Niels Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 @Dutch - you're biased 😂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 @BWDenver, Hey Bryan, quick question. In your middle (close-up) photo of the Dustoff birds, the Type/Model/Series designation appears to be "UH-1F." If I remember correctly, the F model was based on the Bell 204, not the Bell 205 (UH-1D/H/V) and had the GE engine with starboard side exhaust. The airframe certainly looks like a V, so maybe my eyes are fooling me. K/r, Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 20 minutes ago, Dutch said: @BWDenver, Hey Bryan, quick question. In your middle (close-up) photo of the Dustoff birds, the Type/Model/Series designation appears to be "UH-1F." If I remember correctly, the F model was based on the Bell 204, not the Bell 205 (UH-1D/H/V) and had the GE engine with starboard side exhaust. The airframe certainly looks like a V, so maybe my eyes are fooling me. K/r, Dutch Actually, that is a rather poorly represented V. The V models were essentially H models with a Radar Altimeter and a few other bells and whistles. They were pretty much just in the DUSTOFF units. Made night landings in the boonies a bit less stressful as you knew how high you were, if not where the tree limbs or power lines were. That and shooting an ILS or Radar controlled approach. When I took that shot at Osan AFB in the ROK they were just starting to upgrade the H's to V's. I don't think we had any in Taegu. By the mid 80's they were all upgraded. the H and V were designated the "same" from a transition point of view, so no additional training. Bryan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tracy White Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 (edited) On 5/5/2024 at 9:12 AM, BWDenver said: Some Huey DUSTOFF "bumble Bees" That scheme lives on https://www.dvidshub.net/news/423809/doors-off-guns-out-2-2-assault-helicopter-battalion-conducts-aerial-gunnery https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7290516/doors-off-guns-out-2-2-assault-helicopter-battalion-conducts-aerial-gunnery https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7523687/camp-humphreys-dmz-dustoff https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7523691/camp-humphreys-dmz-dustoff https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6446948/air-force-medics-conduct-medevac-training-with-army-aviation-battalion https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6446954/air-force-medics-conduct-medevac-training-with-army-aviation-battalion https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7935169/kmep-233-us-service-members-conduct-medical-evacuation-training https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6422646/liftoff-air-force-army-enhance-hoist-operations The yellow would be a huge PITA but it's a very striking scheme. Edited May 13 by Tracy White Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 (edited) 54 minutes ago, Tracy White said: That scheme lives on https://www.dvidshub.net/news/423809/doors-off-guns-out-2-2-assault-helicopter-battalion-conducts-aerial-gunnery https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7290516/doors-off-guns-out-2-2-assault-helicopter-battalion-conducts-aerial-gunnery https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7523687/camp-humphreys-dmz-dustoff https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7523691/camp-humphreys-dmz-dustoff https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6446948/air-force-medics-conduct-medevac-training-with-army-aviation-battalion https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6446954/air-force-medics-conduct-medevac-training-with-army-aviation-battalion https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7935169/kmep-233-us-service-members-conduct-medical-evacuation-training https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6422646/liftoff-air-force-army-enhance-hoist-operations The yellow would be a huge PITA but it's a very striking scheme. Yeah, you world need to paint the bird white, then the yellow,then mask off and apply the "Aircraft Green". In reality the paint has the consistency of 60 grit sand paper. Any aircraft that enters the JSA "Joint Security Area" at Panmunjom, has to be painted with the bubble bee stripes. The aft strip on the Huey was the worst to keep clean as it got coated with soot from the engine. The crews are required to wear yellow arm bands with black writing in Korean. And you make sure to put the smoke visor down so you can't be photographed by the NorKo's. And NO smiling!! All in all, it was a real pain to make the flight. Bryan Edited May 13 by BWDenver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 (edited) Kursad, to go along with your third KC-135R sheet and in conjunction with your F-86A sheet, how about this retro scheme on KC-135R 57-1469 "Tankermeister" of the 161st ARW, Arizona ANG? Edited May 16 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 Or maybe some "Right Circling Airplanes".... My favorite is 12663 with that huge retractable camera port. But any RC-135S decals for either 662 or 663 would be most gratifying, especially that red USAF for the right wing... Bryan RC135S_12662.bmp RC135S_12662.bmp Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 (edited) Um, I don't know how to say this Bryan, but Kursad already released these in 1/72 scale using a combination of CD72128 USAF C-135 Recon Variants and CD72070 KC-135 General Markings Set and in 1/144 scale using a combination of CD144004 and CD144026. Edited May 15 by Dutch Links added. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 You said it quat well! But the RUB come in that the RC-135S birds have USAF in great big RED letters on that great big black right wing..... That has always been a detractor for doing the bird in 1/144th. I can cut and piece together the 12662/663 for the tail but the red USAF is the issue. I've tried to do it with paint, but is looks like *$*%.... If I was doing a 1/72 I could probably come up with the masks that will look fair, but I have yet to do it with the "Amarillo USAF" font I have on my computer. just doesn't look right.... And the same issue with the RB-57F, with Red USAF on silver. I don't think anyone has done those decals... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stefan buysse Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 Good news, Bryan. There is a big red USAF on CD 144-04, it's near the bottom of the sheet, above the 2 yellow stripes. There are two big red USAF's on CD 72-070, on the sheet with the national insignia. Cheers, Stefan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 (edited) Yes, you could double them to go on the black wing if opacity is an issue with just one. Or place a white one underneath. Or ask Jost Schreiber how he did it on his recent build. Edited May 16 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 10 hours ago, Dutch said: Yes, you could double them to go on the black wing if opacity is an issue with just one. Or place a white one underneath. Or ask Jost how he did it on his recent build. Wow, his Boeing NC-135W Big Safari bird is simply stunning... Brayn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 14 hours ago, Stefan buysse said: Good news, Bryan. There is a big red USAF on CD 144-04, it's near the bottom of the sheet, above the 2 yellow stripes. There are two big red USAF's on CD 72-070, on the sheet with the national insignia. Cheers, Stefan. Hey thanks, I was looking at the RC sheets and missed that! Bryan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Arrowhead Posted May 17 Share Posted May 17 (edited) With Cat4 from Ukraine now relasing a complete series of backdate sets for the Hase F-8E, how about an « Early Years / Test Crusaders » sheet? Could include - XF8U-1 prototype - DF-8A - Early test aircraft - Early ops birds - VMF-321 F-8K (most beautiful Crusader livery ever 😉 - NASA DFBW NF-8 … just to name a few. Edited May 18 by The Arrowhead Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarcB Posted May 17 Share Posted May 17 I would be the first to purchase such a sheet, but would devoting time and money on a project based on a difficult-to-obtain (that country has serious problems at the moment + CAT4 sets are not widely available) and/or expensive (postage/customs fees) set be a sound business decision for Caracal ? MB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted May 17 Share Posted May 17 (edited) @MarcB, I have ordered several times from three different vendors in Ukraine over the past three years and have had zero issues. Postage yes, but very reasonable. Customs fees? I have not paid any, but it may depend upon your location. Check this recent post for a chap from Norway. Edited May 17 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eraucubsfan Posted May 17 Share Posted May 17 48ers carries Cat4 stuff and I order from them all the time Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarcB Posted May 17 Share Posted May 17 Sure, and I have several of their sets...but they also produce decal sheets for several of their conversions : Who knows if there isn't a sheet coming to go with the early Crusader sets ? So the original question remains : would it be a sound business decision for Caracal ? Only Kursad could answer that. MB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Arrowhead Posted May 17 Share Posted May 17 (edited) 3 hours ago, MarcB said: I would be the first to purchase such a sheet, but would devoting time and money on a project based on a difficult-to-obtain (that country has serious problems at the moment + CAT4 sets are not widely available) and/or expensive (postage/customs fees) set be a sound business decision for Caracal ? MB I have ordered Cat4 products several times in the latest months, either from eBay or through Plastic Models Store in Kiev, and they always arrived safe and sound in due course. When there is no other game in town I believe it is worth the bucks and wait. Remember, the « F-16 Early Years » sheet that Kursad graced us with some years ago was among the fastest-selling ever, while there is absolutely no F-16/79 or AFTI conversion on the market and hardly any good YF-16 kit around. Same applies to the « A-10 Early Years ». No prototype kit available, no conversion, very difficult kitbash from scratch. Regarding decals, I do not consider Cat4 as a real contender to Caracal’s quality in design and print. I have secured the F-111B sheet but I’d still be the first customer for a Caracal offering. Edited May 17 by The Arrowhead Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KursadA Posted May 17 Share Posted May 17 These are great ideas. I will definitely do an F-111 Early Years sheet at some point. As you pointed out, several of my sheets were targeted at difficult projects with no existing conversion kit. By adding options that could be built with little or no modification, I was able to bring these to the market as viable products. The Test/Early Crusaders is a great idea as well. I will consider it for late this year or early next year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted May 17 Share Posted May 17 By any chance does anyone have an email for the CAT 4 folks? Bryan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 (edited) Diablo 01 When I was in Honduras I heard a story about a Honduran pilot out of Le Ceiba who intercepted an Aero Commander, suspected Drug smuggler. The Mystere pilot was Cnel. Torres, at bingo fuel and didn’t have a lot of time. He pulled up next to the bird and made a gesture for the pilot to follow him. The pilot of the smuggler flipped him the bird. So he dropped back, charged his guns and pulled the trigger. He blew one of the engines off the wing. He was trying to take the wing off. Afte that the pilot was a bit more cooperative, and headed for le Ceiba on the Caribbean coast. He Honduran pilot in the super Mystere had to land or flame out. They dispatched another Mystere flown by Cnel FCO Francisco Sosa, Call sign Diablo 01,. Cnel Sosa would eventually shoot down 7 smugglers that tried to sneak through Honduran airspace. They didn’t play around. In remembrance of the flight he painted a “Diablo” on his aircraft, the artwork was on both sides. Pictured is an F-5 he flew. He would take part in airstrikes into Nicaragua on some barracks near the town of Wilili when I was at the base that some of the strikes were launched out of in Nov 1986. Flying escort with two Mystere's for 2 A-37's. The model is by his son, Alex Sosa, and pictures provided by Alex. If you ever do a S American F-5 sheet…. Edited May 26 by BWDenver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Another shot of "Balls 8" taken in the summer of 1979. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Couple more F-5E's. Chile an Tiger III upgrade. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Another suggestion is a new F-15C/D sheet; "MiG killers in the ANG", covering the recently transferred jets to 122FS 159FW and 194FS 144FW. Many of these have been transferred from the 18FW 44/67FS's. Some cool MiG-killers from Dessert Storm flying with these units now... 85-0105 | McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle | United States - US Air Force (USAF) | KnightHammer Aviation | JetPhotos 85-0117 | McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle | United States - US Air Force (USAF) | KnightHammer Aviation | JetPhotos Mix in a couple of the MiG killers currently flying with 104FW 131FS and you have yourself a ready sheet 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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