HeavyArty
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The Revell kit is either an OH-13G or H, depending on which engine it had. The G/H had the two separate fuel tanks and skid downtubes that were one piece and rounded. It also has a small elevator at the tail. All of these features are present on the Revell kit.
It's an "H" it has the Lycoming VO-435 Engine, the "G" had the Franklin engine. (you can tell by the rocker covers)
The M*A*S*H decals in the kit are not correct for an Army helo though.
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I am aware.
Vietnam medivac was known as "Dustoff" and was accomplished with primarily UH-1D's, I need the decals mostly for the insignias and markings/numbers.
I could always inquire to someone about decals... {chuckle}
It would be more accurate to build the Revell kit as an unarmed observation bird, as that was their most common use during the Vietnam war. That is why they were OH-13s (OH = Observation Helicopter).
NICE Image! That bird is from The famous Flying Circus Aviation Unit Headquarters & Headquarters Company 1st Brigade - 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) The bird itself is an "S" model not an "H" Reference here. Lots of images there of the pictured birds. ("S" models only and none that I could see with the troop designation on the bubble not to say it wasn't there, such were usually field painted and varied widely)
Read the reference link posting, when the Flying Circus arrived in Nam the 1st Cav were already equiped with OH-13S's (you can tell an "S" from an "H" by the turbocharged engine and larger tanks in a pan shaped carrier. Also the steel rotor) But this image does confirm that the "S" model carried the 2 meter antenna on the longer tail boom, the "H" models had a shorter tail boom.
Also the '67-'69 period was when the "S" models were in Nam, the "H" models were there in the '62-'67 period. (they transitioned to OH-6's in mid '69)
Thank you for the information. It gave me new avenues to research.
This is an image of a fairly brand new OH-13H from USAREUR at Templehof Field in 1960, Note the antenna at the tail....
Original image....
It has the correct engine and fuel tanks. Cockpit seating is correct as is the instrument cluster, the landing light is in it's proper place centers on the cabin. And the red nav location light is way back at the end of the boom, the strobe is under the middle of the fuselage and side lights are on the skids. Also, note the two star placard on the instrument column, this was a general officers personal aircraft.
This is probably the bird I have to replicate as it most closely matches what is in the kit. BUT, it also has the cabin heated air system and doors which the kit doesn't have. (note the two vent holes in the doors)
I will have to scratch out those somehow.
The Cabin heated air system....
The system exists on both sides of the aircraft.
Ok, to settle where the mystery part goes on the kit, here is another European museum bird with a clearer shot of the antenna tail mount....
And of course the full pic....
No cabin air on this Agusta built bird formerly of the Austrian Army.....
Another angle...
Note the side Nav light on a pylon on the cabin side. This was also found on some later built US Army birds. (also note that the doors on this bird have two plugged holes, that was to balance cabin airpressure from the air system, on this bird they are closed off as not needed.
Just doing my research as I always do when building. I prefer to build equipment that looks newer, so I usually wind up looking at museums for clean images.
Again, THANK YOU GUYS!
Your a virtual treasure trove of information. and inspiration.....