A Chrismas Present from Screaminhelo!

Ok, I've done a little working on the IPMS Stockholm color charts. Check THIS out!

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorserver/showcolor.asp?fs=35414%2C35526

This is it, FS35414 for the upper surfaces and FS35526 on the verticals and undersides. All markings on vertical surfaces are in 35414 and when they extend into the darker camouflage, they switch colors.

Now to find the proper paints!

Well, Trigger and I have been talking a bit about FS numbers and fonts on these birds. Check this out for a color match!

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorserver/showcolor.asp?fs=36375%2C35237

Marke,

Yep, they're all gray! Numbers and stencils are Dark Ghost Gray when over the light shade and Light Ghost Gray when over the dark. Makes for some interesting imagery. Check out the link that HeavyArty posted in the "Hey Cobrahistorian!!!" thread.

I do know that the Army is trying some different colors. They are starting to realize that our greatest threat comes from the ground, not overhead. I guess the sticking point is that gray can provide high contrast against green. It does have some promise though. Maybe they will like something that the Taskforce uses at some point. Keep an eye there for some future possibility. I don't know if they will eventually get away from helo drab but there is always hope that they will do something that makes sense for a change.

Mac

Are the numbers and letters on the gray Apaches still black or is it a shade of gray???

Marke,

Looks like that's the wave of the future!

Wow!!! An Apache in ghost gray!! To Cool!!! I wonder if this is gonna be a commin practice in the U.S. ARMY and see them trade helo drab in for ghost gray on all there helos????????

Apparently they had them painted at the MCAS there. I'm picking up both light and dark ghost gray and will be getting to work on my SCANG Apache starting January 10th.

I've actually emailed some of the unit members and I'm waiting for more info on their birds.

Trigger,

You're probably right. Probably also had a prior Navy or Marine that did a lat-move to the SC Guard and wanted to paint an Apache gray.

Ridle,

I have an old 1/32 Revell Apache that will get a gray paint job. Still have plenty of gray for my Marine Air Wing I plan on building.

How many apache fans out there are buying shades of Grey and Blue?

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dragonfire Nice lookin' paint job on the Apache! I wonder what prompted them to go with a gray scheme? I like it!

Well, they'll tell you it's to better camouflage them from ground-based threats. But based on my observations in SC, I think they just wanted an excuse to paint their birds blue and put a Palmetto tree on 'em!

QUOTE: Originally posted by DPD1 You know, I thought about SC Guard. I think the SC C-17s put palms on their tails too. Dave -DPD Productions - Helicopter Reference Photo CD- http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/

Yup, those are 437th AW C-17s, an active duty unit based out of Charleston AFB. They were the first to fly the C-17 and have been doing so since the late 90s. They usually carry the whole state flag within the yellow tail band. And actually, its a Palmetto tree. I made the same mistake too thinking it was a palm tree when I first started visiting Charleston.

Asked by the Revolutionary Council of Safety in the the fall of 1775 to design a flag for the use of South Carolina troops, Col. William Moultrie chose a blue which matched the color of their uniforms and a crescent which reproduced the silver emblem worn on the front of their caps. The palmetto tree was added later to represent Moultrie's heroic defense of the palmetto-log fort on Sullivan's Island against the attack of the British fleet on June 28, 1776.

South Carolinians, Charlestonians especially, are very proud to display their state flag, which dates back to the American Revolution. You'll see it everywhere down there. I have to say, I love Charleston and it's now a home away from home for me!

Who do you think painted them Ridle?

'Bout time the army caught on.

You know, I thought about SC Guard. I think the SC C-17s put palms on their tails too.

Dave
-DPD Productions - Helicopter Reference Photo CD-
http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/

Nice lookin' paint job on the Apache! I wonder what prompted them to go with a gray scheme? I like it!

Dave,

They are from the 1-151 Aviation, SC Guard.

Mac,

No problem, glad to help! Its the least I could do, you really helped me out there!

Thanks for the help Jon!

If I remember correctly, all of the antennas are black as are ours. After some time in the weather they do get rather faded and can appear black. Antennas are not necessarily repainted every time the airframe is because reapplying the rf transparent paint is a bit of a pain (or so I am told by the paint shops). The only times that I have seen antennas repainted is at the depot level and I am suspecting that these Apaches just got a scuff and buff paint job.

As for the head, I'm not sure about this one but I think that they had some drab and some black as do we. Both colors are currently common in service right now. All of our heads went through rework at Sikorsky and most of them are black which I amm starting to see more and more but I don't know of any changes to the specifications that calls for a wholesale change to black.

All I remember about the unit is that they are SC Guard. I think that someone has come across thier website but I have not seen it.

I think I am starting to see the light...Do you hear a train?
Mac

Normally I would say: Please... No more gray! But it does look kind of cool. And it almost looks like they used a solid tape line, which would make things easy. Any idea what unit that is?

Dave
Los Angeles, CA
-DPD Productions - Helicopter Reference Photo CD-
http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/

That!.... is one sweet looken bird!

Thanks for the pics!

what do you know... it actually looks good in gray. but please leave the NightStalkers flat black...

Jon,
The IDF/AF Apaches that are camo'ed also have some components left in Helo Drab, like the TADS/PVNS turret, rotor head, and Hellfire racks. Here's a pic;


Cheers,

Rotors look like regular flat black. I'm fascinated at the portions that were left Helo Drab, ie. the laser detectors and ECM antennae and the rotor hub.

Hope everyone's having a good holiday.

w00t! Thanks Mac and Jon.

Cheers,

i got a apache ah-64-d on the shelf now thats how this one will be painted so much for the ol olive drab scheme. thanks a bunch for the pics mac.thanks rob.

what colors are the rotors?

Looks like Light Ghost Gray and Medium Gray, just like the AH-1W!

Thanks for posting these Jon, and Screaminhelo, thank you!