Converting a UH-1B to make a USMC UH-1E Huey ?

The Marine Corps used both UH-1Es and HH-1K for station SAR duty and I've seen them painted both all red/orange and red/orange and white.

For the UH-1E in Vietnam you have a lot of different options. Best bet is to go to a place like popasmake.com or scarface-usmc.org and pick a picture you like and match that aircraft. The UH-1E squadrons in Vietnam were VMO-2, 3, and 6 and HML-167 and 367. You can google those too to get more choices.

Basically in general the gunships had the doors and hoist removed and the slicks didn't but you will find almost every conceivable combination - gunslicks with hoists and doors but no door guns, slicks with door guns and no hoist, particle seperators, no particle seperators, etc.

Markings also varied between tactical and hi-vis. Some squadrons had their own specfics marking (for example VMO-2 and 6 had two white bands painted on top of their blades, VMO-3 had one band) but even that is hard to keep track of as aircraft moved from squadron to squadron. For example, VMO-3 became HML-367, and then later HML-367 gave up its Hueys to other squadrons and became all Cobra (which they got from VMO-2).

The Strella picture posted looks like it came from HML-367 in Okinawa around 1975 so it is post Vietnam (unless they had them when they participated in Frequent Wind). The photographer used to hang out either here or at HKN perhaps he can shed some light on how widespread their use was.

Thanks Randie

Okay, John.
Go to the web page and click on Aircraft Locator by Manufacturer.
On that page, scroll down and click on "Bell".
On the "Bell" page, scroll down to H-1 and then just scroll down until you find UH-1E. The picture is at the bottom of that page.
Or, you could just click on this.
http://www.aero-web.org/database/aircraft/showimage.php?id=5289 DOH!!!!

Randie, didn't pull up the picture myself, should have, bit from the sound of it, thought that's what it had to be, never seen a picture of it on an E model either
PS where did you find it on that site?

That's what it is, John.
I took a look at the site and the picture he is talking about is of an "E" model with the anti-strella kit installed. That's the first picture I've seen of one with the kit installed.
Have fun on your build, Helo.

Sounds like the anti-Strella kit, glad you got your book

My UH-1 Huey in action just arrived ; going through the book it appears that the first batch of UH-1E's , based on the B model as already stated by chopperfan does look very similar to the Army's UH-1B . However it also appears to have the wider vertical fin found on the UH-1C model . So I guess to keep things simple I'll use the italeri's UH-1C kit . I also found a great image of the USMC UH-1E at www.aero-web.org ; which shows a nice detail shot of the helicopters roof with the rescue hoist and avionics equipment . Of interest though is the up-turned exhaust outlet ?

any more questions, please ask, the book should help you

I do realize that there is a difference with the width of the tail planes between the B and C models , so when my squadron publication arrives , hopfully I should get a better idea which version to build . I have Italeri's UH-1B and UH-1C kits in the 1/72 scale to use . Iv'e also changed my mind about the color scheme , I'll go with the standard olive drab/ field green to go with my other vietnam era helicopters . The book should point me in the right direction ; and this forum site is excellent for additional info .

It was propable the old style before they started using the particle seperatoer' bot would need to look at the pictures to be sure. Be careful, there are difference's between B and C models, which kit are you going to use?

Thank's again grandadjohn and chopperfan ; I just ordered Squadron's UH-1 in action , it should arrive in the next couple of day's . Also that was great info on the difference between the B and C models chopperfan . I couldn't work out why some photo's showed a different engine inlet guard just behind the rotor mast ,and yet they were stilled called a UH-1E Huey . I know now ... Kind Regards John.

Helo 53. You are partially correct.
The first 34 "E" model Hueys were "B" models. The balance, of the 192 built, were "C" models. They were all aluminum construction due to the fact that they would be operating in close proximity to the ocean. They had additional avionics, a rotor brake and a roof mounted hoist, as you mentioned.
In Vietnam, they were used as both slicks and gunships. Some of the gunships were equipped with the TAT 101 chin mounted gun turret with twin, 7.62mm M-60 machine guns, along with rocket pods and 7.62mm machine guns on the hard points. All of them also had M-60s on swivel-type mounts in the door openings. Also, all of the birds in Vietnam had the rear doors removed.
It's really a fairly straight forward conversion. Basically, OOB. Just need to find some Vietnam-era Marine Corps decals and you're good to go.

You didn't waste my time

Agrrrrrrrrrrrh I'm so stupid !! It appears that the UH-1E with the orange/white scheme has U.S.Navy markings and the Marines version with the same paint scheme is the UH-1N . My second STUFF-UP of the day is , while checking through my on-line purchase records the book I ordered was the UH-1Huey in colour ; The UH-1 Huey in action is readily available . I just wish I would pay more attention to what i'm looking at and doing before I post questions on this Forum Site . Yet again I walk away looking rather "foolish" . Sorry if I wasted anyone's time !!

I know that there are some difference's on the roof if the hoist is mounted, as for the book I don't know what to tell you. You might check out Squadron to see if it's still in issue or not. If not try Amazon, or evilbay, etc

Thank's grandadjohn for the tip ; about 12 months ago I ordered Squadron's UH-1 Huey from my local hobby store here in Sydney . the order is still pending , they tell me it's currently unavailable ? Perhaps I should have ordered it directly from Squadron !! I can't help from wondering if I buy a copy from some where else , the first one I ordered will arrive shortly afterwards . [I don't want two copies ]

If you haven't done so already, I would get Squadron's "UH-1 In Action" book and compare line drawings and pictures for any difference's you have not already discovered