Just about to start my first Hasegawa 1/72 UH-60A Blackhawk..

Hey Chris.. Thanks for the info.. I think I will go with the two tanks, and have the gunners hang out the side.. I think your right, I really cant find all that much different. Other than the Auscam paint job! Thanks again!

Chris in Japan

Hi again Chris, The Blackhawks are purely for Airmobility of both personnel and logistics and not much else. They have absolutely no attack role at all as the door guns are purely for self defence and suppression of the enemy during missions. Australia did elect the NH-90 as the next Troop Carrier but it is not due for delivery for quite some time. The gunship role in Australia falls directly on the Tiger ARH at the present moment as the Bushrangers (UH-1H gunships) were retired a few months back. Currently Australia still operates both the Iroquois and Blackhawk in the Air mobility role but mainly just the Blackhawk the Iroquois are used for the utility sort of stuff as opposed to mass movements of Infantry A job which the Blackhawks own now. The hawks are also used for the support of Special Operations/Counter Terrorism sush as the SAS/CDO/TAG units. If you plan on using the 4 external tanks configuration dont worry about door guns at all as the 4 tanks are used only for Ferry flights and the in board tanks wouldnt give much of a field of fire to the gunners provided they fit on at all with tanks in place. you my also need to add cable cutters to the gear struts and above the cockpit if the kit does not include them I can not recall seeing them in the hasegawa kit off hand. Also I have yet to see an Aussie hawk with Chaff/Flare dispensers on the tail boom but I may be wrong about that. other than that I dont think there is too much else to do for an Aussie S-70A-9 it is more our configurations of certain things that differ as opposed to the Airframe itself it looks pretty much to the casual observer to be a standard UH-60L. Hope this all helps and any more questions I will do my best to answer them for you.

All the best Cairnsy in Australia
P.S. Couldn't help but laugh at the last line of your previous post about 20 Chris' because my name just so happens to be Chris Also!

Well, from the top of your head, you did a great job!,, hehehe..

Well I have started it, and just wanted to get some advice on the little things as you mentioned.. The guns that come with the kit will do fine, as I dont want to go to tto much trouble with it.. I was wondering about the wings, and have put the 2 fuel tanks on either side, and was curious as to what the Australian Army puts on the inside.. Its interesting that they dont use any weapons, as that would then make the Blackhawk just a troop carrier?.. I was reading that the Australian Army has bought the Eurocopter troop transport, and with the Huewy's going, and only the Tigre's there.. Would they then give the Blackhawks a more of an attack role? Seems pointless to have them as troop transport, when these new helicopters have been purchased?

Chris in Japan

ps.. I put "in Japan" because there are about 20 Chris' around the place...

Hi Chris, If you wish to build an accurate S-70A-9 from the Hasegawa kit you will need to add the HIRSS Exhaust as found in the Italeri Desert Hawk kit (this is probably the best kit for an Aussie hawk) or scratch build one. you will need to add Emplaning steps beneath the cabin doors. The folding Stabilator as seen on the Seahawks will need to be added also, This is the rectangular one with the 4 hand holds in the trailing edge as opposed to the trapezium type seen on standard US UH-60's. Internal seating configuration is different to the US. The Australians did have a configuration of 5 seats either side back to back facing the cabin doors running down the centre axis of the Aircraft. the more common one at the moment appears to be 4 seats along the back bulkhead with 6 in the back to back configuration at the front of the cabin directly aft of the Loadmaster Compartments. but seats are often removed completely leaving only the 2 Loadmaster Seats the infantry just sit on the floor amongst a jumble of packs, webbing and weapons. For aircraft weapond the door guns are MAG-58 GPMG as opposed to the M-60 usually included in kits it does look quite different but if you dont want to get too crazy 60's will fill the windows quite nicely. The ESSS wings are ony used to carry fuel tanks normally 2 on the outer stations but i have seen 4 carried never weapons on these wings Australia can not use rockets or hellfire or anything from Hawks. Other than that I think Antennae placement is different but i can not off the top of my head tell you how it goes. Hope all this helps a bit.

Cairnsy In Australia

Hi Chris,

Sorry, I can't help you on the construction tips you ask for, but it does sound like another interesting project.... and like you said, it will match your other Aussie builds!

Good luck and look forward to seeing your progress, thanks!

Take care,
Frank