Possible new topics?

[BWDenver]

F-4D-29-MC 65-0772 “Pave Phantom” 25TFSq 8 TFW Ubon Feet-Dry.

 

While some sources list the Pave Phantoms as 72 block 32 & 33 airframes, This is decidedly not either one of these.  The AN/ARN-92 LORAN-D system (towel rack antenna) gave them very precise targeting capability to drop sensors along the Ho Chi Minh trail.

 

This shot was likely shot in the late 60’s or very early 70’s by a Phantom backseat.  This bird was delivered to AMARC as FP078 May 21, 1987 and scrapped Sep 10 1996.

 

There were other shots with this one, but I made the mistake of lending them to Metero Productions, and never saw them again…  Lesson learned, never give up originals unless you really trust the person…

[BWDenver]

Should you ever decide to do an Army helo sheet, 68-16692 is one of the original 10 OH-58A airframes delivered to the Army for evaluation and test.  It was used in Panama for hot WX testing.  US Army Test board photo.  It was later converted to an OH-58C.  the red-orange high vis markings are bordered by black.  Likely one of the more colorful OH-58's.

Edited March 27, 2024 by BWDenver

[AD-4N]

1 hour ago, BWDenver said:

There were other shots with this one, but I made the mistake of lending them to Metero Productions, and never saw them again…  Lesson learned, never give up originals unless you really trust the person…

 

I'm sorry you were screwed, but Meteor Productions has to have been one of the most dishonest shops in our hobby.  Thank the Maker we have honest folks now like the dude in Austin.  

[hemspilot]

On 3/27/2024 at 4:10 PM, BWDenver said:

Should you ever decide to do an Army helo sheet, 68-16692 is one of the original 10 OH-58A airframes delivered to the Army for evaluation and test.  It was used in Panama for hot WX testing.  US Army Test board photo.  It was later converted to an OH-58C.  the red-orange high vis markings are bordered by black.  Likely one of the more colorful OH-58's.

Looks like a NAVY TH-57 without the tail rotor drive shaft fairing.

 

[BWDenver]

Not if you know what you're looking at.  😀  The TH-57 is a an off the shelf Bell 206 BIII, hence the enclosed TR drive shaft and enclosed TR gear box..  The OH-58A is a Mil adaptation of the 206A.  Specifically, the rotor blades are slightly longer with scarfed tips.  To accommodate the longer blades the tail boom is extended a couple of inches.

 

You also should not fly with the doors off on a 206BIII, as above around 100 KTS you get control malfunctions.  The paint scheme thought is remarkably similar, although the OH-58A was introduced in the 1968-time frame.  One of the dead giveaways is when you tie down a TH-57, you insert a hook at the blade tip.  The OH-58A is secured by slipping a cuff over the blade tip.  The doors also have popped out windows.

 

The TH-57 also does not have armor for the crew...

[hemspilot]

17 hours ago, BWDenver said:

Not if you know what you're looking at.  😀  The TH-57 is a an off the shelf Bell 206 BIII, hence the enclosed TR drive shaft and enclosed TR gear box..  The OH-58A is a Mil adaptation of the 206A.  Specifically, the rotor blades are slightly longer with scarfed tips.  To accommodate the longer blades the tail boom is extended a couple of inches.

 

You also should not fly with the doors off on a 206BIII, as above around 100 KTS you get control malfunctions.  The paint scheme thought is remarkably similar, although the OH-58A was introduced in the 1968-time frame.  One of the dead giveaways is when you tie down a TH-57, you insert a hook at the blade tip.  The OH-58A is secured by slipping a cuff over the blade tip.  The doors also have popped out windows.

 

The TH-57 also does not have armor for the crew...

OK cool, I have not flown a TH-57 since the end of January 1986. Just curious about the doors off control malfunctions above 100kts, you read that somewhere?

Edited March 29, 2024 by hemspilot

[BWDenver]

4 hours ago, hemspilot said:

 Just curious about the doors off control malfunctions above 100kts, you read that somewhere?

I was flying a 206BIII in the Arizona strip.  Late April and the temps were hitting 95.  So I decided to pull the front doors off.  There is a warning in the Operators manual about the possibility of "control reversal".  It was not a theoretical warning...

 

Don't ask me how I know...

Edited March 29, 2024 by BWDenver

[hemspilot]

13 hours ago, BWDenver said:

I was flying a 206BIII in the Arizona strip.  Late April and the temps were hitting 95.  So I decided to pull the front doors off.  There is a warning in the Operators manual about the possibility of "control reversal".  It was not a theoretical warning...

 

Don't ask me how I know...

I see, at about 3k hours on all 206 variants, I never had to remove the front doors while leaving the cabin doors on 😉, the reverse often for motor boat races photography.

[BWDenver]

3 hours ago, hemspilot said:

I see, at about 3k hours on all 206 variants, I never had to remove the front doors while leaving the cabin doors on 😉, the reverse often for motor boat races photography.

We would quit often pull all 4 doors on the OH-58A in the summer at Ft Carson (6,000').  The front doors on the 58 are essentially two pieces of sheet metal sandwiched for the plex.  The 206 front doors are significantly heavier.  when I flew for Chevy Chase Summer Vacation in Monument Vally we pulled the back doors for a camera man.  Harald Ramis insisted on flying to command "ACTION".  He was a very big dude and we ended up sand blasting Chevy Chase's double.  You know how condescending Ramis was in the movies, he wasn't acting....

[habu2]

While some unique photos have been posted recently I can't help but feel the purpose of this thread has drifted far away from the original intent to suggest possible new topics for the Caracal brand. Perhaps this info should be posted in a dedicated thread, maybe in the Research Corner subforum. 

[Spruemeister]

Agree

 

Rick L. 

[BWDenver]

Well occasionally people want to make comments on offerings.  There is sometimes and ebb and flow.

 

The 149th TFS of Virginia ANG at Byrd Feild Richmond VA, had some rather unique decorations on their birds.  They used a removable panel to apply some rather interesting AC names, in the left side. 

 

On the RH side they had the "Stars and Bars" with an Eagle, again on a removable panel.  The "Stars and Bars" were eventually removed from the 49th TFS Virginia ANG shortly after these pictures were taken in mid 1991.  When the birds deployed to other areas, they would sometimes remove the panel and replace it.  

 

While I tried to get an overall shot of each "named" aircraft, sometimes that was not possible.  And I got closeups of some of the more "interesting" name panels. 

 

It goes without saying that some of these decorations will never be seen again on USAF birds...

 

Somewhere I have a shot of "Honey Pot", still have to find it...

[BWDenver]

AH-1& UH-1H odds and ends.

 

With the release of a number of AH-1 and UH-1D/H kits over the last few years or so.

 

AH-1G Early 66-15259 Assigned to the NET Team in Viet Nam.  “New Equipment Training”. 

AH-1G late 67-15735 C-1-9 Lz Phantom Ft Hood 1975.  The paint scheme was a test generated by HQ Master, later TACATA.  The paint contained silver particles and was to a degree radar absorbent.  Most of the birds asl had the top of the rotor blades painted in the same way, along with the TR blade.  1/9 & 7/17 of the 1ST CAV and 2/1 CAV 2nd AD flew AC similarly painted.  Unfortunately  while I have a number of shot of the AC, I do not have SN info.

 

AH-1G late 67-15826 either 1/9^th or 7/17^th Ft Hood Tx.  Mid 70’s.

 

AH-1G late 68-17023 97 HMA-169 Camp Pendelton 11/72 The USMC initially flew a small number of AH-1G aircraft until their AH-1J’s were delivered. 

 

AH-1S 66-15339 EWCAS Ft Rucker Test Board.  In 1982 they painted several helos with IR paint, I have photographs of this AH-1S (EWCAS) aircraft and an OH-58A.  they kept the IR paint into the mid to late 80’s.

 

UH-1H 72-16295 Ft Hood, Gray AAF 7-75 218^TH RC, I’m flying Right Seat.  The numbers 218 are in the middle of the red cross on the cargo doors and nose.  I believe there was another Red Cross on the belly.  We had two UH-1H AC, 295 & 296.  We flew the two AC to Edwards in Dec 1975 and left them.  They removed the RC markings but left CRASH RESCUE on them.  Only one AC remained configured.

[Whiskey]

More interested in what that box is below the canopy on the side of the fuselage on the AH-1F photo. Don’t think I’ve ever see it before.

[BWDenver]

The boxes were mounting points for early LASER detectors, removed in the first image.  The first time I saw 15339 was around August 1986, see the hanger shot below.  Additionally, the laser spot tracker was installed.  I don't think I ever saw one installed in the AH-1S in the states, although I think they were installed on some birds during Desert storm.

 

The boxes, on both sides of the fuselage had been removed at this time.  And replaced with two pointed boxes on the sail, between the laser spot tracker.  In the shot below in the hanger they added a 0- in front of the TN, and the TR was OD in color.

 

The LASER detectors were present on the bird during the tests at Yuma, April 12 1982.

 

The Revell kit is readily available and there have been a number of AH-1G/Q/S kits released in the last few years.  Markings wise there are not a lot on it.  Just the subdued tail boom marking and the serial No on the tail.

 

Special Hobby has released an AH-1Q/S. The early serials of those two AC were YAH-1S (MOD) 70-16055 and YAH-1Q 68-15132.  I use the designation of "S (MOD)" as that was the designation when I covered the flyoff in early 1975 and photographed the birds.

 

The stenciling under the canopy on the YAH-1Q says "CARTRIDGE ACTIVATED DEVICES" for the canopy det cord.  The YAH-1S lacks the markings.  

 

Whether this would be a commercially viable decal sheet, I would hope so.  There are kits available in both 1/72 and 1/48.  With the YAH-1Q & 1S this is before the Army started putting the leading "0-" in front of the tail No.

 

I think 66-15339 might make an interesting offering as Cobras were rather plain, and it's an unusual bird.  It caused quite a stir at an IPMS Nat in 87.  Lots of experts said: "They never did that", until I put a shot of the bird next to the model.

 

Much like the CARACAL decal sheet cd48205 & CD72129 for the NASA F-15B.  There is no kit with the aero spike but including the "Gulfstream" decal on the decal sheet make it a viable project.  I know I got both sheets.

 

For those not interested in helos, sorry.  But I think with very little effort CARACAL could do a rather interesting Snake sheet, especially the HQ MASTER/MERDC Snake...

[KursadA]

Very cool stuff - please keep them coming. A while ago I decided that I did not have enough interesting subjects to pull off an AH-1G/S sheet; but it looks like I will have to think about one now. The A-7s are very cool; and I am sure a few of them will be on the upcoming USAF/ANG A-7 sheet.

[BWDenver]

Glad to hear it!  If you need higher rez shots of the artwork I can send them to you.

 

I regret I don't have TN's for most of the Camo Cobras.

 

These are the paint sheets I got from HQ Master in 1974.

[Drifterdon]

This is super cool sir for a cobra.   Is there a key to the color codes?   I'm not sure what the G; FD; S are or their FS numbers.    And I'm guessing the black areas are just that, black.

 

[Dutch]

14 minutes ago, Drifterdon said:

This is super cool sir for a cobra.   Is there a key to the color codes?   I'm not sure what the G; FD; S are or their FS numbers.    And I'm guessing the black areas are just that, black.

 

Brother Don,

 

Based on the photos in one of Bryan's earlier posts above, my guess is that the colors in this scheme are based on the MERDC camouflage of the early 1970's through early 1990s. 

 

FG = Forest green FS34079

FD = Field drab FS30118

S = Desert sand FS30279

Black areas = Flat Black FS37038

 

K/r,

Dutch

Edited April 5, 2024 by Dutch

[Dutch]

According to Cyber Modeler MERDC colors may be other than I stated above.  There were a total of twelve MERDC colors, with various winter, summer, desert, forested camouflage schemes using any combination of four of the twelve available colors.

 

Your results may vary.

 

MERDC Summer Verdant Camouflage Color Profile and Paint Guide

 

Paint Guide

 

Dark Green
FS 34079
ANA 631 - MERDC FG

 

Interior Green
FS 34151 / TT-P-1757
ANA 611 - MERDC LG

 

NATO Sand
FS 30277
MERDC S

 

Navy #3 Black
FS 37038
ANA 604 - MERDC BL

 

 

 

Edited April 5, 2024 by Dutch
Add color chart.

[Drifterdon]

Thanks Dutchmaster.   Much appreciated.   I have a Special Hobby Cobra that just may get this paint scheme.   don

[Dutch]

and one more MERDC color reference.

[Dutch]

@BWDenver,

 

Bryan, in the UH-1H fire crash rescue training photo, it looks like you are tethered to a water tank / blivet just out of the right frame.  You certainly did not have an internal water / retardant tank aboard?  K/r, Dutch

Edited April 5, 2024 by Dutch

[achterkirch]

18th AGRS switched to the 18th FIS. Maybe could do a sheet pertaining to such units?  There might be more squadrons switch to that destination too.  

 

Edited April 6, 2024 by achterkirch

[BWDenver]

7 hours ago, Dutch said:

and one more MERDC color reference.

We carried two 25 Gal AFFF (light water) tanks back in the gunner wells.  Flow went from the left to right side.  The 9-18' boom was adjustable, 90 degrees right to 360 degrees straight ahead.  We could either use it retracted and dump Stright down or extend it to 18' and spray in a fan patter.  It would open a 50' x 100' corridor in the fire.  We routinely worked 500 Gal JP4 fires.  I did one night fire and when the fire went out it got REAL DARK!  The hoist was located on the fwd left side of the cabin, just behind the 22" door.  As the hoist was rotated out it opened the door and the fire fighter and medic would rappel down.  fires were always fought by the RH pilot as that's where the boom controls were.  The pilot on the LH side pressurized the tanks, and we always remember a bit that was lost at Rucker when one of the tanks developed a leak.  We almost lost a bird as the Oring on the RH tank was pinched and it dumped foam into the cabin.  The bird went 90 degrees nose up then dove.  The crew managed to open a cargo door and dump most the foam, from the ground it looked like an explosion.  Both pilots got Broken Wing Awards for that.  The 2 Star that was watching the whole thing didn't grasp how close he came to seeing the bird auger in.

 

The RC units were envisioned to fly with the assault forces and act as crash rescue should anyone be shot down.  With nice big red crosses for aiming points...

 

The advent of the crashworthy fuel bladders put an end to the RC units.  I was in the last US Army RC unit, 218th Med. Det. "Firebirds" at Ft Hood.  We covered a few emergencies landing, on one I covered Hugh Mills as he came in with a double hydraulic failure in an AH-1G.  I later met Hugh in a hobby shop, and we've been friends since.

 

In early December of 1975 we flew the birds out to Edwards and covered a hazardous test with a CH-47 cargo handling system, then left the birds and headed back to Hood.  I transferred into the 3/507TH Life Saver/DUSTOFF unit.

 

The Edwards Army Flight Test Activity kept one bird configured for a while.  There is an Edwards Army test thread, and you can see the boom system.  Attached is s shot of the AFFF tank on 16295, and the final look at Edwards for 16296.

 

I'd love to see some decals, but the builder would have to so a bit of scratching, but it would be a fairly historical Army bird...

 

Off to the Eclipse in the morning and the Austin TX area.

 

Bryan