Task Force Ranger "Little Birds" References?

I can share experience with the kit...

Slight fit problems in the engine area when you join the fuselage haves and the cockpit. I urge you to pick up Cobra Company's MELB conversion set (I think Keith Jones flew an MH-6J? Someone confirm this? Jon? Gino? Sal?). Even if you don't build an MH-6, you can still use most of the parts to make a real nice "Killer Egg"

Also from Cobra Company, ask about Ammo feeds - Chris's are much better than the OOB kit parts.

Painting's easy - everything's black! Cobra Company also carries Helo Drab Stencils for Nightstalker aircraft.

I am also looking for reference photos on Little birds. I remember somebody posted couple of nice close pics of MH-6 but I did not download them :((
If somebody has photos of Little birds please share them with us! ))))
Thanks


Andy

Here are some pix I've collected from the web... http://homepage.mac.com/grant_little/Builds/PhotoAlbum14.html

Thanks Trigger74!

These photos are awesome!
Now I just have to find good interior shots of it

One VERY nice reference for AH-6, MH-6 and all other things SOAR related would be the new book "Night Stalkers: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment" by Fred Pushies. It is a Motorbooks publication under their "Power Series.". It is a large format, full color glossy book with MANY photos both current and historic of the 160th.

Here is a link to the book on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0760321418/qid=1127806054/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-5234615-5956061?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

I picked my copy up about a week and a half ago and I can't put it down.

I know that the US Army Aviation Museum is currently collecting photo's from past and present members of the 160thSOAR(A), you may wish to contact them for information
curator@armyavemuseum.org

I wasn't allowed to take any photos at the time but got great enjoyment from seeing the Mission Enhanced Little Birds being taken down to piece parts before adding the mods at the blue grass army depot.........total rebuild to say the least.

Hey Trigger thanks for sharing the pix. Even a Marine Corps Heavy Helicopter Mech has to say "that's a cool little bird." Those side benches have to be fun.

I'm currently working on the Dragon Little Bird mentioned above - for the most part the kit goes together well, problems I've encountered are the main rotor blades being warped, and the biggest (and most annoying) is the entire tail assembly has a giant seam that has required quite a bit of attention in the form of Tamiya putty and Mr. Surfacer - problem being the entire model has raised rivet detail and theres a good amount of it right near the seam I'm talking about so I've not decided if I'll just sand it off on that area or go through and sand it all off the model.

Other problem is the fit of the rocket pods, they were at such an unnaturally extreme angle (~45 degrees with the front point up) that I'll have to be rethinking how to modify the mountings so they fit normally.

Other than that, the kit went together quickly but I've been stalled by working on the tail assembly.

QUOTE: Originally posted by enediol Other problem is the fit of the rocket pods, they were at such an unnaturally extreme angle (~45 degrees with the front point up) that I'll have to be rethinking how to modify the mountings so they fit normally.

No idea what went wrong on the rocket pods. Are you sure you didn't misalign something or leave something out? Mine set flat and level when attached. Also, if you use liquid glue on the tail boom, the seam will only require minimal sanding. I had no problems there either.

Overall, the Dragon AH-6J is a great kit. Only area I had any issues with is the roof/fuselage/engine area as Grant mentioned above. It was easy to fix though with a piece of thick (0.030) plastic sheet to fill the gap between the roof and fusalage.

Just thought i would pass this e-mail along that I got from the US Army Avuation Museum today(I removed the names and address's for privacy and security reasons)

I am also trying to get more clarification from my son's boss, who was a member of Task Force Ranger

Got another e-mail that I will pass along

Hi John,
Thanks for the follow-up in regards to the LB color. Interesting info on Black Hawk Down. I knew the LB crew in the movie were the same ones who executed that landing at the first crash site, but the Ranger info is new to me.

So, who's gonna send their LB to the Army Aviation Museum?

Cheers,

Might suggest getting the 3-disk DVD of "Blackhawk Down"(got it for my birthaday) for reference, three disk set contains the movie plus the HistoryChannel and PBS special of hte incident(specials contain actual footage, but be careful some footage is re-created), movie used 160thSOAR(A)birds and personnel, especially if you can download and print frames for your reference

The bench seats in triggers link are different from the ones in the cobra company set. I have been told about "new" and "old" seats, so, which are which? And when did one change to the other or is it still a mismatch ?
Mog

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mogwa The bench seats in triggers link are different from the ones in the cobra company set. I have been told about "new" and "old" seats, so, which are which? And when did one change to the other or is it still a mismatch ? Mog

I've noticed this too
Hope the new book "Night Stalkers: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment" by Fred Pushies that Cableguy9238 suggested to check, will help with bench seats question. I am waiting it to arrive this week. Also CC gives the FLIR turret. But I can't find any reference photos of it installed on real bird. Other question is - was there FLIR on Little birds in Somalia? Again - which type of bench was on them back then?

Andy

QUOTE: I've noticed this too Hope the new book "Night Stalkers: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment" by Fred Pushies that Cableguy9238 suggested to check, will help with bench seats question. I am waiting it to arrive this week. Also CC gives the FLIR turret. But I can't find any reference photos of it installed on real bird. Other question is - was there FLIR on Little birds in Somalia? Again - which type of bench was on them back then? Andy

The CC benches are a newer style. Not sure when they started using them, but I did see them on 160th SOAR Littlebirds in 2000 at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA, home of 160th SOAR. Their birds had the FLIR on them then as well. I have been told they had them in Somalia too, but no pics to show.

So it means that this photo is of an old-style bench?
No FLIR by the way here...

Interesting....
How do you think, is there a possibility that 160th SOAR uses both types of them still now and back then?

One more question How does the ceiling looks like on Little Birds? Dragon gives it...... too simple You now I am always looking for the hard way))))))


Andy

Just got my book "Night Stalkers: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment"....

Very nice pics and very interesting info but....no even 1 photo of FLIR turret on Little Bird Maybe they install FLIRs only on apropriate mission when its nescessory?
Beside this, new-style benches (external-personel pods), which CC gives in MH-6 MELB set, are installed on late versions of AC. The problem is that upgraid includes new engine with 6-BLADE MAIN ROTOR and 4-BLADE TAIL one.

To say truth it did not dissopoint me at all!!! Now I am planning to build one AH-6 with 5 blades and rocket pods, and one MH-6 with 6 blades (thats probably why Dragon kit has one spare blade - just in case and new benches from CC

Andy