Hello Gents,
I was a doorgunner with C Co., 227AH Bn 1st Air Cav 1969 beginning of '70 flying out of Phuoc Vinh. Fireball included one of my Hueys, Nevada Gambler, as one of their subjects. Joseph really researched his decals, from actual photos as well as interviewing crewmembers. For that matter, a photo is worth 1,000 memories because the mind fades a lot faster than photos!
A couple of things that caught my attn in this thread:
Early Huey gunners' M-60s hung down 'free' on a bungee cord. Later, came the pintle mount.
I always thought the 'D' and 'H' looked the same, that the only difference was a more powerful engine. I heard that from a Bell employee.
Never say never. Helo pilots and crew were all volunteers and a bunch of wild and crazy guys that did a lot of wild and crazy things. For example, the VN Helo Pilots Assoc Calendar's featured photo for Feb 2007 shows a B model with napalm.
I learned that different things happened at different times in different places. i.e. I don't know anybody that sat on their helmet. I don't know anybody that could sit on their helmet for hours at a time! On the other hand, I remember 'supply' coming around the flight line one day offering flak vests and being macho 19 year olds we refused them. I remember too that my pilot that day took the one I refused, and dropped it down into the clear chin bubble for protection.
As far as the C-ration can ammo feed, we all used it, as your ammo belt would be flapping around somewhat, even if you tried to steady it with your other hand. A little sprue or rod depending on the scale model is easy enough. The ink would have worn off so just paint it OD.
The passenger/cargo compartment seats could be rearranged however you wanted because the 'seats' were simply heavy fabric on a tubular frame. There were 'circles' embedded into the floor that had multiple uses, and some - not as many - on the ceiling. One was for the tubular frame 'legs' to clip into the floor. The ones on the cieling were where the 'poles' mounted top and bottom. The poles had rectangular braces on them, that we hung smoke grenades on. Revell had released a Huey slick and a Huey Gunship. The slick had these seats - you wouldn't have to build a thing. I think Panda also released their kit as a slick and a gunship.
The Huey could take a lickin and keep on tickin. In addition to patching holes from bullets or shrapnel with small patches touched up with zinc chromate green paint, we often would replace a panel altogether. If you see a windshield or chin bubble framed in whitish grey, that's the unpainted fiberglass. I joke with my IPMS chapter members that the correct shade of OD was 'checkerboard.' One panel would be brand new semi gloss brownish OD, another dull flat Brown, another greenish, and so on for an almost checkerboard effect. That's a little exaggeratted but gives the impression!
What else? Rather than take things for granted, do you know the roof windows above the pilot and copilot are tinted green? There are a few brands of paint that have a 'transparent green' you can simply spray the parts.
The crew figures that came with the Panda Huey were also available as a figure set from DML (?) which came with I believe, only one pintle mounted M-60 and one bungee cord. You'd have to buy a 2nd set for two. Or there's the Cobra Co. accessory. They also have the armor plates for the pilots' seats.
We usually carried a tool box, a water can and a case of c-rations in the forward part of the passenger area, just behind the center console, with a seat belt going through it all and fastened at each end to the floor so they didn't fly out the doors (there were 'rings' in those circular indents in the floor).
We flew with our cargo doors off. I've seen others that just flew with them open all the time.
Most the walls and ceilings were covered with a 'sound absorbing' (it sure as hell wasn't soundproof!) grey quilted fabric that had snaps, and snapped onto the wall. It had cutouts where there was the box to plug in to the radios (cieling),,, I've seen slicks flying without all these panels fastened properly or missing some.
We wedged our M-16 or other personal weapon between our seat and the wall. In spite of regulations to the contrary, some guys had a shotgun or a Tommy Gun (that they bought or had sent from home!)...
OK, I smell something burning. I've been thinking too long! Time for me to call it a night - and go back there.
Start asking questions and I'll answer them best I can. Just think - the 1/72 modelers have to scratchbuild most of this. There's no Cobra or other company producing parts in that scale.
Clear right!
HowieB