Latest project: UH-1H MedEvac, Vietnam

Thanks, glad you guys like it.

gdarwin wrote:

looks great Gino,nice work.Gino can you tell me how to take tester glue of a clear window on my helo?again great work.

Carefully.  Sorry, couldn't resist.  Basically, you have to scrape and sand it off.  Then wet sand and polish it with progressively finer sand papers till it is smooth again.  Lastly, dip it in Future to restore the final smooth finish.  Should work fine.

Thanks Troy.

AirMedical wrote:

O.k. hot shot.  Let's see you do that in a 1/72. ........Never mind, you proably already have.

Nope, way too small for my big hands.  I'll stick with 1/35th. 

Looks like another outstanding build, HeavyArty.  I like the little details you provide. The ration box, a water cooler, crew bags, etc...it always seems to bring the kit to life. 

I've got the 1/35 Panda UH-1N that I want to make as a USMC bird.  Are the Cobra Co sets the way to go to correct all the "issues" I keep hearing about the Panda offering?

LemonJello wrote:

I've got the 1/35 Panda UH-1N that I want to make as a USMC bird.  Are the Cobra Co sets the way to go to correct all the "issues" I keep hearing about the Panda offering?

Yup, the CC sets are the way to go.  I have the N model and the 2 sets for it as well.  They make the fixes much easier.  You will still have to widen the gunner's seats though.  Panda has the trooop seat supports too far inboard, they also made the gunner's seats too narrow (by about 1/8 inch) to match them.  Good luck.

Outstanding work, Gino!!   

   Is there any particular Dust-Off you're going to make it like?      Worked next door to the 57th Med during my last tour at Bragg... it's funny how I never really took the time to look hard at some of those aircraft, now before long the only place we'll be able to see them is in a museum.

  Thanks for paying tribute to some real heros!

Take care,

Frank

oldhooker wrote:

Is there any particular Dust-Off you're going to make it like?

Thanks Frank.  It is actually a customer's build and he is modeling it after his dad's helo in Vietnam.  His dad was s flight medic.  He is providing me with the specific markings, tail number, etc.  Great pic there.

Gino,

No Sweat!  I didn't crew Medevac's in Nam but spent from "75" to "81" in the Reserves crewing a Medevac.  We always left out the right jump seat because it got awfully crowded doing hoist work and getting the patient into the doorway.  I have surpisingly few pictures because I left suddenly and always thought I would stay crewing. 

Keep up the great work!

Frank,

Nice print, got to be one of those "outlaw" 101st Birds!  My gunner from the 174th ended up in "Eagle Dustoff" after we stood down.  He gave me one of their patches.  In 2003 and 2004 he ended up at Ft. Campbell "covering" for that very same Unit that was then serving in Iraq.  They couldn't believe he was still on flight status.  Mike was also down in N.O. the day after Katrina hoisting out survivors. 

Gino, wire cutters didn't start appearing on Army helo's until the 1980's

grandadjohn wrote:

Gino, wire cutters didn't start appearing on Army helo's until the 1980's

Yup, that is what I meant.  You can build a later model UH-1H ('80's) from the kit as well.  They won't be going on my Vietnam version, but are included in the kit and shown as optional parts for the Vietnam D/H model in the instructions. 

Here are a couple pics of the helos I am basing it on.  They are from the 57th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), "The Originals".  They were the first dedicated Dust Off unit.  Anyone have any more info on them?  Looks like the stabilizer tops are red.  Any other markings that I may be missing?

Gino,

I think you are referring to the tops of the synchronized elevators.  They were  international orange, but looked darker because of the exhaust stains. 

Melgyver wrote:

Gino, I think you are referring to the tops of the synchronized elevators.  They were  international orange, but looked darker because of the exhaust stains.

Yup, thanks.  Any other info on these helos?

Looking good Gino!!

Did you get the pics I emailed you??   My Hook is commin along fine.

You like the rear struts I made??

Mark

Yet another great model from the master himself.

What is the Panda Huey like i have never seen one and i have tryed everything to get my little hands on one here in Australia but cannot find one, and seeing you progress pics .......well it's just argghhhhhh makes me wanna cry.

Darn It!!!!!!!!

Well Done Again

Robert

Hey wooty!!

Have you tryed Ebay?? I see the Panda Hueys on there pritty offten.

You can probobly find one at a fare price with them.  The detales on them are not the best I've seen but There is some detail sets out for it to help make it a better model. Cobra Co. has a very nick resin set for it and eduard maks a P.E. set    I don't care for the over sized raised rivet detail  I plan to sand them all off and use my pin vice to replace them by drilling tiny shallow holes on the fuselage.  This will take a lot of time but it will look much better and will be worth the extra effert.  I like recessed details better than the raised ones.  The decals adhere better to them and they just look better to me all around.

Hope you can soon find one.

Good luck.

Mark

Panda's Huey's aren't horrible, not great either.  The rivets are a little big, but still look o.k.  The worst part is the interior.  The detail is soft, instrument panel is a decal or sticker (depending on the kit), seat legs and vertical support post are way over-scale, etc.  The CC set is definitely needed to spruce it up.  I comes out looking like a huey though.  Here is a review of the "N" kit, same basic kit with N parts added and a new nose.

marke wrote:

I don't care for the over sized raised rivet detail  I plan to sand them all off and use my pin vice to replace them by drilling tiny shallow holes on the fuselage.  This will take a lot of time but it will look much better and will be worth the extra effert.  I like recessed details better than the raised ones.  The decals adhere better to them and they just look better to me all around.

I wouldn't sand them all off.  The Huey does have lots of raised rives, just not as pronounced as what is there.  I would recommend lightly sanding them to reduce their size, but leaving them in place.  They are not too big for decals to snug down over.

wooty wrote:

i have tryed everything to get my little hands on one here in Australia but cannot find one, and seeing you progress pics .......well it's just argghhhhhh makes me wanna cry. Darn It!!!!!!!! Well Done Again Robert

HeavyArty wrote:

They are from the 57th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), "The Originals".   Anyone have any more info on them?

Hi Gino,

During the Vietnam years, and up until around 1992, they were designated 57th Medical Detachment, and here's a great site with many related photos... it's a slow site, but worth the wait.

   http://psysim.www7.50megs.com/html/dustpic1.htm

Hope this helps,

Take care,

Frank