1:24 Bell UH-1C -114th AHC - The Cobra's 66-00511 - 'Sexy Snake'

[Crossofiron1971]

Hello one and all!

I am afraid this topic is going to be rather protracted.

I decided a few months ago to embark on one of the biggest projects of my modelling life.

That is to build a UH-1 in 1:24th and superdetail it...

I chose the 114th as although I am from Great Britain, my Uncle Steve from Detroit was in Special Forces in Vietnam (3 tours) and mentioned these guys.

He died recently and this is my tribute to him.

I chose the Cobra's, again from another story and therefore, it has to be a UH-1C.

Hence also the project in hand. A Bravo to Charlie model in 1:24 is going to be rather interesting....

Plus the fact that I just love this aircraft, they used to fly over my house from RAF Alconbury or Lakenheath and I was always captivated by the Huey thump.

Now the kit is the 1:24 Revell Kit and I am sure you all the know the kit. It is so bad, it's brilliant!

It is overmoulded, undermoulded, sunk, rippled, you name it and that's what makes it the challenge. The only issue is, once you start stripping it, it does become rather fragile;

The tape is to protect the airframe, don't ask how many times this snapped!!!

I had to buy shares in Tamiya Filler and Mr Surfacer...

The first big modification is to get the right tail length. It's incorrect on the actual kit anyway but I exended it to the right length for the Charlie.

The tail is removed for modification and detailing;

The second thing was to design the bespoke PE.

This is the first set, 3 sets will go to make the external and internal detaling.

I have a very good friend in Germany who assists in this;

So to the next step, putting it on!!!

Hope you enjoy the build...

Steve

[F4u]

Love a Huey and this looks good and 1/24th as well so I will keep an eye on your progress , like the look of the PE all the best with your build.

Guy

[frankie]

Watching,observing !!!!!!

[spruecutter96]

This should be a very cool thread to watch.... The Huey has been a real favourite of mine since I was a nipper (one or two years ago, he he).

Thanks for sharing with us.

Chris.

[melvyn hiscock]

I was lucky enough to get some stick time on a friend's Huey in Mojave. You can hear the blade slap as you fly which is great fun but I did feel I should have had the James Brown band in the back or the Stones playing 'Paint it Black'!

[Air-to-Air]

A big scale Huey with custom PE - you've got me hooked.

[Crossofiron1971]

Thanks for the posts!

It is going to be fun indeed, I am sure you know that there are no Charlie model parts in this scale.

The differences between the B and C are pretty substantial, here are some of the major differences;

- 540 rotorhead in the UH-1C vs 204 rotorhead in the UH-1B. these are totally different designs.

- 21 inch wide main rotor in the UH-1B vs 27 inch wide main rotor in the UH-1C.

- Left handed fuel filler in the UH-1C vs right handed fuel filler in the UH-1B

- Nose mounted pitot tube in the UH-1B vs roof mounted pitot tube in the UH-1C

- Narrow symmetrical cross section synchronized elevators in the UH-1B vs wide asymmetrical cross section synchronized elevators in the UH-1C.

- Narrow tail fin with light on the end of the tail in UH-1B vs wide tail cambered at 5 degrees with position lights on the sides of the tailboom in the UH-1C

I have a fair amount of scratch building to do and the above is the reason why the tail has disappeared for now...

Gluten for punishment!!!!

[snapper_city]

Can't miss out on a huey build.

[perdu]

This one I HAVE to be watching

Bravo sir