Looking to trade MH-6J canopy for MD-530 pointy canopy

[HeavyArty]

I found a Dragon 1/35 MH-6J Littlebird that someone started here in Iraq and left. They did a nice job too. I want to build it as a Blackwater contracted helo that I have seen flying around here. I need the pointy nose from the DML MD-530 though. Does anyone have one they could trade for the short-nosed MH-6J canopy?

Here is what I am looking to build.

Thanks in advance.

[ChernayaAkula]

Can't help you with a part, I'm afraid (don't even have the kit), but that's a cool project. I also want to build that one one day.

Edited July 26, 2008 by ChernayaAkula

[Loach Driver]

Here are a few photos of various Blackwater machines. They appear to be generally the same. All appear to be fitted with the AFS intake barrier filter.

The style of windscreen is slightly different on some of them. The MD530FF in the last photo only has the central framing running up the middle of the windscreen. The horizontal frame is not fitted. This would indicate a refurbished machine. This style of windscreen is becoming common on MD500D models that have gone through overhaul. It's getting hard to tell an "E" from a "D". You have to check the endplates on the tailplane to see what version any given machine is. This windscreen is not a genuine MDHI design windscreen but is a PMA component.

Also, the windscreen that comes in the MD500E kit from Dragon is the early-style one with the extra framing near where the windscreen meets the front door frame. I don't know if Blackwater fly any with this older windscreen, but if you're in the "Sandbox" at the moment you can tell better that any of us.

LD.

Edited July 27, 2008 by Loach Driver

[Avus]

PM sent!

[11bee]

Very cool pictures. I did notice a couple of things - it doesn't appear that the pilot's have any seat armor. Even the old OH-6A's in Vietnam had kevlar bottom and side panels. Kinda suprised that these guys don't. Also, they don't appear to have registration numbers (the N number) on them. Since they are techincally "civilian" aircraft, I thought the law said that they needed to sport this number in a prominent location.

That being said, I think that these helicopters would make an excellent subject for a model. Really attractive paint scheme, now if Dragon would just update their old kit and give us a good 1/35th crew to go with it! I especially like the door gunner hanging out the side with a SAW.

[HeavyArty]

Thanks guys. I have a replacement canopy coming. Great pics too. I haven't seen any close up. They have mostly been flying overhead. They are kept out at the US Embassy helo pad in the IZ. I have flown into there, but not had a chance to look at any close up.

On the N number, 1, that only applies in the US, and 2, they are actually owned by US Dept of State, Blackwater is contracted to fly and maintain them. There are some DoS Bell 412s and UH-1H Huey IIs here as well that have no N number on them.

[Loach Driver]

Here are a few more photos of Blackwater 530FFs.

I don't think there are too many modifications made to the helicopters for service in Iraq. They probably have additional military radios fitted to communicate with U.S. Army troops as well as Blackwater personnel on the ground. Maybe someone can tell from the aerials fitted under the forward fuselage? It looks like the aerial for the GPS is on top of the rear of the doghouse. The cockpit interior is painted black so maybe they are NVG-compatible as well. The 530 in the last photo appears to have a pair of hand rails just forward of the rear compartment though these aren't fitted to every machine. I think I saw somewhere as well that there is a large cushioned pad (a vinyl-covered pad in a mid-blue) on the floor in the rear compartment for the door gunners to sit on. Check Youtube for some video of these helis. It should throw up some more detail.

So what exactly are these helicopters used for in Iraq (security restrictions notwithstanding) ? I'm guessing aerial escort for V.I.P. convoys and support of the Blackwater sniper teams. Any other interesting stuff (not that flying anything low-level over Baghdad is exactly boring, I'll bet)?

LD.

Edited July 27, 2008 by Loach Driver

[ChernayaAkula]

Maybe

of Blackwater helo ops in Baghdad is of interest. Another ARCer linked it a quite some time ago, bit I'm afraid I forgot who it was. Edited July 27, 2008 by ChernayaAkula

[HeavyArty]

Thanks for more great pics. Staying within open source for an explanation...The helos are used for various security missions and for route clearance and security.

[salvador001]

Hi HeavyArt, well, if you want to build a Hughes 500 with ponty nose, the two models have major differences, one is that the canopy that comes with the dragon 530F is the same of the MD500E and 530F, but they have some things that are not the same.

The top cover of the engine is different from the ones Blackwater has , and the canopy is a little more pointy. Blackwater helicopters are later 500E models.

Just to figure it out, im posting some pics of our El Salvador Air Force 1984 model MD500E and a MD500D 1978 model with anti-strella kit.

Just look at our 500E and compare if carefully with the blackwater model.

Hope you like the photos.

[salvador001]

This is the difference between our MD500Es and the Blackwater MD500E.

Greetings!

[11bee]

Hi Salavador,

Thanks for the info and pictures, especially that last picuture - it'd make a cool diorama.

That is one mean looking machine, kind of a "SuperLoach". I'm somewhat suprised that they don't have the kevlar armored seats for the pilots. Nothing but plexiglass, canvas and sheet metal for protection.

If Floyd Werner ends up releasing his 1/35th scale exposed mini-gun for the OH-6, I might grab that and combine with the Dragon 530F kit. Would you know if anyone makes aftermarked decals for El Salvadorean helicopters? Doesn't have to be specific to the MD500, just needs to have some of those unique numbers and the roundels?

Thanks again for post.

[HeavyArty]

Thanks for the info. I've already completed it though. You can see how it turned out here.

[salvador001]

Nice build you have there Heavy Art, congratulations.

11bee, well, they do have the armored seats for the entire fleet of the MD500s, but they were mainly used during the internal war in the 80s.

They have too the anti-strella kit for both D and E models.

I dont know if anyone makes decals for our air force, i have seen only decals for 1:48 but for a A-37B dragonfly airplane.

Here in our local club of el salvador IPMS, some members have made their own decals for hueys and MD500s.

Do you think if i ask fireball modelworks to make some decals, they can make it?

I have in my room a 1:35 dragon MD530 that soon will be converted into a FAS MD500E fully equiped with the 2.75 rocket pod and the M27 subsystem, the anti-strella kit and armored seats.

Well, the last photo was shot during an airshow, i was surprised with all the maneuvers the pilots made with the 500E. Amazing.

Here are some other pics of our 500Es fully equiped. In the photo of the 3 MDs approaching(3rd one), you can see that all of them have the armored seats and have the anti-sam kit.

Hope you like em and decide to make one of our MD500s.

Greetings!

[salvador001]

With the rocket pod: