MH-60L PROGRESS PICS

Very clean and impressive build, Robert, thanks for sharing your work! What kit and scale is it?

Take care,
Frank

Hi There Frank,
Thanks for the kind words.

It is a 1/35 MRC/Academy DAP.
I have since finished it from when the photos were taken so hopefullly i can get ya the photos soon.
Thanks again,
Cya
Robert

very sharp canopy edges! nice work

Robert,
Looks good so far. Keep us posted. One thing though, I haven't seen the .50 cal mounts in the doors on Army MH-60Ls. Interresting setup. We'll see how it looks once finished. Keep up the good work.

Hey Gino,
I just put the .50 cal mounts in for a different look also to keep any of the backpacks and bedrolls from falling out. The accessories i used are Tamiya's Modern U.S Military Equipment Set. Ropes are made from small thread plaited four plait round( a PITA ). Anyway here are some pics of the completed model. Hope ya like it???
Thanks Cya
Robert.













There Ya Go, Hope y'all like them.
And let us know what ya think!!!
Thanks Robert.

Looks like my dorm room in there, so you know it's realistic. The one thing I noticed is that the packs and ammo cans should be olive drab, but I have seen black ones too. Do you have any more pics? It never gets old admiring a good model.

To quote Lord Vader: "Impressive ... most impressive!"
I especially like how you made the ropes; they look very reallistic.

If you post more pics could you please make them a little bigger, thanks.

Thanks Guys,
I'll try to make them bigger, if i can.
The ropes took a helll of a long time to build. Yep i do have more pics but right now i don't have much time ( getting ready for work ) but later tonight i shall put some more on.
Thanks For The Kind Words.
Robert

That's a very nice looking DAP you've got there wooty.

Hey Trigger,
Thanks!!!!
I did'nt put the ESSS Pyion's on aswell as no IFR Probe the photos there don't really let ya see that but hopefully tonight i will have some more for yas.
Thanks Again
Robert

Great build Robert
It looks like a mean machine.

Hey Fellas,
Here are some more pics for y'all!!!!!















What do ya think?
This is the model minus a few decals.?
Robert

Very impressive built Robert, I hope my Pavehawk comes out half as nice as this one (if I ever get to work on int)

Thanks Dan!!!!
Good luck with the Pavehawk.
This model here took me around 9-10 months to complete i am now working on some figures to put beside it aswell as another Blackhawk. Which will be my forth. ( CAn't get enough of them )
Anyway Thanks Again,
Cya,
Robert

Okay, maybe you guys are the right ones to ask. I just bought the Academy/MRC MH-60G kit. However, I've never attempted a camo paint job and I for darned sure ain't gonna make my first attempt on this kit. Where is a good place to look for aftermarket decals and alternate paint schemes? I'm somewhat new to the concept of doing something other than the out-of-the-box directions, so any pointers would be great.

QUOTE: Originally posted by overkillphil Okay, maybe you guys are the right ones to ask. I just bought the Academy/MRC MH-60G kit. However, I've never attempted a camo paint job and I for darned sure ain't gonna make my first attempt on this kit. Where is a good place to look for aftermarket decals and alternate paint schemes? I'm somewhat new to the concept of doing something other than the out-of-the-box directions, so any pointers would be great.

AFAIK, there are no aftermarket decals for an MH-60G. In addition to the Euro 1 scheme, some AFSOC MH-60Gs went to an overall scheme of Gunship Grey (FS36118) a few years ago.

http://www.backeastgraphics.com/_files/airpower_demo/IMG_0146.JPG

http://www.backeastgraphics.com/_files/airpower_demo/Img_0143.jpg

http://www.backeastgraphics.com/_files/airpower_demo/Img_0141.jpg

HTH,
Albert

QUOTE: Originally posted by overkillphil Okay, maybe you guys are the right ones to ask. I just bought the Academy/MRC MH-60G kit. However, I've never attempted a camo paint job and I for darned sure ain't gonna make my first attempt on this kit. Where is a good place to look for aftermarket decals and alternate paint schemes? I'm somewhat new to the concept of doing something other than the out-of-the-box directions, so any pointers would be great.

Albert's dead-on. As -60Gs go into depot, they return to their units in overall Gunship Gray (they're back under AFSOC now). They're up to block 152/160 standard by now and in some ways, they look kinda like DAPs with the re-positioned radars and plume detectors on the nose (but don't think you can just re-paint an MH-60L!). Salbando posted some awesome Pave Hawk pix over at www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

During Desert Storm, some MH-60Gs were in a two-tone desert scheme and last year in Iraq some HH-60Gs were in a lighter three tone Desert scheme. (BTW - Yes, an MH-60G and an HH-60G are the same thing)

I've been working on a Pave Hawk decal sheet (1/35, 1/48 and 1/72 scale) with the help of Avus and Salbando and I just finished my first set - artwork for decals for the 210th RQS, AK ANG. I'm 99.9% convinced that said sheet is finished before I make it available for ya'll, my fellow forum monkeys (I'm just waiting for a final approval from those in the know). There are a few other squadrons on my to-do list (301st is next).

Thanks for the tips. I figured there were some paint schemes more suitable to my experience level.

Nice work Robert! The MRE boxes in there are a nice addition. All of the clutter makes it look like it is getting ready to go. I can't tell from the pics but there are usually helmet bags and other gear on the floor foreward of the crewchief's position. Also in the space between the gunner's seats on top of the survival kit. Just ideas for you if you are still adding details.

Are one of y'all gonna keep flying this thing sir?
Mac

Thanks Mac,
I do have boot bags and helmets all around the crewchief's seats the MRE's do look good and are a great finishing touch to any model (lucky i saved some for my M113A.)
These pics dont really let us see inside the troop cabin so i'll try'n fix the pics up!!!
Thanks Again For The Kind Words,
Robert

Albert's dead-on. As -60Gs go into depot, they return to their units in overall Gunship Gray (they're back under AFSOC now). They're up to block 152/160 standard by now and in some ways, they look kinda like DAPs with the re-positioned radars and plume detectors on the nose (but don't think you can just re-paint an MH-60L!).

Yes... While a lot of the fixed wing guys seem to be getting more and more colorful, the helicopters seem to be going the opposite direction. All of the 60Gs I saw this year were already in the gray scheme. I'm kicking myself for not getting a lot more pictures of one of the Nellis one's that was still in green camo from two years ago. It even had the guns mounted and was one of the OT ones, not the WA ones. And what's worse... I got to see what I believe were a 160th SOAR 60K and 47D the other day, and both of those were in gray as well. Gray for the SOAR just doesn't seem right. I believe they were testing new equipment. The 60K had a lot of new sensors I've not seen before.

Dave
Los Angeles, CA
-DPDP Helicopter Photo Reference CD & Model Accessories-
http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/

There's a photo of a gray MH-60K and MH-47 on the ramp in Knoxville from last summer and that was a big topic of discussion here a while back.

Can I ask where you spotted them?

Unfortunately, I can't say exactly where. I can say it was on a range on the West Coast. They appeared to be doing some ECM type testing. I was unable to get any real details. My assumption at the time was they were either 160th, or 160th AC being tested by an Army test unit. The latter seems more likely now, which means the gray scheme could possibly just be for testing, and not the actual working scheme they will eventually get. I would say they are most likely the same two though. Apparently these earlier posts about Knoxville have been bumped off... What was the consensus at the time?

Dave
Los Angeles, CA
-DPDP Helicopter Photo Reference CD & Model Accessories-
http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/

It was a discussion as to the actual color (Dark Ghost Gray or something similar). Secondary speculation was to "why." Adrake2 pointed out that during Operation Prime Chance some MH-60As were painted light gray to match SH-60Bs on the decks of ships and that something similar might be going on here (with the MH-47 mimicing a CH-46).

Salbando once told me that 160th helos have flown in black, standard Army Helo Drab, desert tan (Training exercise in Nevada) and of course, gray.

Black is not the best color for camouflage at night as it turns out. Since the biggest threat to a helicoptor at night comes from the ground, then it needs to match the background - the sky. A gray aircraft would better match the value of a night sky than a black aircraft. That's why the F-15E, B-1B, B-2 and B-52 are all gray. My hypothesis is that the 160th is testing (or slowly converting over to) gray.

But that's just my opinion; I could be wrong.

Yeah, time will tell if they start using that color often. I forget where I saw it, but I could swear I've seen the Army test unit use gray on test ships before. For the kind of extended testing these guys were doing, it would most likely be dedicated test pilots... Maybe from the AFDD. And with the big push towards Spec Ops now, it wouldn't be surprising at all for them to be throwing money at stuff like that. At first I thought the 47 might be one of the new G's, but I don't think they had even received any at that point. Wish I had some detail photos of all the added gadgets, but that wasn't going to happen. They would make an interesting model though.

Dave
Los Angeles, CA
-DPDP Helicopter Photo Reference CDs & Model Accessories-
http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/

Nice one.
The funny thing is, I have bought myself the same model.

After a 6 year break in modeling, I 'm making a new start.
Hopefully I didn't forget to many tricks.

Anyway, here we go again.

QUOTE: Originally posted by DPD1 Unfortunately, I can't say exactly where. I can say it was on a range on the West Coast. They appeared to be doing some ECM type testing. I was unable to get any real details. My assumption at the time was they were either 160th, or 160th AC being tested by an Army test unit. The latter seems more likely now, which means the gray scheme could possibly just be for testing, and not the actual working scheme they will eventually get. I would say they are most likely the same two though. Apparently these earlier posts about Knoxville have been bumped off... What was the consensus at the time? Dave Los Angeles, CA -DPDP Helicopter Photo Reference CD & Model Accessories- http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/

Dave,
Here's the link for the grey MH-47E and MH-60K over at Airliners.net;

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/370097/L/

Cheers,

Thanks... He's listed the same number as the radio call, so that's the same ones. The biggest visual difference I noticed was they have three heat sensors now in a semi circular housing over the windshield. I think it was two before... And there's also a new odd shaped housing on rear top. Not sure what that is.

Dave
Los Angeles, CA
-DPDP Helicopter Photo Reference CD & Model Accessories-
http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/