nexus11 Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 Based on the Italeri kit for the Bell OH-13S, I build the H-13E used in Korea almost exclusively for MedEvac applications. For this purpose, the engine and tank had to be modified, the entire grid frame shortened, baffles attached to the tail fin, the instrumentation modified and of course the distinctive stretchers with the protective hoods on the outriggers had to be built. Also the engine had to be modified, because early models were not equipped with Lycomings, let alone turbo engines. After all a wild mix comprising of a detail set from CMK, a small set of etched parts from JADAR-Model, parts from the Pavla kit, a 3D printing as well as self-build parts from thin sheet metal, medical supplies, finest nylon yarn, lead wire, rod and sheet were used for the model. The whole misery is described here in this build report in the German "Flugzeugforum". (You need to be logged-in to see the pictures, unfortunately.) But it is worth it… Since the helicopter was in massive use in the Korea-war, there are no well documented individual models, which were flown by a later known pilot, for example. My H-13 is a typical representative of these helicopters, which were memorialized in the film and the TV series M*A*S*H. I have built an average type from all available picture material. Not even a list of assignable serial numbers could be found, and I actually even bothered the manufacturer Bell (now Textron) with it, but they say that they have nothing to do with the old military models anymore. It was the first time ever that I took part in a competition with this model and actually made second place in 1/72 against very good modellers in 2017… But you better form your own opinion. 26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus11 Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 (edited) This is just the size of Your thumbnail: Edited January 7, 2020 by nexus11 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus11 Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 (edited) Just another interesting story about the engine: The machines were manufactured under the brand name Franklin by Air Cooled Motors, but the Tucker Car Corporation needed a powerful engine for their Tucker 48 (known as the Tucker Torpedo), which was in development, and found the O-335 to be just right. However, the machine was massively modified, among other ridiculous things it was converted from air to water cooling, only few parts of the original engine were taken over. Nevertheless the machine proved to be very robust. In order to secure the engine source permanently, Tucker took over Air Cooled Motors for $1.8 million and cancelled all existing supply contracts. Since Franklin had a 65% market share, the entire aircraft engine market was deprived of a very important source. I think they opened several bottles of champagne at Lycoming... By the way, in the end only 51 Tucker 48 were built. Franklin aka Air Cooled Motors was sold to Poland and is now called PZL-F. Side note: Tucker first tried to put a Lycoming machine in the back of the Tucker 48. One may now speculate what would have happened if it would have fit... _______________ Now fire at will… Edited January 7, 2020 by nexus11 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 I've always wanted to build one of the Italeri Souix kits, but I couldn't find a spider and a three-inch whip! Seriously- that's a very nice build! Mike 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus11 Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 10 minutes ago, 72modeler said: I've always wanted to build one of the Italeri Souix kits, but I couldn't find a spider and a three-inch whip! Seriously- that's a very nice build! Thanks, Mike. But the basic kit is easy to build. It was just my crazy idea of converting it to an early model which mad it a kind of difficult… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Duvalier Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 Very well done, sir, especially for such a tiny beastie! I hope you don't mind if I use your build as a reference when I build my Bell 47. I've had idle thoughts of doing a set of four modified to represent the U.S. Army Helicopter Square Dance Team. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus11 Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 2 minutes ago, Jackson Duvalier said: I hope you don't mind if I use your build as a reference when I build my Bell 47. Of course not, I feel honored. But please refer then to my above mentioned build report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 Excellent work Nexus,a very important but much neglected subject. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 It's a little jewel. I got a 1 cent coin out of my pocket and zoomed the photo with the coin until the size matched. It really is very small. For you non Euro types about 15mm diam. Such detail. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monday Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 Brilliant work. Is that the original tailboom that comes with the kit or is it one you scratch-built? Looks a bit more in-scale than the kit tailboom. Thanks. BM. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus11 Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 Thanks @Blue Monday, indeed, I shortened the boom to adjust it to the early models and made parts like the gearbox carrier and the lower parts myself. Please have a look in the build-report here: https://www.flugzeugforum.de/threads/w2017bb-bell-h-13-italeri-1-72.86927/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 Superb rendition of the MASH H-13! Also a good demonstration of the result of thoroughly researching a subject – a lot of fiddly work… 😉 Of course the basic problem with the H-13 in plastic model form is the thickness of the tail boom lattice. Even in 1:35th scale, the tubing comes out as grotesquely overscale. Several years ago I saw (online photos of) a 1:72nd H-13 with a tail boom that actually looked amazing. The modeller (I think he was Italian) had soldered the whole lattice from scratch, piece by piece, using fine nickel silver wire! It ended in tragedy – he had to send the model by post to an exhibition. You can imagine what happened… Maybe an in-scale rendendering of the H-13 tail boom is virtuall unattainable with current technology? Apologies for the rant – the Bell 47 is rather close to my heart, as it was the first helicopter type I flew in as a green television film cameraman. 😉 I'll tell the story another time. Great little model, Nexus11! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Duvalier Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 10 minutes ago, Spitfire31 said: Maybe an in-scale rendendering of the H-13 tail boom is virtuall unattainable with current technology? I saw a 3-D printed one somewhere online. Very appropriate use of the technology IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abandoned Project Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 Veeerrryy coool. Brings back memories of watching the TV show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Pete Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 Cracking good job, mate... All it's missing is Hawkeye's golf clubs! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 I have the Pavla kit and hope it's usable. I saw Attack Squadron makes a 3d tail boom but forget for which model or version. I think I saw a yt video of a surviving flyable MASH TV Bell 47. This one looks good, even better when you know how small it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus11 Posted January 8, 2020 Author Share Posted January 8, 2020 6 hours ago, Spitfire31 said: thickness of the tail boom lattice Yes, indeed. I tried to rebuild it with the smallest Evergreen-rods available. No joy… and it began with a disaster so I disbanded this idea very quick. Building models is also about possibilities and sometimes one has to sacrifice the perfect scale implementation- 7 hours ago, Spitfire31 said: Maybe an in-scale rendendering of the H-13 tail boom is virtuall unattainable with current technology? 6 hours ago, Jackson Duvalier said: I saw a 3-D printed one somewhere online. Very appropriate use of the technology IMHO. Yes, of course I know this part, it's nice, expensive and of course wrong. It's the longer one… http://www.attacksquadron.pl/en/2016/03/07/bell-47-h-13s-model-3d-attack-squadron-tail-boom/ So not at all well suited for my project. And to be honest, it was the right decision. 1 hour ago, busnproplinerfan said: I have the Pavla kit and hope it's usable I used parts of this kit. It's a well-intentioned attempt, but to build the frame out of flat etched parts I think is pointless. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 To bad photo etch is still flat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 Quality workmanship and to such a tiny scale - very well done! Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desert falcon Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 I formed my own opinion and I think you deserved first place for this fantistic looking Bell 😉 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djos Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 BEAUTIFUL regards Djordje 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmouredSprue Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 Very well done mate. Impressive 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qn30jEkPz7 Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 That is simply exquisite - very well done. An absolutely beautiful rendition 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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