Vietnam Huey

Hi Guys

Fireball decals is at    http://www.fireballmodels.info/    with decal sheets for Hueys and Cobras and plenty of "UNITED STATES ARMY" and numbers to make plenty of chopper models.  Tell Joe "Howie" sent you - it won't get you a discount but will make me feel good!

I like the Dragon aka DML/Panda 1/35 UH-1H but the early releases had no M-60 m.g.'s, later releases included the DML Helicopter Crew figure set with one M-60 hanging by bungee cord and one pedestal mount - you'd have to p/u another figure set as the D and H Hueys carried 2 M-60s mounted the same way (one on ea side).  Or go to the Cobra co. site for your M-60s and other details. Note whether buying decals or M-60s, they're available in 1/35 and 1/32 scales which you'd think look close in size but size does matter, there's a big difference.

It's a littlle early but Happy Hannukah, or Merry Christmas to you all, and an awesome New Year!  Howie

Frank,

  Thanks for your service, sir!  Welcome to the forums.  We are very fortunate to have so many Vietnam vets around here.  I hope you feel welcome.  You'll find lots of us love the old tried and true Huey.  if I were going to build my first Huey, I would biuld the Italeri 1/72 UH-1B.  In my opinion, it's the most accurate, easy to assemble kit out of the box.  Of course if you want a Charlie model, the MRC/Academy 1/35 kit is the only real game in town.  The 1/48 monogram "Huey Hog" is a chimera of UH-1B and UH-1C parts.  We lookforward to seeing your work.  I for one, would love to see what you do with brass.

    Ray

Hello:  Granddadjohn wrote "Bump", it's been my experience that "Bump" is what you feel and hear just before you hit the ground.  I'm an ole new guy to the site.  I have been modeling in Brass 1/4" to the foot scale for many years.  And as a former Huey Rescues and Recovery (Maint) and Gunship (XM-21) crewchief, I thought I'd try my hand at modeling in Plastic.  Hence the thought that I might learn some good inside tips and pick some brains.  Not to forget to mention see some pretty cool Huey pictures from other units.  I saw the Charlie Model Frog /forums/742588/ShowPost.aspx and it is Bitchen, I'd like to know if it's a kit or scratch built as far as detail is concerned. And where can I get one?  Anyway here I am.  Vietnam 65-66, 67-68, I flew with the 240th Assault Helicopter Co. "Maddogs and Grayhound" Bearcat RVN.

                                                                                            Frank

Bob,

Welcome to the forum! Always glad to see a man with experience in Huey joining the discussion. I second what Ray said about Your "Army gunships in Vietnam" - great reference. Say, would the book You are working on happen to be the collaboration with John Brennan on Vietnam helicopter nose art & nicknames? I've been noticing mr. Brennan's messages on forums/guestbooks of different Vietnam helicopter units' sites for a couple of years now. I can't wait for it to be published!!!

Like Ray said, a lot of very interesting topics relating Hueys have been debated over the years on this forum - including a lot of things that have been neglected/left out by authors of Huey/Vietnam helicopters related books. When You find time, I recommend taking a look at the "Unusual Vietnam Hueys" thread (lots of great stuff):

/forums/767176/ShowPost.aspx

Ray, I've been off the radar for a while, but I hope I'll find more time in the future and start posting again :)

Best wishes to You all,

Marko

Bob,

 WELCOME HOME!

 I did a tour in 71-72, first five months with the 174th AHC, last five with 344th Trans Co. up at Red Beach.  The 174th AHC has a great web page  www.174ahc.org   Check it out! 

Bob,

  Looks like you've revived this thread and brought some of our old pals out of the woodwork.  What's everyone been up to lately?  I'd love to hear from Andy (Skypirate). Anyone know his whereabouts?  I was just going though some of the posts. Man, this thread has gone all over the place!   I have learned so much since i first posted on this forum, mostly thanks to all the vets we have around here. Thanks again to all of you and I hope we hear from you more often.

    Ray

Huey Nut wrote:

Hi, my name is Bob Chenoweth.

Gidday Bob, how about you give us a heads up on the title of your book?  After all, a bloke can never have too many Huey reference sources. 

Cheers,

Andrew

Welcome to the site Bob - and welcome home!!

Howie

Hi, my name is Bob Chenoweth.

I'm brand new to this site, which is very cool.  I am a former Huey CE and ex POW (68-73)

and have written a book and a bunch of articles on Hueys in Vietnam, markings, armament etc.

Glad there are people out there trying to get it right.  Lots of you seem to really know what you are talking about.  As a modeler in the 60s I was determined to document all that I could when I went to VN in Jan. 67.  I've worked with Pete Harlem, an ex Cobra CE who is a Huey junkie too, and am in the process of doing another book with a 114th AHC vet.  Happy to answer questions and love to see all those pictures you guys are putting up.  Cool stuff.

Bob

Wow, that is so cool!!  Congrats on a job well done!!

And to think I spend more time on a 1/72nd Huey and it doesn't come out as well!!

Wishing y'all an awesome New Year!

Howie

icandrawem2 wrote:

Well guys, that scaled down huey ive been working on has finally been crated up and shipped out.

Looks mighty fine to me!

Now that you've gotten the test bird out of the way...  how long before you can make the one that will sit above the bar in my living room?  LOL

 Great job!

Well guys, that scaled down huey ive been working on has finally been crated up and shipped out.  Here are some photos of the finished bird and some progress shots along the way.  I will definitely post some final installation photos when i get them, probably be sometime mid january when its all done....Just dont pick it apart too much, believe me I would have gone nuts with details but we only have so much time and money, overall i think it turned out incredible.  Although it looks fairly new now, they will be adding some aging to it upon install so that it looks "gently used" ha.  Anyways, enjoy and if you have any questions about it feel free to ask.  We practically built this thing in 2 weeks by the way!

http://picasaweb.google.com/mitchell.nate/Random?feat=directlink

wayne baker wrote:

A co-worker flew Cobras with 2/17 among other units.  I'd like to build a Cobra for him.  I have both a Fujimi 1/48 and a Revell 1/32 kit.  At the moment, I'm using the Revell.  The seats don't look very good, among other thinigs.  This kit is loaded with sink holes.  The seats in the Fujimi are not much better.  I have the Cobra walk around.  The seat and armor pictures are not very illuminating.  Snake Doctor put up some seat schematics last year.  Are those good for a Cobra?  The intakes look pretty shallow.  Should they be extended?  An intake is molded closed on the left side.  Shouldn't that be opened.  And finally, the rocket pods aren't very good.  Any after market pods available?

 Wayne, 

 Your best bet is the Cobra Company cockpit and rocket pod sets from Cobra Company for the 32nd kit.  The Fujimi 1:48th AH-1G is a crappy kit, but Cobra Company makes a G model conversion for their AH-1J that is MUCH more worthwhile. 

Chris at CC has had to suspend operations for a bit, but should be back up and running fairly soon. 

The intakes don't have much trunking, they just open up to the inside of the engine bay.  I'll see if I can find some good pics to post of the bay interior.

Jon

Thank all of you, and 'welcome home' to you vets.

Clear right,

Howie

I'd like to second Nate's sentiments and say a big THANK YOU to all the veterans!  God Bless You all.

   Ray

For as much research i have done on this movie, I have seen that article, but have also read that Renny Yater produced 90 of those replicas for sale a few years back.  According to some other things Ive read, Robert Duvall owns one of the actual movie boards, and so does Francis Ford Coppola (I heard it was on display at one of his winerys) I dont know how many were used in the film, but its possible that there are others out there.  Anyways, back to the subject at hand...

Still cranking away at this thing gathering all the minute details to help "sell it" so to speak.  Ray has been such a great help i couldnt have asked for a better Huey guru to help me out, no offense to all you other gurus out there! We are definitely going with a bravo model as I stated earlier, despite the Ds from the film...

..and in light of Veterans Day, I want to thank all the veterans as well as active men and women in our military.  Your dedication is invaluable.  Thank you.

I agree, looks great.  Now you just know that showing us that is going to open a lot of critical examination of the subject matter.

LOL... it will all be for the better of course.  ;)

Here is an interesting article about the sale of one of the surfboards that was supposedly used in the film.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060119/news_1c19surf.html

It's going to be awesome! 

Howie

Howie, here is a basic elevation of what we are doing.  You will have to bear with the inaccuracies of the rendering, this is strictly for schematics, and you can get an idea of what all will be visible.  Keep in mind that only half of the bird will be built as it is mounted onto the wall.  It rests atop of a pile of sandbags as you can see.  Thanks!

Nate

if you need more info than Ray is sending you, then go for the book, it's only $15.26.  There's a chance you could get it on Amazon or elsewhere but if you go straight to the source at their website http://www.squadron.com/Search.asp or the book itself at http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=SS5536 or you can call them 24/7 at 1-877-414-0434 ... email them at mailorder@squadron.com  it's Stock No: SS5536 "UH-1 Huey Gunships Walk Around".  I stand corrected re "restaurant/bar"!  If you'll have a finished sketch or something before you get too deep into the project, and post it here for us to give you our two cents BEFORE you've spent a lot of time and money (and it's too late for changes), it might help you produce a Huey as "correct" as you wanted to attain.  True, the average customer wouldn't know or appreciate it - but surely any veteran Huey crew would look up this restaurant/bar if ever in the neighborhood and spot anything that's "out of synch."  Good luck!

clear right,

Howie

Nate,

  You get the e-mail I sent?  get in touch and I'll hook you up with all the B model stuff you need.

     Ray

So do I just need to send an email to that address telling whomever that I need a copy of the walkaround #36?  I cant really say too much about the project at the time, but its not going in a theme park, but a restaurant/bar.  I will definitely fill you guys in with some finished photos.  Thanks again for all your help!

nate