1/24 Huey Cockpit bits from Kiwi Resin

[Tank]

FYI

http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/thread/1481085128/last-1481116673/(View+All+Messages+In+This+Thread)

 

Masters finished, and some modifications made as per suggestions from those "in the know", Thanks Bo
I am making molds at the moment, with a view to delivery by mid next week.

These bits are for the classic Monogram and Revell issues of the 1/24 YH-1 Huey

Components are:
Padded Roof
Padded rear bulkhead
Cockpit side beams (unpadded)
Seat Armour
Instrument panel front
Instrument panel rear
Rear crew seat
seat support rods
First aid bags x 3

Cost will be $50 NZ plus post at $18NZ via air
(approx $US 35.50 post 13.00)

www.kiwiresin.com

 

 

[salvador001]

Looks great. How about some photoetch? Oh, and some 540 rotor system and the wide chord vertical stab and stabs? Then we could build a charlie model of it.

 

Im looking forward to this conversion..

 

Rod.

[UH-1Mad]

Would love some photo-etch for this kit, especially the IP. Can be a great kit with some TLC

 

Those pillars look like D/H model pillars? Cant see them side on to be sure.

 

Nice job regardless!!

 

Chris B.

[Youngtiger1]

Nice to see this kit getting some love. As its about time. Also, as others have mention PE would be great but I don't know how much you want to invest into this project as there are many things in this kit that needs a lot of TLC. I started one few years back and stopped as the clear parts that goes under the nose were not properly molded. I found replacements from Revell but they too were not proper. :(

[rotorwash]

18 hours ago, salvador001 said:

Looks great. How about some photoetch? Oh, and some 540 rotor system and the wide chord vertical stab and stabs? Then we could build a charlie model of it.

 

Im looking forward to this conversion..

 

Rod.

Rod,

  The real issue I see with making a Charlie/Mike model resin set, is that you would end up with probably a $100+ dollars set.  Plus, as Chris at Cobra Company can tell you, making resin 540 blades that don't droop is a tough task in 1/35.  A /1/24 540 blade would be even tougher.  It would definitely require some type of internal support.  I think a UH-1B set is reasonable though.  Just as an aside, when asked about what was needed for an upgrade like this, these are the bits that came to mind.  Many of these are in the resin set above.  I only focused on the B model additions since, as I mentioned above, I think a C/M is just not economically or practically feasible.  Not a complete list mind you, but I think a good start:

 

For both a B and C model:

-Rear cabin bulkhead with and without padding and without the seat backs currently molded into the kit. 

-New armored seats.  The ones in the kit are woefully lacking in detail and in 1/24 there is a LOT that could be done with them.

- complete ceiling and B pillars.  the ones in the kit are supposed to represent the support structure of the ceiling and B pillar as they were for the visible Huey kit.

- A patch for the floor if the molded in ammo boxes are removed.

-Individual gunners seats to replace the bench seat in the kit.

- A nice PE set for the instruments as the kit comes with decals and a featureless instrument panel.

- Improved particle separator for the engine intake so later model gunships can be built.

- new pilot and cabin doors or at least detailing for the kit parts as they are bare on the inside.  Plus the cockpit doors are molded shut!

 

To do a fairly accurate B model externally you would need:

- to get rid of the position lights on the side of the tail (only on C models)

- get rid of the left handed fuel filler.  The kit has one on both the left and right side so that's not a problem.

- have PE screens for the engine cowling

- Have a nose pitot and lose the roof mounted one in the kit

- include an option for the nose mounted FM antenna so both early and late model B's could be built

-include detail for a hell hole as there is none whatsoever in the kit.

-Include lots and lots of upgrades for weapons.  In my wildest dreams this would include detailing the included M16 system plus the M21 minigun system, 19 shot hog pods, the M5 40mm system and maybe even the M3 24 rocket packs.  I know that's a lot, but without the weapons, your options are very limited.

- PE stops for the cabin doors

-blade counterweights for the 204 rotorhead.

[salvador001]

Great info Ray. Very very detailed.

Ill stay with the Academy/MRC kit to build the charlie.

 

Thanks buddy!

Rod.

[rotorwash]

I do want to emphasize that I really do think a quality B model can be built from the Monogram kit now with all the interior upgrades.  I know it takes a lot of work to make these sets.  It's easy for guys like me to sit back and pontificate on what's needed, but getting off your butt and doing something should be applauded.  Anyone who has ever seen the 1/24 Monogram kit can surely see the potential for a show stopper if one takes the time to build it right.

    Ray

[Tank]

I think what we need is photos of:

- include an option for the nose mounted FM antenna so both early and late model B's could be built

-blade counterweights for the 204 rotorhead.

 

So we can see the differences. Some slick hueys would be bad either.

[hawkwrench]

I have the Huey kit in my stash and I thought about selling it, but not now.  As big as it is, it would really turn heads if it had some aftermarket details added to it.

I would build it once I got the short-bodied CD and some other pics from Ray's stash. 

 

Tim

[rotorwash]

4 hours ago, Tank said:

I think what we need is photos of:

- include an option for the nose mounted FM antenna so both early and late model B's could be built

-blade counterweights for the 204 rotorhead.

 

So we can see the differences. Some slick hueys would be bad either.

Let's start with the nose mounted pitot.  These should work for position and orientation.  All the following photos are mine.

 

Pitot:

 

Nose mounted FM antennas:

 

 

 

 

Blade counterweights from all angles:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rotorwash]

Some B model slicks:

 

118th AHC circa 1964 from the Reese collection at the USAAM:

 

 

 

UH-1B Ft. Rucker trainer:

 

RAN B model (Bell photo):

 

Venezuelan UH-1B from 1965. From Bell historical archives.:

 

Antarctic UH-1Bs from Bell archives:

 

[rotorwash]

Gorgeous RAAF UH-1B at the Bell plant circa 1965. From Jay Miller's Bell archives.

 

UH-1B 64-14057 from Terry Love. This bird was one of the last few B models produced.

 

1st Cav UH-1B slick Aug/Sept 1965. From the Paul Carpenter collection at the USAAM.

 

UH-1B medevac from USAAM archives:

 

That should be a good start for UH-1B slicks.

   Ray

[Tank]

You da man Ray! Sure makes a fella wanna do a 1/24 Huey. It's is interesting to see the differences between those birds: looks like a C tail, roof antenna position to name a few.

[hawkwrench]

Nice pics Ray. Got anymore medevac pics?

 

Tim

[rotorwash]

1 hour ago, Tank said:

You da man Ray! Sure makes a fella wanna do a 1/24 Huey. It's is interesting to see the differences between those birds: looks like a C tail, roof antenna position to name a few.

Good eye on the tails.  All UH-1B's prior to 66 will have the normal narrow chord tail but after the UH-1C came online in 65-66, many UH-1Bs received Charlie model tail;boom replacements.  However, they still retained the narrow chord B model sync elevators.  Also, if they don't have the nose mounted FM antenna, the bird will have a roof mounted "towel bar" FM antenna.

   Ray

[rotorwash]

1 hour ago, hawkwrench said:

Nice pics Ray. Got anymore medevac pics?

 

Tim

I'll dig up some more for you soon.

    Ray

[Loach Driver]

1 hour ago, rotorwash said:

Some B model slicks:

 

118th AHC circa 1964 from the Reese collection at the USAAM:

Is it just me or is there something sticking out from the underside of this Huey? Either they picked up some local fauna on a troop drop or they have just sprung a leak of hydraulic fluid. Great pics as usual, Ray.

LD.

[UH-1Mad]

There was a post a few years back of a guy who had fully decked this kit out and very accurately but I cant seem to find it anywhere anymore and I'm not sure if it was even on ARC.

 

But he added most of those corrections/mods that Ray mentioned, it was eye-candy to say the least.

 

It can be a beautiful kit and given the size of the damn thing it shouldn't be too hard to highly detail it with more ease. I'm keen now to bring mine out of the stash

 

Chris B.

[rotorwash]

3 hours ago, Loach Driver said:

LD.

LD,

  I have stared at this one quite a while and I believe it is vegetation either stuck on the hook or jammed into the hell hole.  It definitely is weird though.

    Ray

[rotorwash]

Some UH-1B medevacs for Tim.  Keep in mind virtually all the shots I have are black and white.  These are from the USAAM archives.

   Ray

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rotorwash]

A few color medevacs.

   Ray

from 1SG Elwood Sergent from 1966:

 

 

Crashed B model medevac:

 

121st AVN Co B model slick called "pineapple princess"