Vietnam Huey

Ray

A very detailed and informative post as usual, thanks, if you hav'nt already, check out Intruder_bass's pictures from his UH-1C mustang build, posted further up, it shows a great reproduction of the windshield you mention in your post.

Thanks

Andy.

Also, there is no towel rack on the roof.

Ray, look closely at the roof.  It has both a the towel bar and blade antennae up there.

Gino,

   Sorry about that, I meant the roof mounted pitot tube that looks like a rotated "J."  I just missunderstood what the "towel bar" was.  Thanks for catching that.  I'll fix the post so as not to confuse folks.  That's the last thing we need!  

      Ray

Gino & Ray

for us pitot tube novices can you please explain what a "towel bar" and "blade Antennae" are, and what model hueys have and dont have them.

Thanks

Andy

pitot tubes have nothing to do with antennae. They are used to measure air flow and thus airspeed of an aircraft.  In early model Hueys, they were on the nose of the aircraft, but in later models they were moved to the roof and look like rotated "J's." I was just screwed up on my terminology.  The blade is a VHF antenna.  The shape of the blades were different on early and late model Hueys.  Also, many UH-1F's had two blade antennae on the roof, one behind the other (it just gets better and better, huh!). I assume the "towel bar" is another antenna, but I don't know what kind (FM maybe?).  Help me out, Gino!

   Ray
 

Gino:

I wonder where the tail number 60744 came from? The Army typically used the first number on the tail as the last number of a year of the contract ie. 1966 or 1976  or 1986 era. If that is the case then the complete serial number might be 66-0744 on the data plate. According to my records this serial never existed. The first lot serial number of the UH-1D run in 1966 was 66-746 through 66-970 or possible on the tail it would have been 60746 through 60970. The first H model serial number produced was 67-17145 or tail number 717145.

Reading your past threads you are a very knowledgeable  person, did you find something that shows this tail number?

Ed

Ray:

The Bell Helicopter name for the rotor style on the UH-1B was a two bladed, semi-rigid, underslung feathering axis rotor. The part number begining would have been 204. The 204 part number is the model number however it applies to many parts used on the UH-1B and UH-1C aircraft. I suspect the rotor was developed at the same time the aircraft was created. Modifications of this rotor continued until the UH-1N or 212.

I can only think of two rotor systems that everyone refered to by number, that is the 540 and the 680.

The 540 rotor also is a two bladed, semi-rigid, underslung feathering axis system. The part number begining is 540 as this was a completely new design for Bell. There is no airframe model 540 the number is reserved for the pylon assembly.

The 680 rotor, you could fly hands off, it was that stable. The Army never bought this system as it came along after the Army went to the UH-60.

Ed 

Ray:

Towel Rack is FM Homing #1

Ed

Ed,

  Thanks for the info.  That explains why I never knew what the old style rotor system was called.  I assume that the towel bar replaced the FM antennae on the nose. Antennae are definitely not my strong point.  It seems they were stuck everywhere at different times throughout the Huey's history.  Since you clearly know a lot about them, how about a antenna primer, perhaps with some photos to illustrate the types.  I have a lot of refs on Hueys, but they are incomplete in this area.  I'm sure it would be most beneficial for the rest of us. 

    Thanks,

           Ray

Gino: I wonder where the tail number 60744 came from?

No idea on the history of the tail #.  My guess is that Panda just came up with it.  I just used the kit decals for that part.  Agree with you on how they are usually assigned though.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/Bellrep/SIDEVIEW.jpg

 Ray:

Above is a pic of the antenna locations. Not all antennas listed would have been on UH-1D/H during RVN era.

1. VHF/UHF Antenna   2. Loop ADF on belly, 3.FM Homing #1   4.FM Radio Ant #1  5. VHF Omni

6. This location not used, RVN ant like this was a white cord which zigzagged down the length of the tailboom. 7.ADF sense  8. ADF  9. Marker Beacon  10. IFF bottom  11. FM Comm   12. IFF top   13. Glidescope.

Know that you know where to find them I think you can go to existing pictures and see them.

When I was in the Army pretty much all we had was VHF, UHF, FM, ADF, and Single Side Band HF zigzag one on the tailboom.

If you need a better side view of one to make it send me an email.

grandadjohn may want to expound on this since he is a pilot.

Ed

Ed,

  Thanks for the info.  Where is the illustration from?

Grandadjohn,

   Crew chiefs are still more than welcome to share their knowledge about Hueys.  I would greatly appreciate any info you have, especially on Vietnam Huey antennae.  Please feel free to include photos if you have them.  A picture really is worth a thousand words (especially to a modeller!).  When did you do your tour, if you don't mind me asking?  Thanks for your service, by the way! 

   Ray
 

Active duty from 68 to 71. National Guard from 71 to 80. Lucky, I quess, didn't go to Vietnam but went to Korea in 68 and 69.

Will post phot's when I have any that help in the discussion, unfortunatly many have been lost over the years.

Grandadjohn,

  I hear you about the pictures.  That's why I have found all the negatives I could of my father's Vietnam photos and digitized them.  There are a few that have no negatives, but I will be scanning them soon.  I also did the same for my Grandfather's WWII ngatives.  You should consider scanning the remaining photos or having it done.  We don't want to lose all that great history!

     Ray
 

Grandadjohn:

It seems like I am still doing tours:-)  Try TM55-1520-210-10 google search. I did this and found some places that sell the 210 series manuals also maybe 211 and possibly the 219 series. When you get to a site scroll down and see what they have. I seem to remember 8 or 9 dollars for a book. Local civilian governments have bought old Hueys for fire fighting, and other uses, so FAA has some manuals.

Sorry I took you for a pilot:-) those wings didn't come out until after I got out of the Army.

RVN tours 63-64 Bien Hoa 118th AML crewchief CH-21 and UH-1B. 1966 605th Trans Co Phu Loi, we supported units at Lai Khe and Phouc Vin. 1967 D Co 15th Trans Co An Khe, we supported 1/9 Cav, 1971-72 34th General Support Group Saigon, this was a General Support Unit supporting all aircraft in RVN.

Korean tours 1967-1968 Korea Air Force Kimpo AFB, 1970-71 55th Avn Co Yoido Island Seoul

Stateside tours 1969 Ft Stewart GA Cobra Hall training. In 1965 I served as a periodic maintenance team leader in A Co 227 AHB 11th Air Assault, then it became 1st Cav Div.  1972-73 worked with all USMC AH and UH-1 sqdrns at New River NC.  1973 USN Helitron 8 Pensacola FL. 1986-89 worked with all USMC AH and UH-1 sqdrns at Camp Pendleton CA. 

2001-2003 worked with 1-1 Cav 1st AD in Germany and in Baghdad. 

As for pictures mine are packed up in states. I've found doing a search for Hueys has been the best source of data and pictures. There are some Hueys stuck on a stick in various cities, they would give you a good belly shot that would show antenna. The pictures Gino posted are very good showing antennas. I am impressed with his research. The museum at Ft. Rucker might have some good pictures. I really don't search much about Hueys as I like WW11 airplanes best:-) and haven't built any helicopters. First Army unit to be armed was UTT in Saigon, they started out with A models in Ft Rucker I think. In 1963 I remember Maj Delavan sp? as their CO. He was wounded numerous times before they sent him home. VHPA has some good pictures. Air America operated commercial 204B's, might be something on their site. You might try typing in a country name and Army helicopters on google. I noticed a number of movies were filmed in the Phillipines using Hueys.

My pleasure to help you all out. At my age I can remember 40 years ago just don't ask me why I am doing something now as I probably forgot why:-)

Question for you all I tried attaching pic, it was a BMP, does this site only accept jpg files?

Please explain what #39 inserted in words means.

 Ed

Ed,

Thanks for the info on the manuals, I had the "parts" manual for the Bell 204 series which included the B, C, M models of the Huey but they were thrown away when I was on vaction one year. 

I met a guy in the book store, we were both checking out the "warbird" magazines and turns out he was working for a fellow who was "storing" a couple M and one V model Hueys until a "new" Museum opens up.  He said I could come out and take detail pictures of them.  I have a lot of the M model but neglected to get a bunch of the V when it was at the local museum that closed up a 5 or 6 years ago.  One was pretty much "gutted" back then but the other two were in good shape.  I doubt it now, they are probably out in the weather. 

Ray,

A Crew Chief is an excellent source of info, especially on Hueys!  We just loaned them to the pilots to fly! 

Mel,

   I hear ya!  My father was an armorer and doorgunner so I pick his brains about weapons, but he said crew chieifs would know more about the aircraft itself.  I think I speak for all of us civillians here on the site when I say that we appreciate all the veterans that take time to help us out, and we are all greatful for your service to this country.  I am planning a trip to Ft. Rucker this summer, and I intend to take as many photos as is humanly possible.  My father's unit is having their reunion there this year so maybe I can pick some of those guys brains as well.

        Ray
 

I spotted this and thought while we are on the subject of manuals it might be of interest to someone:

UH-1 Huey Helicopter Manuals, UH-1 Series Bell Iroquois, UH-1D model 205, UH-1V medevac, UH-1H model 205A-1 "Nighthawk" UH-1B, UH-1C, UH-1H, UH EH-1H, UH-1V,UH-1M.

looks like it has everything about hueys from armaments to engines, pitch horn links to power shaft bolts.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UH-1-Huey-Helicopter-77-manual-CD-8314p-Iroquois-Bell_W0QQitemZ2247809612QQcategoryZ135QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Scroll down and check out the CD contents, its impressive (well it is to me anyway)

hope this helps someone out.

Andy

Ray,

Thanks!  I made it back to Ft. Rucker in Oct. 2004  for a Mini Reunion after  Hurricane Ivan cancelled our Annual one down at Ft. Walton Beach.  I left Ft. Rucker in April of 71 for my tour in Nam.  The Museum was great!  They have some WW I aircraft too most people don't know about.  We didn't spend enough time there and I didn't take enough pictures.  Hope you enjoy the trip! 

Hello chaps

I need some help here on the MRC Academy huey frog, im getting seriously confused on the info about this kit, i have just spoken to someone who has the kit that says it DOES'NT come with the miniguns option.

Gino helped me earlier in the post with pictures of the sprues but it is impossible to make out if there are miniguns there, i have the Academy heavy hog that is exactly the same as the frog but comes with 24 pod rockets and nose mounted grenade launcher, i dont want to pay out for the frog kit to find it is the same as the hog kit with just a few other rocket pod options. can anyone who has this kit please help me out as i have it on order lol. does the Academy/MRC Huey frog come with miniguns ???

Thanks

Andy 

Yes, the Frog kit comes with the mini-guns.   I am looking at them now.  They are listed as parts not used and the instructions do not show how to assemble them.  Here they are on the sprues.  In the lower right hand corner, you will see a series of tubes for the M158 rockets.  Above them are the mini-gun parts.

Here is a scan of the instructions from the Muskets gunship that shows how to assemble them.

The Frog kit comes with all the weapons offered in all the MRC/Academy UH-1C kits.  You can make all the different weapons load possibilities for a UH-1C, minus an M-6 setup, from this kit.

Here is the other weapons tree you get in it, along with the figures and 2 free M60s.

Thanks Gino for digging out all the pictures and instructions

I was sure you was right you have put my mind at rest now, its just i asked a guy from the group build who was building the frog what the kit is like he said he gave up on it as it doesnt fit well and it didnt include any miniguns.

I should of known better than to doubt you Gino lol

thanks again

Andy

as a last thought do you think its possible that some of the later frog releases dont include the extra weapons sprues? panicking again  

I wouldn't worry about it.  Every boxing I have ever seen has all the weapons included. 

I wouldn't trust the guy who told you that either.  The Academy UH-1Cs basically fall together.  So he doesn't know what he is talking about if he said it doesn't fit well to the point he gave up on it. 

Andy,

  Gino is right, of course.  I have both the 1995 original MRC frog kit (2196) as well as the 2001 Academy reissue and they BOTH have identical sprues (including miniguns).  The only real difference is the  instructions.  The original MRC instructions are verbose and consist of 12 pages with lots of hints, tips and helicopter facts.  The Academy kit has foldout instructions with illustrations and little to no text.  The MRC instructions are more detailed, but the Academy instructions are better illustrated (in my opinion).  Fear not my friend, the guns are comin'!

    Ray

 PS: another source of 1/35 miniguns is the Seminar UH-1B kit (there is one on e-bay now).  It is a totally different kit than the MRC UH-1C and the miniguns consist of 21 seperate parts!  watch out for the rubber ammo belts, though, as they tend to melt into the rotor blades and ammo sprues they are packed with!

Thanks Gino

Hi,

Just going off tack alittle bit here.....Sagami mounts....where exactly are they mounted? Is it onto the airframe itself or is it the frame which holds the rocket pods? In all the pics you can't really make it out clearly...unless it's my eyes...too many 1/72 kits!!

Thanks,  Rich

oops.

Just seen the pic on page 3 or 4. Looks like it's attached to the airframe. Does anyone have any clearer pics. Thanks,

Rich

Rich

Hope these help.

Andy