my AH-6J project and some little friends

cameraflage

Member since
June 2003
From: East of Cleveland, along the Amish Frontier

my AH-6J project and some little friends

Posted by cameraflage on Friday, April 1, 2005 7:18 PM

OK, kids, lets see if this works. I think this is my third official post and its my first attempt at attaching some imagery. Please don helmets and goggles for your own safety.

Anyhoo, here's an update on my current Black Hawk Down modelling binge. The AH-1J is 99% finished, the Delta guys just need some weathering and the MH-6J MELB is under construction (yeah, yeah, I know, the MELB didnt exist in '93, but I dont care, once I get the four figures glued down you wont be able to see the new seats anyway.)

The pilot figures are a melange of parts (DML: Vietnam helo crew legs, DML Delta Somalia torsos, various arms, and Kiowa Warrior pilot heads, all cloned in resin). The Delta operators are all from the DML set, with 4 seated figures assembled from various combinations of legs, and will be used on the MH-6J.

All is well on the Amish Frontier.

Ranger Joe, Defender of Bunnies "Feed the rangers, not the bears" www.nls.net/mp/cameraflage

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grandadjohn

Member since
February 2003
From: phoenix

Posted by grandadjohn on Friday, April 1, 2005 7:56 PM

Looking good

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Trigger

Member since
February 2004
From: Moooooon River!

Posted by Trigger on Friday, April 1, 2005 10:20 PM

Looking REAL Good!

------------------------------------------------------------------ - Grant "Can't let that nest in there..."

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AH1Wsnake

Member since
December 2002
From: Modeling anything with "MARINES" on the side.

Posted by AH1Wsnake on Friday, April 1, 2005 11:52 PM

Holy cow! Your figures look amazing. Excellent work! Thumbs Up [tup]

"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."

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Avus

Member since
June 2003
From: Caput Mundi

Posted by Avus on Saturday, April 2, 2005 3:40 AM

WOW Looks really good!
Keep us updated on your progress.

Klaus

Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting

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9x19mm

Member since
December 2003
From: Phoenix,Az

Posted by 9x19mm on Saturday, April 2, 2005 6:02 AM

Nice job!

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LemonJello

Member since
February 2004
From: Green Lantern Corps HQ on Oa

Posted by LemonJello on Saturday, April 2, 2005 7:45 AM

That's an impressive array of figures, and they are all really well done. Any secret to your success? The Killer Egg is looking good, too. Thanks for sharing your progress with us.

A day in the Corps is like a day on the farm; every meal is a banquet, every paycheck a fortune, every formation a parade... The Marine Corps is a department of the Navy? Yeah...The Men's Department.

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Melgyver

Member since
March 2003
From: Lafayette, LA

Posted by Melgyver on Saturday, April 2, 2005 8:40 AM

Looking real good! Nice group of figures too! One question? The shoulder harness looks to be attched to the seat belt attach point. Shouldn't they go to the center at the seat belt buckle and latch point?

Clear Left!

Mel

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HeavyArty

Member since
December 2002
From: Valrico, FL

Posted by HeavyArty on Saturday, April 2, 2005 10:04 AM

Looks great. Agree with Melgyver though on the satbelts.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

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Mikeym_us

Member since
March 2004
From: Kincheloe Michigan

Posted by Mikeym_us on Saturday, April 2, 2005 10:29 AM

I'm not sure but the helmets on the pilots ( I know they are the heads off the crew figures off the Kiowa Warrior kit) look a little dated (1980's vintage helmets that look awfully close to the Vietnam era flight helmets that were used by the US Army Aviation Corps during armed escort ops in the Persian Gulf during the Iran/Iraq war in the 80's) weren't the helmets used in '93 a little more bulkier and had night vision goggle brackets on them because I believe they used NVG's in Somalia during Night Op's. Oh and how do I turn DML's MD-500 into a MH-6 Armed transport helo.

On the workbench: Dragon 1/350 scale Ticonderoga class USS BunkerHill 1/720 scale Italeri USS Harry S. Truman 1/72 scale Encore Yak-6

The 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron the only Squadron to get an Air to Air kill and an Air to Ground kill in the same week with only a F-15 http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/Mikeym_us/

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oldhooker

Member since
July 2003
From: Piedmont Triad, NC (USA)

Posted by oldhooker on Saturday, April 2, 2005 11:52 AM

Looks good from here, Joe, thank you for sharing this impressive build!! Smile [:)]

Take care,
Frank

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cameraflage

Member since
June 2003
From: East of Cleveland, along the Amish Frontier

Posted by cameraflage on Saturday, April 2, 2005 1:19 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Melgyver
[br One question? The shoulder harness looks to be attched to the seat belt attach point. Shouldn't they go to the center at the seat belt buckle and latch point?

I have NO idea. I've never been in a helicopter myself, and these guys are the first pilots that I've installed that had belts.

I only had the Cobra Company seats to go by when I made the straps (cheap champagne bottle foil cork wrap cut into belts). I couldnt really tell how they attached or where they went, so I just winged it.

Ranger Joe, Defender of Bunnies "Feed the rangers, not the bears" www.nls.net/mp/cameraflage

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cameraflage

Member since
June 2003
From: East of Cleveland, along the Amish Frontier

Posted by cameraflage on Saturday, April 2, 2005 1:30 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mikeym_us

I'm not sure but the helmets on the pilots ( I know they are the heads off the crew figures off the Kiowa Warrior kit) look a little dated (1980's vintage helmets that look awfully close to the Vietnam era flight helmets that were used by the US Army Aviation Corps during armed escort ops in the Persian Gulf during the Iran/Iraq war in the 80's) weren't the helmets used in '93 a little more bulkier and had night vision goggle brackets on them because I believe they used NVG's in Somalia during Night Op's. Oh and how do I turn DML's MD-500 into a MH-6 Armed transport helo.

Yeah, they looked bigger in the movie, too. I read a post in here some time ago that said the Kiowa Warrior pilot helmet was close enough to use. For my purposes, its fine...."close enough for government work."

Not sure I can help you on the MD-500 to MH-6 conversion question....there are far more knowledgeble people here than I who can answer that.

Ranger Joe, Defender of Bunnies "Feed the rangers, not the bears" www.nls.net/mp/cameraflage

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cameraflage

Member since
June 2003
From: East of Cleveland, along the Amish Frontier

Posted by cameraflage on Saturday, April 2, 2005 1:42 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by LemonJello
[ Any secret to your success?

Well, if I told you, it wouldnt be a secret, would it? Smile [:)]

I used Polytek 1:1 RTV molding material and Alumalite polyurethane plastic resin, on this batch of figures, anyway. . I've used Alumalite's RTV material, but it mixes at 10:1 and I've never been able to get the proper mixture and eventually the molds crumble. Polytek molds stay pliable much longer.

The Alumalite casting resin is ok, but I prefer Polytek's resin (I can get the little Alumalite casting kit at my local hobby shop, but if I want the good stuff I have to drive over to the west side of Cleveland, and I dont have a valid passport to go across the Cuyahoga)

Ranger Joe, Defender of Bunnies "Feed the rangers, not the bears" www.nls.net/mp/cameraflage

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Trigger

Member since
February 2004
From: Moooooon River!

Posted by Trigger on Saturday, April 2, 2005 3:05 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mikeym_us

Oh and how do I turn DML's MD-500 into a MH-6 Armed transport helo.

Cobra Company sells a conversion that'll work with either the AH-6J kit or a DML Hughes 500. You can find it here at: http://www.cobracompany.com/35003.htm

------------------------------------------------------------------ - Grant "Can't let that nest in there..."

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Mikeym_us

Member since
March 2004
From: Kincheloe Michigan

Posted by Mikeym_us on Saturday, April 2, 2005 4:47 PM

well the AH-6J that cameraflage built is the same as the MD-500. The MD-500 has the T tail so does the AH-6 and the MH-6. Does anyone know what type of seating arrangement there was in the MH-6 was it bench type canvas seats or did the troops sit near the edge of the doors and what types of weapons did the MH-6 carry externally.

On the workbench: Dragon 1/350 scale Ticonderoga class USS BunkerHill 1/720 scale Italeri USS Harry S. Truman 1/72 scale Encore Yak-6

The 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron the only Squadron to get an Air to Air kill and an Air to Ground kill in the same week with only a F-15 http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/Mikeym_us/

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cameraflage

Member since
June 2003
From: East of Cleveland, along the Amish Frontier

Posted by cameraflage on Saturday, April 2, 2005 5:49 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mikeym_us
Does anyone know what type of seating arrangement there was in the MH-6 was it bench type canvas seats or did the troops sit near the edge of the doors and what types of weapons did the MH-6 carry externally.

The troops sit on external seats that attach to the weapons plank. The MH-6J doesnt carry any weapons, except for whatever weapons the crew carry. I dont know about interior seating arrangements, if any. I believe it was Grant who said that the MH-6J sometimes carried a recon dirt bike in back. If its plausible, I plan to have a Delta guy sitting in a squat position inside the back area, holding onto the fuselage....this will keep me from worrying about what can be seen back there. My question is, do the guys sitting on the outside of the aircraft have any seat belts?

Ranger Joe, Defender of Bunnies "Feed the rangers, not the bears" www.nls.net/mp/cameraflage

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Melgyver

Member since
March 2003
From: Lafayette, LA

Posted by Melgyver on Saturday, April 2, 2005 6:03 PM

Cameraflage,

Sorry I don't have any pictures I could send you of the typical seat belt and shoulder harness installation. My scanner isn't working. If you can just move the seat attached part of the shoulder harness and shorten it so the edge is even with the lap belts in the center it would be fine. Looks great, at least you are building!

Clear Left!

Mel

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 2, 2005 6:33 PM

Looking great!

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Edit

Trigger

Member since
February 2004
From: Moooooon River!

Posted by Trigger on Saturday, April 2, 2005 8:34 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by cameraflage
[br I believe it was Grant who said that the MH-6J sometimes carried a recon dirt bike in back. If its plausible, I plan to have a Delta guy sitting in a squat position inside the back area, holding onto the fuselage....this will keep me from worrying about what can be seen back there. My question is, do the guys sitting on the outside of the aircraft have any seat belts?

Actually, it was Sal who told me that they used to haul dirt bikes around (on the outside) sometimes in Somalia (wanted to give credit where credit's due)

The subject of seat belts came up here a short while back. Sal, Gino or Avus one can confirm this, but I think the riders do have a strap they can latch onto with carabiners.

BTW - I just took a real good look at the ammo belts and they look great!

------------------------------------------------------------------ - Grant "Can't let that nest in there..."

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HeavyArty

Member since
December 2002
From: Valrico, FL

Posted by HeavyArty on Saturday, April 2, 2005 10:17 PM

QUOTE: The subject of seat belts came up here a short while back. Sal, Gino or Avus one can confirm this, but I think the riders do have a strap they can latch onto with carabiners.

This is info gathered from both Avus and SalBando. The plank riders usually have a strap attached to the airframe that they snap a carabiner into during the flight to the target area. Usually, a few miles from the target they will disconnect and just hang on so they can get off in a hurry if needed. I have also heard that they don't use the strap as much as they do or should and a lot of times don't use them at all. Hang on, here we go!

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

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Avus

Member since
June 2003
From: Caput Mundi

Posted by Avus on Sunday, April 3, 2005 8:29 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mikeym_us

Oh and how do I turn DML's MD-500 into a MH-6 Armed transport helo.

Here is article of how I converted a MD-500 to a MH-6. It doesn't go much into detail but it shows the major differences:
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal4/3201-3300/Gal3296_MH-6_Pagano/gal3296.htm

BTW Cobra Co's MELB kit uses the modern troop carrying planks; so if you are to make a "somalian" bird you'll need to scratch build the early type planks (like i did).

Klaus

Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting

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wooty

Member since
August 2004
From: Australia

Posted by wooty on Saturday, April 9, 2005 4:11 AM

Holly Hell
I cant believe i missed this post untill now..
Very very impressive i have just orded my Dragon AH-6J Little Bird to go with me MH-60L and my other MH that is is crashed i also have a few boxs of Dragon Delta figures that i will put on the ground aswell.
But man that is looking really good hope mine is as half as good as that
Cya
Robert

Rob..

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"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."