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I started a discussion recently about Helo Super Kits and a WIP on one of those, the Special Hobby AH-1G in Revell's guise. So far so good, the Cobra really turns into a lovely build even from the hands of a mediocre modeller (at least compared to some others whose work can be seen here), there are additional parts available, like your usual PE cockpit, and correct resin air intakes - though the latter is causing a bit of a halt here while sanding it to fit (it's already arrived, yay). So, everything here's neat and tidy, and there's just minor challenges to be mastered to turn this into an impressive models. But! Having said about me being a mediocre modeller, it's not I'm a total noob. I do know my way round about the basics of say weathering, can handle my CA to glue some PE together, or get most decals down without looking like a lake in full moon. The limits are, where it comes to scratchbuilding on a larger scale, so more than just your usual Evergreen strip here and there. It's not that I don't know how to do it (in theory I do most of the times) it's just me being lazy and lacking time and energy to build those wonders here. I bow my head to thee, you Masters of the Impossible and Lords of Scratchbuilding. I won't sit on your table in the Olymp of modelling tonight. So, what to do in the usual case, when you are after a certain model, and you plan to build it so it doesn't totally stink off sitting next to one of these super kits. Like, this one:

Here is a little fun build that i did in a weeks time. It’s a Bell UH-1D, crashed in a rice field in Vietnam. I made it from a Revell UH-1 that i bought to source the rotor for a future build of a UH-1P. So instead of trowing the rest of the kit in the bin, i did this little diorama. A fun little project in between more serious builds 🙂

My newest project is a bit different, maybe not. I have had a 1/24 UH-1B Huey lying around for a few years(bought back when it was $34). I was looking online at forget what, just going further down the rabbit hole. I come across an art project made from an actual UH-1D called Take Me Home Huey. https://takemehomehuey.org/ I'm not American, well I understand my original dad was, but he died before I was born and mum don't talk about it so I don't really know. I have some strange draw to the Vietnam war, I don't know what it is, maybe because I was born a little after the official end of it. Perhaps it's because I grew up hearing about it. Anyway I did want to try to make a D-model from this kit. Turns out it's a bit more than I had hoped. Also there is no conversions for it. I also had the idea to put this on a semi trailer as a fresh restoration or derelict. I also thought of making it a Canadian CH-118 Iroquois. It's a good kit for a 1969 design. This will have the trailer and the Freightliner. I dug around online for whatever pictures of this one and side profile views. I found a couple of ok pictures and some rough when enlarged drawings and did my best to make them 1/24 for a pattern. I made the first mistake of cutting the fuselage in half through the door to lengthen it. Turns out, the door opening is longer and the rear of the fuselage up to the tailboom is moved back and reshaped. The belly is also deeper, the cowling is quite different from the tailpipe shroud forward. I decided to make a rib structure much like a wooden airplane or house walls and then sheet them. After I thought I could have glued on a block of wood and took a belt sander to it. I cut the tail boom off to make it easier to finish the rear joint area without damaging the tail. The floor was started but will be replaced with new sheet plastic. I don't know how yet to remake the texture on the floor. I'll let the first pictures speak for themselves. I have a couple of ideas for reproducing the decals. The real one is a wrap. I've been in touch with the Huey group but I'm still waiting for certain pictures, namely the roof I need, because it's so tall, no one gets that shot but I need it. I'm not sure if it will be 100% accurate when done, but it'll be very close. It is a big model, about 20" just for the fuselage.

UH-1D update sets, seatbelts & masks 1:48 Eduard - For Kitty Hawk Kit The Kitty Hawks kit is a good one. Eduard are now along with a few update sets to detail the kit. Interior Set (49861) This set is for the interior, mainly the cockpit. There is one nickel platted coloured fret and one plain one. The colour fret is dominated buy the large instrument panel, plus the centre console and overhead panel. The brass fret contains parts for the cockpit overhead windows, inside grab handles, door gun sights, door gun feed chutes and brackets inside the rear. If wanted the instrument panel set is available as a Zoom set which contains just the coloured fret. Full Set Zoom Set Cargo Interior (48935) This set provides the rear cabin or cargo area. There is one large part for the floor area and anther for the overhead,also additional smaller parts to replace lost lost when removing the floor area in the kit. Seatbelts (FE862) This set provides a full sets of seatbelts. These are the newer Steel type. Not only are the belts provided for the pilots but the rear seats as well. In addition new parts are provided for the kit seats. Masks (EX564) This set provides all the masks for the glazing in the yellow tape. Some of the bigger and more complex curved areas will require the centre parts to be masked in addition to the masks supplied. Review samples courtesy of

UH-1D "Huey" 1:48 KittyHawk Lets face it, IT’S A HUEY! The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is the Iconic Helicopter following its use by the American Army in Vietnam. Thanks to this it can now rank alongside such aircraft as the Spitfire and Mustang, and is recognisable by most people not just aviation enthusiasts. The Bell 204 was developed to a 1952 US Army requirement for a medical evacuation helicopter, trainer and utility helicopter. Originally designated as the HU-1 (Helicopter utility) troops quickly shortened this to Huey and it has stuck ever since. While the original Huey was a success the Army wanted a Helicopter which could carry more troops. Bell stretched the Huey by 41 inches and was able to fit in four extra seats next to the transmission taking the total to 15 including the crew. The extra room enabled 6 stretchers and a medic to be carried in the Medevac role. In place of the original single window main door the newer longer main door would feature twin windows. The new helicopter would be called the 205 by Bell and the UH-1D by the Army. Many armed forces all over the world would use the Huey. Notable users would be Germany and Japan. The D model was license built by Dornier. The Army used it as a utility Helicopter, and the Air Force for Search & Rescue. Japan would use the UH-1H which was a D model with an improved engine. The Kit A brand new tooling from KittyHawk, who have done their best to make it the best 1/48 Huey. It arrives on three sprues of plastic, one clear sprue, one sheet of photo-etch and 2 sheets of decals. Construction starts with the main cabin in the crew area. The collective and cyclic sticks are added along with the rudder pedals. The main instrument housing between the pilots is built up and installed along with the main instrument panel. Following this the transmission housing is also built up and installed at this time with the transmission and rotor head linkage on top. The two seats behind the pilots are built up and added at this time. The other rear seats are now built up and added along with the armoured pilots seats. Seat belts where needed are provided as PE. Next up the doors and windows are added to the main fuselage sides. The engine exhaust is added along with wells for the cargo hook area. Next up the engine deck is built up and the turbine engine added. Now the engine deck and main cabin interior can be added into the fuselage sides and the main fuselage closed up. The tailboom is made up as is the cabin roof. These are then attached to the main cabin. The solid nose parts are also added at this stage. The main glazing is added along with the engine covers with PE mesh areas. If using the door guns these can now be made up, added to their mounts and attached to the fuselage. The skids are made up and added along various aerials cable cutters as required. Lastly the main rotor is assembled along with the tail rotor and these are added on. Clear Parts These arrive in the now trademark cardboard box for added protection (something other kit manufactures should take note of) they are clear and with no defects. Decals Decals are provided on one many sheet, and a supplementary sheet for the instruments and nose art. The look to be well printed, in register and colour dense. Marking are provided for 4 US Army examples, and 3 overseas users; UH-1D - 121st Assault Helicopter Company US Army. UH-1D - 117th Assault Helicopter Company US Army. UH-1D - 174th Assault Helicopter Company US Army. UH-1D - 170th Assault Helicopter Company US Army. UH-1H - Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces. UH-1H - Taiwanese Air Force. UH-1D - Hubschraubertransportgeschwader 64, Luftwaffe, Althorn Conclusion A comprehensive kit of an iconic helicopter. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of and available soon from major hobby shops

Thought I would pop these in here as I haven't done an RFI for a while. This is my Revell UH-1D SAR in "hospital" configuration. Built her for the helicopter group build, my second entry and my second ever helicopter thingy! Here's the build thread if you like that sort of thing. Corrected the vents on the engine cowling with styrene rod and photoetch mesh (the slats could do with a wash in between them but I was running out of time , added a light and had to scratch build one of the windows last minute thanks to the carpet monster! Painted with a mix of Revell Aqua Acrylics and Tamiya

Ok so I have decided I am going to build another whirly thing for the group build and I am going to build the Revell 1/72 UH-1D that I was going to add to the stash, this will be being built as the hospital version with all the stretchers etc. I certainly do like my Hi-Vis schemes! I was going to use parts from an etch set I had in the stash hence its appearance in the photo but I have since decided to hold on to the etch for a "slick" build in the future. Obligatory box and sprue shots:

Hi all and this thread is picking up a build that stalled over on the Vietnam II GB. Christmas holidays (my workbench is our dining room table) and an impending house move to allow for renovations meant I never got around to finishing it. I got as far as assembling the interior and she's going to be finished in 'Slick' configuration - need to find some M-60's from the stash somewhere. See you all in 2016! Cheers, Dermot

Hi all and I'm in with this one, to be built as a troop 'Slick' version. This GB needs choppers! Hopefully I can do a decent job with it. Cheers, Dermot

Oldmodels Decals announces the following re-issues as additions to its DIGITAL decal range: RNZAF UH-1D/H Iroquois 1970s high viz green scheme RNZAF UH-1D/H Iroquois South East Asian scheme RNZAF UH-1D/H Iroquois Euro1 scheme These are available in 1/35, 1/48 and /72. Available now at www.oldmodelsdecals.com or on TradeMe (NZ customers only) (these schemes are also available in 1/24, 1/32 and 1/144 in the existing INKJET range) John Oldmodels Decals

Massive new release of 12 RNZAF UH-1D/H Iroquois schemes. These are: 1960s delivery 1970-78 Green High Viz 1979 Green low Viz 1980-1987 SEA scheme 1987-1999 Euro1 MFO Sinai 3 Sqn 40 Anniversary tail Current low viz UN High Viz UN Low Viz Antarctic UH-1H Interior These are available in 24, 32, 35, 48, 72 and 144th scales The RNZAF B200 King Air scheme has also been updated to reflect the recent fleet changeover. as always these are available through my website www.oldmodelsdecals.com John OMD