Rob Mignard
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Everything posted by Rob Mignard
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I recently purchased this kit from the Brothers. After I started Building it I discovered that it has the wrong clear sprue. My kit came with the original “J” clear sprue instead of the correct “U” sprue; the problem being the original windscreen can’t be used with the streamlined cowling. You may want to check your kit. Mig .
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If you’re planning on taking photos be aware that the buildings are aircraft hangars and are not well lit. Additionally the partitions are covered with black cloth which soak up your flash. The aircraft are also mostly jammed together so depending on the aircraft you’re attempting to shoot it can be difficult to impossible to get a picture of the entire aircraft. Not trying to wave you off from going just trying to prepare you. It’s a great museum; It took me three days the first time I went. Mig ’
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Here are the color photos. I took all of these photos at Kirtland AFB, NM in May, 1978
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Here's some photos of 433 when she first arrived at the 1550 ATTW at Kirtland AFB. I've got some color photos that I'll have to search for and will then post. Mig
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Great information, Thanks. Mig
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You may also consider twisting the blades. Like propellers, helicopter rotors have approximately 18 degrees of twist and for the same reason. Washout (the official term) equalizes lift across the span of the rotor (or length of a propeller). Since the blade tip is traveling through the air faster than the root, it requires more negative twist (incidence). You’ll want to twist the leading edge of the rotor blade down at the tip. Most airplane wings also have washout (most easily seen on A/F-18s). On airplanes, it’s typically used to ensure the wing tips (and ailerons) stall last giving the pilo
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The cargo hook “box” doesn’t really exist. You can look up through the hell hole and see up past the transmission and out through the top. The screened area is an air vent for the engine oil cooler. The interior is generally interior green. Mig
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UH-1D Slick, 187th AHC Blackhawks / Paintwork
Rob Mignard replied to Wiggi's topic in Helicopter Modeling
Sven, after additional research by my good friend and Vietnam Veteran Michael Campbell, he came up with this narrative from the 187th: To amplify the information previously provided the following data pertaining to the unit's name and name change was extracted from the 187th AHC's official records. 31 March 1967 - The Blackhawks returned to their Tay Ninh Roost after two weeks of training with the 11th and 145th Combat Aviation Battalions. On 1 April 1967, with from 50 to 60 hours experience under their belts, the Blackhawks began flying as Aircraft Commanders and Pilo -
UH-1D Slick, 187th AHC Blackhawks / Paintwork
Rob Mignard replied to Wiggi's topic in Helicopter Modeling
Rats! Don’t know why I put Gladiators; their callsign was Crusaders. Also, they apparently used the Blackhawk callsign for a very short time when they first arrived in-country but the Cav was already using it and they had to change to Crusaders. Would be interested in seeing the photo you have. MIG -
UH-1D Slick, 187th AHC Blackhawks / Paintwork
Rob Mignard replied to Wiggi's topic in Helicopter Modeling
Are you sure the helicopter you’re referring to is a 187th aircraft? The 187th used the callsign Gladiators for their slicks (and Rat Pack for their guns) The slicks have a white shield with a red cross on the battery door. Blackhawk is one of two cavalry units in Vietnam; D Troop Second Squadron 1st Cavalry Regiment, or 7th Squadron, 1st Cavalry. What design is on the nose? The Army designated that the upper surface of the main rotor blades (on two bladed helicopters) were to be painted white on one blade and black on the other. This means Hueys and Cobras. This was to make us vis -
Howard, don’t know how crazy you want to get with the Italeri kit but if you’ll send me your e-mail address I’ll send you a comprehensive review of the kit. migflier@aol.com Mig
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Thanks Floyd; I think it’s red too. Mig
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The C-123 did yeoman service at the special forces camps along the Cambodian/Laotian border. They could carry larger loads than the C-7 Caribou and had no trouble with short dirt strips. They also did extensive work with the MACV/SOG folks with specially configured "Duck Hook" and "Heavy Hook" C-123's flown by Taiwanese contract pilots. I saw two accidents; one at Nhon Co where the pilot came in too low on approach and struck the berm at the end of the runway (everybody walked away); the other was an attempted ag-turn at the end of a "finis flight" at Phan Rang Airbase; no survivors. Neither o
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I flew H model Hueys in the invasion of Cambodia. No helicopters that I saw had any markings painted out. There was no effort to obscure any markings. The Cobra on the instruction sheet has a replacement tailboom. I've got a photo of it (or one similar to it) somewhere and I'll post it if I can find it. Stefan Buysse is correct that the tail pylons and aft portion of the tailboom got very dirty from the exhaust. The only Vietnam G model Cobras with black aft fuselage/tail pylons that I'm aware of are the Marine HML-367 (Scarface). There may be more. Mig
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Just received the new 1/48 Special Hobby Cobra. It looks very nice. If you have either the 1/72 or 1/32 (or both) Special Hobby kits; this one will be very familiar. The parts layout and details are essentially the same for all three kits. This kit is all plastic; no photo etch. Like the other kits, you get both the pusher and tractor tail rotor configurations. The main rotor is one piece. There is a very nice mix of ordnance; 4 XM-200 19 shot pods (so you can do an Army ARA bird), two XM-157 and two XM-158 9 shot pods, two minigun pods, and the M-35 Vulcan system (the complete system with the
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My statement about the Academy kit F-5E nose being correct does not imply that it is correct for the myriad of F-5 nose configurations. There were lots of modifications; many of them field mods I assume. Pinterest and Flickr are good sources of F-5 photos. As with all models; closely check photographs of the airplane you're building.
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It looks like a fairly simple task to convert any of the Tamiya P-38's to an F-4/F-5 configuration (assuming the same fuselage is used for both the F/G/H and J-L kits) The good news is that the original F-4 through the F-5E use the same basic nose shape; the differences are in the window shapes and locations. Also, most of them were converted from P-38 airframes (Hooray!) which will greatly simplify converting the model. The easiest method will probably be to use the Academy F-5E nose (with has blisters; which are correct for the F-5E). The shape of the Academy nose appears to be "right-on," I
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Will do; let me find out what Curt needs first.
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Curt, give me a call; I can help you. Rob
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I just received the B-26 cowlings; no discernible odor. They look great! Haven’t tried to fit them yet. I’ll let you know. Mig
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This should help. I took this photograph at Nha Trang Air Base in March, 1970. As you can see, the instrument panel is gray, as is the soundproofing quilt. This was the standard at the time. The black instrument panels came later. Mig
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Looks great Curt!
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Finished (1/32°) AH-1G COBRA 4th Air Cavalry Division...
Rob Mignard replied to top gun's topic in Helicopter Modeling
You can also try centaursinvietnam.org -
Sprue Brothers has the Hobby Boss CH-47A in their lightning deals for $63.99!
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Just received the Hobby Boss 1/48 CH-47A. Overall, I'm very impressed (except for the price!). The shape appears to be correct (though I've not compared it to drawings). Surface detail is very nice and significantly better than the Italeri kit. The canopy is perfectly clear and has scribed frames; Excellent. There will obviously be more versions as the fuselage halves are in two pieces to accommodate the later tail pylon. Interior soundproofing blankets are provided which is correct for a Vietnam era A model. The rotor blades are correct and are drooped (but not twisted). Cargo floor and ramp