the added bonus of having the nose mounted FLIR parts.

I can now get that kit at roughly the same price as the MH-60G I was going to buy, dunno where I was looking when I saw the same kit at £50+!!

So, I think I'll buy the MH-60L instead because then if I wish to I can put the MH-60L nose mounted FLIR parts on.  

Wasn't really planning on a 160th SOAR "Blackhawk Down" Blackhawk though, as I'm sure everyone has done one, but I do like the flat black colour they use.

If you want to do a black one, your only option is a 160th SOAR bird.  They are the only ones who operate MH-60Ls and all theirs are black.  The WW sheet also has a few pre BHD MH-60s too.  You could also build a generic 160th SOAR MH-60L using just the generic (OD green) decals w/out using any of the aircraft specific markings.

Here is some more info on the BHD MH-60Ls if you decide to go that way.

aeroscale.kitmaker.net/modules.php

And my build for reference.

www.aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php

Good luck.

160th SOAR it is then.  I was planning on just using the generic decals and painting it black.  But if the 160th are the only ones that use black Blackhawks then it'll have to be one of those.

Thanks for the links also, I think the first was where I initially found a link to Andrew Bass's build, I know I've read that thread before when looking into info for my initial plan of a 1/48 scale Blackhawk.

Think I came across your builds also when I was looking for 1/48 builds, very nice helo's.

Cobra Company also does a couple generic sets of subdued (OD green) MH-60L stencils and markings decal sheets too.

Stencils.

www.cobracompany.com/ccd3502stencil.jpg

SOAR Decals

www.cobracompany.com/ccd35.htm

They would be useful for a non-specific aircraft.  Also, if you want to use the nose-mounted plume detectors, it would be a more modern, post BHD bird anyways.

Thanks I think I'll stick with the Werners decals.

Stupid question though - what parts are the nose-mounted plume detectors?  Are they the bits either side of the central "radome" on the nose?  If so it looks like those are made of 2 pieces on the kit and can be left off.

To be honest I hadn't even noticed some Blackhawks have those and some don't/didn't...

Raven Morpheus

Stupid question though - what parts are the nose-mounted plume detectors?  Are they the bits either side of the central "radome" on the nose?  If so it looks like those are made of 2 pieces on the kit and can be left off.

To be honest I hadn't even noticed some Blackhawks have those and some don't/didn't...

Yes, those are the plume detectors and they are seperate pieces, so they can be easily left off.  The beauty of the MH-60L DAP kit is that it contains all the sprues from the previous kits (UH-60A/L and MH-60G) and the new sprues for the MH-60L DAP kit.  With it, you can really build just about any version you want.  It is the best bargain out of the bunch.

Thanks.  Should be a good model to build, once I get round to it.  Not so keen on the size (more than 17" long and wide (with the rotors on)!!) but 1/48 scale just wasn't going to work for this heli (might end up hanging from my ceiling as just a static model anyway due to weight of the overall model).

Something to look forward to for Spring next year I think though, the weather is turning crappy here in the UK, as it usually does this time of year, so I doubt I'll get any decent airbrush/spray can painting weather any time soon and I've nowhere indoors that I can spray using an airbrush, unless I can convince my mother who I live with still (at the age of 36!!) to allow me to put a dust sheet and large box on the table I usually sit at to paint/assemble (it's our dining room table, I'm surprised she hasn't complained about me building the models I have so far this past few months!).

It's a shame because my compressor should arrive some time this week.  Hopefully the weather will clear up in the next week or so for a little while...