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WIP: UH-1H White Sands Missile Range SAR Huey

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
WIP: UH-1H White Sands Missile Range SAR Huey
Posted by HeavyArty on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 9:29 PM

Here is my latest build.  I am working on a UH-1H SAR from White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM.  It is in the Hi-Vis / Arctic scheme.  I recently flew on this bird and thought it was pretty cool.  Here are a couple pics of the actual helo.


I am using the Panda (pre-Dragon rebox and PE) UH-1D/H in 1/35.  I have added the Cobra Company UH-1N center and upper consoles, intercom/radio control boxes on the ceiling, interior light unit, and B pillar supports.  The instrument panel is from the 1/32 Revell UH-1D/H; it fits great once the angled base is removed.  The pilot seats are from the kit with the side armor panels removed.  The Flight Engineer seats are from Academy's UH-1C kits.  The troop seats are a combo of the widened kit gunner seats, Revell 1/32 supports, thinned down kit seat upper backs, and a scratch built bench.  I also replaced the gunners' seat legs and added cross supports.  The seat belts are made from lead foil and wire for the buckles.  I also scratched the inner door panels. 








Also, I will be adding parts from the Fireball Modelworks UH-1H/V Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) Update.  From it I will be using the APR-39 antenna bulges and particle separator.  The ASE set is also 1/32, but the particle separator was actually too small to accept the Panda cowling.  I had to sand down the cowling quite a bit to make it fit.  Lastly, I modified a pair of side steps from the Monogram 1/32 Puma to fit it as well.

More to come as the build progresses.
 

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Oklahoma
Posted by chopperfan on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 10:00 PM
Looking good, Gino. As always.
Randie [C):-)]Agape Models Without them? The men on the ground would have to work a lot harder. You can help. Please keep 'em flying! http://www.airtanker.com/
  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: I am at play in the fields of the Lord. (Texas)
Posted by m60a3 on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 10:19 PM

 Looking forward to seeing the in progress pics. Looking great so far!

          60
 

"I lay like a small idea in a vacant mind" - Wm. Least Heat Moon "I am at the center of the earth." - Black Elk My FSM friends are the best.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 12:46 AM

I can see why you're inspired to build that one.  It's paint scheme is rather striking.  Your interior is looking good.  I like the seat belts; they have a nice, randomly rumpled look.  Are you going to have a mini-Gino in it to commemorate your flight?Smile [:)] 

Andy

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 8:01 AM
Thanks guys.  No, no mini-me in there. Big Smile [:D]  Keep your eyes here for more updates soon.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Updated 11/11/07 WIP: UH-1H White Sands Missile Range SAR Huey
Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, November 11, 2007 4:08 PM

She is done.  Here are a few more of the final build pics first.  I used wire cutters and supports from the Academy UH-60 kits.  A pitot tube and tail rotor (with 1/8 inch cut off each blade) from the 1/32 Revell Huey, and a towel bar antenna left over from a 1/35 Seminar UH-1B kit. The grab handles and cage-thingys at the top edges of the canopy are made from this wire.  I also lightly sanded the entire fuselage to knock down the size of the rivets a bit too.  Here it is ready for paint.


And with initial paint on it.



I made the decals using inkjet computer decal paper.  I also used some decals off the Fireball Modelworks UH-1D/H sheet.  I made markings for UH-1H 74-22367.  It is the one below with 367 and the WSMR Army Air Division logo on the nose.

Here is my rendition of it.




More pics here.

Hope you like it.  All comments are welcome as always.

 

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Sunday, November 11, 2007 4:17 PM

Gino,

  I love the paint job!  Exactly what colors did you use?  Man, you sure know how to get the most out of the Panda kit. Geat job!

     Ray

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, November 11, 2007 8:22 PM
Thanks Ray.  The colors are the standard colors for the Hi-Vis/Arctic scheme of Insignia Red, FS11136; Insignia Yellow, FS13538, white and flat black.  I used all Testors Model Master enamel paints in those colors for it.  It was a fun build, but I think I am done messing with white paint for a while.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Sunday, November 11, 2007 10:07 PM

Gino,

  Thanks for the color info. I really like the scheme, but when you're used to OD green, it seems like it's a lot more difficult.  How long does it take to do something like the hi-vis arctic scheme?  You mentioned not wanting to work with white again.  Did you have to lay down a lot of paint to cover the OD parts?

          Ray

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, November 11, 2007 10:22 PM
I did the painting over about 4 days.  First, I painted and taped off the flat black area.  Then I painted it white, and let that dry about 24 hours.  It wasn't difficult to cover the green parts or the black that I had as overspray and used to check the seems.  I just used a few light (mist) coats first, then one heavy cover coat.  Next I taped off the white and sprayed the red.  I let this dry about a half day.  Then I taped off the yellow band on the tail and painted it.  I let it all dry another 24 hours to set up well.  The issue with the white was that every time I touched it, I would invariable have some paint residue on my fingers and it would show up on the white.  I was having a hell of a time keeping it white.  Not fun at all. 

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Sunday, November 11, 2007 10:32 PM

Gino,

  Thanks for the info.  I am such a clutz with paint, I'll have to remember to wear nitrile gloves when I work with white models! 

   Ray
 

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: I'm here physically, but not mentally.....
Posted by MontanaCowboy on Sunday, November 11, 2007 10:34 PM
Wow, Gino you sure know how to turn that Panda kit into gold! I've looked in the box of that thing, and I must say, you did a fantastic job.
"You know, Life is like a Rollercoaster. Sometimes you just die unexpectedly." No wait, that's not it.
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by matthew9 on Monday, November 12, 2007 2:56 AM
Excellent work. The paint scheme really turned out nice.
Matt
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Monday, November 12, 2007 11:24 AM
Thanks guys.  It was fun.  With some work, the Panda Hueys can come out great.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Monday, November 12, 2007 12:41 PM

Really excellent work & a beautiful build.  The interior work is stunning.  Thanks for sharing.

Regards,  Rick

RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, November 12, 2007 9:52 PM

Gino

Where is the weathering??? No mud...no dust.....I'm shocked! Laugh [(-D]

You must have gone blind painting the controls. Blindfold [X-)]. I love the overall colors. I'm sure you had to clean the air brush for awhile after all the sand and OD paint work you normally do. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

I have a couple of helos on my shelf and one of these days I'll try one for a change of pace. When I do, I will look at this thread for inspiration.

Another great build. If you are always building the little bullet sometimes I guess it's nice to build the big sky.

I think you should build a mini-me. Mini-me helo flight, mini-me in a Bradley...etc. You could start the new Gino series Whistling [:-^] 

Hey, great build...See you behind the breech block!

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 12:17 AM

Thanks Redleg.  Yup, I think I will stick to OD and Sand for a while.  The bright colors does look good though.  Good luck on your helo builds too.

I keep trying to convince the aviators about that big sky, little bullet theory, but they won't buy it.  Oh well, so be it. 

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 9:49 AM
Gino,
  Your SAR build has been added to the Huey links page.  I think you're summary of the painting will be especially useful as well as your build pics.  Thanks for sharing!
     Ray
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 1:32 PM
Thanks Ray.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    September 2015
  • From: The Redwood Empire
Posted by Aaronw on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:45 PM
Its nice to see something other than OD, sand and grey once in awhile. I love these hi-vis schemes and you pulled it off well. The interior is really amazing too.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 8:02 PM
Thanks Aaron.  Glad you like it.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Sunday, December 2, 2007 5:20 PM

Gino,

  I just watched the Transformers movie and wondered if you had seen it.  There is a brief shot of a UH-1H White Sands SAR bird at the end of the Scorpinok attack scene.  That entire portion of the movie was filmed at the White Sands Missile Range. Anyway, it's brief and the bird is in smoke, but it looked like the Number on the nose was 436.  I just thought you might be interested.

     Ray

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, December 2, 2007 9:08 PM

Ray,

I haven't seen the movie yet, but the PAO there told us part of it was shot on their property.  I'll have to check it out.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Monday, December 3, 2007 12:57 AM

Gino,

  Transformers is eye candy for the Military hardware fan.  There is a Huey, MH-53, UH-60s, V-22's, A-10's, AC-130 Spooky, F-22's, F-117's, an AWACS and I'm sure some others I can't think of right now that make an appearance.  What's more, most of their scenes are the real deal and not just CGI.  The military went all out for this one.  I bet you enjoy it when you finally get to see it.  On top of that many of the extras were actual military so it looks kinda real.  At least as real as it can look with an MH-53 changing into a giant killer robot! There's even a futuristic tank, but it is recycled from the XXX-State of the Union pic and has nothing to do with actual military hardware as far as I know.  Sorry, gettin' off topic.  I just thought you might be interested.

     Ray

  • Member since
    January 2023
Posted by flyboi7 on Monday, January 9, 2023 9:30 PM

reminds me of our H model when I I was stationed in Alaska in mid 70's  I was trained by Army to repair its engines but ended up pinting them. I had been an auto painter before entering the service. Many great memories. Thanks. and great job on the build

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 7:32 PM

Thanks flyboi7.  Glad it brought back some good memories. 

Seeing this old build pop up brought back some memories for me too.  Has it really been just over 15 years???  Wow.  I still have it on the display shelf too.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: N. Burbs of ChiKawgo
Posted by GlennH on Monday, February 20, 2023 4:29 PM

Think I just saw those buzzing around White Sands on the 6 part special "Gold, Lies and Videotape" Another NM treasure spot.

A number Army Viet Nam scans from hundreds yet to be done:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/southwestdreams/albums/72157621855914355

Have had the great fortune to be on every side of the howitzers.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Monday, February 20, 2023 5:44 PM

Nice.  It is always fun to see an old Huey flying.  It must have been old footage though.  The last WSMR Huey was retired in 2017.

https://www.wsmr.army.mil/fn/Pages/Last-UH-1-Huey,-a-42-year-military-veteran-retires.aspx

 

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

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