Best 1/35 Blackhwak/pavehawk to build?

The best one to get for the 160 SOAR bird would be the MRC/Academy AH-60L DAP (actually an MH-60L). The Academy UH-60A/L , MH-60G Pavehawk, and AH-60L DAP are all the same basic kit, with different options. They are all great, the fuel tanks are the right porportion, that is how they look. The Italeri UH-60 A/L is just a rebox of the MRC/Academy kit with diferent decal options. AFV Club has also rebooxed it as a Hong Kong Coast Guard SAR bird as a S-70C with some added resin parts as well.

160 SOAR AH-60L DAP:


Standard UH-60A/L:


USAF MH-60G Pavehawk:


Italeri UH-60A/L:


AFV Club Hong Kong Coast Guard SAR S-70C (can be built into a nice early A model Blackhawk):


For pilots, here is the rundown:

DML has Vietnam era crew:


Nemrod has modern UH-60 crew and a couple of guys that look like a crew chief and a AF PJ:



CMK has a set of three crewmen and a few GIBs (Guys in Back) designed for UH-60s, but pilots and crew chief have Vietnam era "Chicken Plate" armored vests, I have seen them advertised as UH-1 crew as well. Soldiers look from about ODS era (late '80s to early '90s):

Same CMK set as Vietnam era UH-1D/H crew.

GIBs




Verlinden made/makes a standing US Cobra pilot as well, no photo. Pretty good figure w/ flight suit and survival vest carrying helmet bag.

Dynasty has a set of 2 resin figures called UH-60 Helicopter Crew: 1 helmeted male w/ M16 carbine; 1 female wearing cavalry hat, no pic, but I have seen it, kinda hokey, female is in image of Barbie, she doesn't look too realistic.

Also, some kits come with good crews. In Academy/MRC UH-1B/C kits, you get a 4-man crew from Vietnam era. Academy/MRC OH-58D kits come with a pretty good modern 2-man crew. Academy MRC Bell-47 comes with good Korean war era pilot as well. (Notice the Academy/MRC trend? Hmm?)

That about covers it. Not much out there, definitely an area that needs more attention.

For upgrades, Cobra Company has some great update sets. Check thier website to see them.

Cobra Company web site: http://www.cobracompany.com/35th_scale_models.htm

Hope that answers your questions. The Academy Blackhawks are great, I highly recommend them.

Comprehensive post, i love it.

Thanks for the help. i think i'll build a pavehawk in desert colours and go with the more modern look... which conversion kit for the pavehawk is the best one, or should i get a few?

CC has the MH-60 update set, it is good. If you get any, I would get the UH-60L correction set and the UH-60 Blackhawk detail set. They has basic items to improve the look of the kit, here they are: http://www.cobracompany.com/35004.htm http://www.cobracompany.com/35002.htm

You actually don't need the CC update sets to get a good model, it is well detailed out of the box. If you want to go the superdetailed route, Eduard makes a couple of PE sets for the UH/MH-60s as well, I hear they are good, I don't like PE personally.

As for the desert paint scheme, current USAF Pavehawks are mostly in overall Gunship gray, some still sport the European 1color scheme as on the Academy box as well. The desert scheme was only used by a couple of units in ODS, not OIF.

Gunship Gray MH-60G:


European 1 scheme:


If you plaon on putting it with the 2 Littlebirds, I would stick with the 169 SOAR MH-60L DAP kit.

Good luck.

Here's an OIF HH-60G in desert colors!

I think i might build both... i like the pavelow.
But the AH-60L looks mean as hell with the armed wings.

Any tips on weathering these beasts i really don't want to mess up such expensive models

What would be the best way of creating a aussie blackhawk from a kit +aftermarket stuff

In his exhaustive post HeavyArty forgot to mention Eduard' photo etched sets one for the exterior and one for the interior; both are meant for the UH-60L but the exterior kit fits all (Blackhawk, Pavehawk and DAP) while you'll have to discard some parts of the interior kit if you use it on the Pavehawk and the DAP.

Weathering is limited to dirt of various kind: from the one between the panel lines to the sand on top (in case of desrt operations). There should be no color chipping because the helicopters are repainted frequently (at least that's what I understood).

Regarding the crews I have both kits CMK'S and Nemrod's ... if you can get Nemrod's they are a LOT more accurate!

There are various methods to weather an aircraft and some are reported at the Aircraft Resource Center (briefly ARC) in the "Tools n' Tips " section.
I usually redraw the panel lines with a soft pencil and then I apply sepia china ink and pass gently with a soft cloth over it to get streaks; it looks something like this when done:


post #300

Avus,
Thought I was slipping, check my second post, mentioned the Eduard PE there.

Cobrahistorian,
Those desert Pavehaks are interresting, haven't see any OIF Pavehhawks in desert camo, do you know what unit is operating them? Looks like a two-tone sand and khaki scheme.

Nezbit,
I don't think the Aussie Blackhawks have anything special to them, a standard UH--60L with square rear stabilizer as in the Pavehawk and DAP kits (also in CC UH-60L correction set), would work, with 3-tone Aussie camo.

Here are some Aussie birds;



Here is an Aussie Blackhawk decal sheet I found too.
http://www.kitreview.com/reviews/blackhawkdecalsreviewbg_1.htm

They would give an interresting bird with different camo than standard US Army Helo Drab.

QUOTE: Originally posted by HeavyArty Those desert Pavehaks are interresting, haven't see any OIF Pavehhawks in desert camo, do you know what unit is operating them? Looks like a two-tone sand and khaki scheme.

305th RQS out of Davis Monthan. Tail code "DR" The scheme is actually three-tone, sand, khaki and a medium brown not unlike desert BDUs

Sorry HeavyArty, missed that!

Hey Trigger74 seems that you are becoming quite the Pavehavk expert.
From now forth thou shalt be know as Pavehistorian!

Well, not's get carried away. Salbando might have something to say about that.

Speaking from an Aussie the Blackhawks we use here are the S-70A-9 Blackhawk nothing flash but it gets the job done...

Here is a pic of the S-70 BattleHawk but not in AusCam.



These BattleHawks are used in the Australian Army's AIR-87 Armed Reconnaissance Program.
Cya's
Robert

Isn't that Italery-kit the same as Academy's (both MRC)?

Yes, from my earlier post.

QUOTE: The Italeri UH-60 A/L is just a rebox of the MRC/Academy kit with diferent decal options.

It has decal options for 3 different versions, Israeli Air Force '99, US Army Somalia '92, US Army (101st ABN) Bosnia 2001.

Ok i've ordered a AH-60L blackhawk to go with my little birds.

Now i'm going to order another blackhawk, to make up in aussie decals and camo... but finding a set of Aussie decals @ http://www.kitreview.com/reviews/blackhawkdecalsreviewbg_1.htm

It says a conversion kit is need to make it a authentic Aussie S-70A-9... i can't find a reference for a S-70A-9 kit.

Any ideas?

And thanks for all the help guys

sorry, i think you already answerewd my last post.... and i didn't see it.
Am i right?

Yup, from previous post:

QUOTE: Nezbit, I don't think the Aussie Blackhawks have anything special to them, a standard UH--60L with square rear stabilizer as in the Pavehawk and DAP kits (also in CC UH-60L correction set), would work, with 3-tone Aussie camo.

Good luck.

Cheers Heavy.

You're a one man info desk.

QUOTE: Originally posted by nezbit Ok i've ordered a AH-60L blackhawk to go with my little birds.

BTW - the decals for the AH-60L are yellow when they should be OD. Thankfully Avus and HeavyArty developed a corrected file that one can output for homemade decals in the correct color to go on the black finish. It also includes some Little Bird markings too.

If Avus and HA don't mind, I can e-mail you the file but just be forewarned - it's a respectable file size.

BTW - the decals for the AH-60L are yellow when they should be OD. Thankfully Avus and HeavyArty developed a corrected file that one can output for homemade decals in the correct color to go on the black finish. It also includes some Little Bird markings too.

If Avus and HA don't mind, I can e-mail you the file but just be forewarned - it's a respectable file size.

Can't speak for Avus, but it is OK with me. They come out nicely, hope you like them.

yeah by all means, hook me up.

And thanks

Nez

Could you beam me that file also ?
Thx,
Mog

Nezbit and Mogwa, send me an email from the button link below and I will zap a copy to each of you.

It's OK for me.
I made this for the community so consider it "shareware" (as long as you quote the maker and the counsellors).

Regarding the S-70A-9 (Aussie Army), you'll need to add the external steps on both sides of the cabin, in addition to, the 3 piece stab. They also use a unique cabin seating arrangement, where they have six troop seats running down the center of the cabin (3 on each side) and the standard four along the back. There are a number of other subtle differences, but, aren't noticable in 1/35th scale.

As far as the Battlehawk is concerned, it was proposed for AIR87, but, the Eurocopter Tiger was chosen instead.

HTH,
Mike

I thought the Battlehawk was already in service in Australia.
With the 20mm chin turret.....

If i was to make a battlehawk, could i use a turret from an apache?

Unfortunately, it's not in service with the Aussies or anyone for that matter. We were elminated along with the Rooivalk (if I'm not mistaken) during the first stage of the competition.

I don't believe the M230 was the gun of choice for the Battlehawk. The proposal for AIR87 happened just before I came aboard so I'm not sure what the specific gun was going to be.

fair enough... sounds like some miss-printed info.

Appreciate the clarification.

nez