Possible new topics?

[Spruemeister]

The FAA operated a similarly marked Lockheed Jetstar. Would be a nice companion subject. 
 

Rick L. 

[BWDenver]

The FAA operated a fleet of jets in the 70's that were used to verify/certify approaches.  

 

A decal sheet for the FAA birds might be nice.

[Dutch]

1 hour ago, BWDenver said:

The FAA operated a fleet of jets in the 70's that were used to verify/certify approaches.  

 

A decal sheet for the FAA birds might be nice.

It's been suggested before.

[hemspilot]

On 11/10/2025 at 12:32 PM, BWDenver said:

The FAA operated a fleet of jets in the 70's that were used to verify/certify approaches.  

 

A decal sheet for the FAA birds might be nice.

They still do.

Among other....

[Loach Driver]

Here's a suggestion for a new decal sheet for an aircraft that at first glance appears to be a plain jane with limited colour options. Not true.

 

Ukrainian company AMP have released a new kit of the Hughes OH-6A helicopter in 1/32nd scale. There was a now ancient kit of the OH-6A from Revell from the 1960's so this new kit is most welcome. Photos of the new kit sprues are in this thread.

 

 

It was a U.S. Army scout helicopter so that surely means it was on ever painted in Olive Drab? Not so. Over the years, it's carried a few interesting and colourful liveries. Here are a few suggestions for a possible new sheet sheet on the 1/32 OH-6A.

 

Setting aside all the colourful markings applied to airframes deployed to Vietnam, the Army flew a few OH-6As with some interesting schemes.

 

1. U.S. Army training scheme. Olive Drab with day-glo panels and high viz numbers.
2. OH-6A in flight testing. Again, Olive Drab with some white numbers or other markings.
3. The Silver Eagles Display Team. The team flew the OH-6A in two different paint schemes.
4. The Army National Guard flew the OH-6A with the large ANG emblem on the rear door and red tail. Others wore the CARC green paint and were heavily weathered.
5. Task Force 158/160th SOAR - Some interesting configurations were flown by this special aviation unit. The last OH-6A in U.S. Army service was flown as a training aircraft with the 160th SOAR.
6. Six helicopters were transferred to the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School. There, they wore two different colourful paint schemes.
7. The U.S. Border Patrol received their first OH-6As from Army stocks in 1977 and they have carried a few nice schemes over the years.
8. NASA operated a single OH-6A as a flight proficiency aircraft for its rotary wing pilots.
9. The D.E.A. also operated a small fleet of OH-6As.
10. Taiwan, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic all operated the OH-6A.
11. Post-Army service, numerous Police and Sheriff's departments received the OH-6A and pressed them into service. Many carried some nice colour schemes.
12. As well as the OH-6A, a few civilian Hughes 500s can also be modelled from the kit with a few small modifications. The very first Hughes 500 prototype was initially flown in a configuration very similar to the OH-6A. It flew in two different schemes.
13. Just for fun, here is another Hughes 500 that can be built quite easily using the AMP kit. The "OH-6A" from the 1971 James Bond movie "Diamonds Are Forever". 15039 from the movie was an early-production Hughes 500, N9033F, and had the smaller rear door opening to the OH-6A. Leave off the rear doors, add a civilian instrument panel (from the Revell kit), some skid leg steps and scratch build the "guns and rockets" and you have a 500 from this famous stunt scene from a classic 007 movie! The markings on the 007 OH-6 are generic military markings so there are no copyright issues with replicating this scheme, as far as I can tell, although referencing the movie directly on the instruction sheet might need to be assessed. We will all know what it is! 😉 

 

65-12916 - the very first production OH-6A delivered to the U.S. Army. In training colours of Olive Drab and day-glo orange with standard black serial and lettering. Large trainer numbers in white on both sides and under the belly.

 

65-12978 fitted with a minigun. White number not repeated under the belly.

 

 65-12967 at Edwards AFB for test work. Photo tracking marking on rear door with air data boom fitted on centre of nose. Standard markings otherwise.

 

 65-12979 in late 1960's during LOHAP testing. Extra antenna on skid and rear of vertical tail. "12" in white, taped up rear door with grey tape. Standard markings otherwise.

 

 

69-15961 on loan to Hughes Helicopters at Culver City CA, used to support YAH-64 test program between 1980 and 1982. Fitted with none-standard VOR antenna under nose.

 

U.S. Army Silver Eagles Display Team, 1972. Olive Drab, silver and white.

 

16066 in Silver Eagles colours from 1976.

 

More to follow in next post.

 

LD. 

Edited December 24, 2025 by Loach Driver

[Loach Driver]

Rhode Island Army National Guard OH-6A. Late 1970's.

 

Late -service Alabama National Guard OH-6A, 1992. Full-spec National Guard upgrades fitted, heavily weathered.

 

OH-6A (OVL) upgraded National Guard Cayuse (67-16041). CARC green with black markings, FLIR 2000 IR camera, Blackhole exhaust and RWRs fitted (1989).

 

AH-6C Armed Little Bird trials aircraft, Hurlbert Field, 1980 (68-17246). XM-158 rocket pod and Minigun fitted.  

 

0-17191 AH-6C 1982 with WO Graham Stevens, 160th SOAR. This aircraft was hit during combat operations in Grenada in 1983 but safely landed.

 

68-17249, MH-6C 160th SOAR training aircraft. This helicopter performed the last flight of the OH-6A in U.S. Army service on the 1st of October 2008, bringing down the curtain on the OH-6A in army service.

 

LD. 

[Loach Driver]

NASA 731, OH-6A used for flight proficiency duties late 1970's.

 

N8525G OH-6A in early U.S. Border Patrol markings (Skip Robinson photo).

 

Mid-service colours for the Border Patrol OH-6As. Carrying U.S. Border and Customs badge on doghouse.

 

Late-service Border Patrol OH-6A markings.

 

U.S. Border Patrol and Customs OH-6A. 

 

Drug Enforcement Agency OH-6A, 1990's.

 

69-16061 in service with the USNTPS, 1990's/2000's - early scheme.

 

69-16044 in later USNTPS paint scheme on high skids.

 

LD.

[Loach Driver]

Kentucky State Police OH-6A 2000's.

 

El Paso Police Department OH-6A in full police spec.

 

Spartenburg P.D. OH-6A.

 

Hughes 500 prototype N9000F in 1966. White with red trim, registration in black lettering.

 

N9000F in early 1967.

 

 

N9000F in late 1967 (colour details available if required).

 

And just for fun...................

 

Hughes 500 "15039" from the 007 movie "Diamonds are Forever". 15039 is the upper aircraft in this photo.

 

 

15039 is very close to the configuration of the AMP kit and can be converted into a "USMC" Cayuse relatively easily.

 

If any further details are needed in relation to any of these schemes, Kursad, please let me know and I will try to assist further. I would be grateful if you could give some consideration to this subject.

 

LD.

Edited December 24, 2025 by Loach Driver

[Corey]

Some more early A-4’s

 

 

[BWDenver]

NASA S-3 735 & OH-6A 731 at NASA Aimes June 1979

 

[AD-4N]

I vote for 3D resin SB-17 Dumbo and SB-29 Super Dumbo rescue 3D conversions in  1/72.  The Paragon SB-29 resin conversions are 25+ years old and nearly unobtainium.  Likewise you can never find the Expert Choice decals for the Super Dumbo.  The Academy SB-17 doesn't show up often, but could use the Caracal love since Academy decals are not always the best.  

[Corey]

33 minutes ago, AD-4N said:

I vote for 3D resin SB-17 Dumbo and SB-29 Super Dumbo rescue 3D conversions in  1/72.  The Paragon SB-29 resin conversions are 25+ years old and nearly unobtainium.  Likewise you can never find the Expert Choice decals for the Super Dumbo.  The Academy SB-17 doesn't show up often, but could use the Caracal love since Academy decals are not always the best.  

that’s a cool idea that I would buy!!

[fessSto]

I have the SB-17 kit in the stash just waiting for some post-war USAF markings.  While the B-29 I have is earmarked for a Korean War veteran, I could probably be pursued to build an SB-29 to go along with it's little sister.

[BWDenver]

With the release of the Dora Wings dHC-2 Beaver Seaplane there are all sorts of possibilities for and enterprising decal company.

Gulf Island Seaplanes on the Warf in Vancouver CA, taken Sep 2023.  The seaplane basin at Vancouver is a very busy place with over 200 takeoffs and arrivals a day, mostly by Harbour Air.  Some of the birds rolled off the assembly line in the late 40's.  the Northwest Native artwork is displayed on the wings and fuselage.  Note the canoe paddle secured to the left float.

 

 

Gulf Island Seaplanes taxing out on a flight.  Sitting on EDO 4930 floats.  Dora Wings did their kit with EDO 4580 floats.  Their floats are actually 4.18" too long in the front and 8.78" short in the tail.  To get the 4930, you need to add 12" to the corrected 4580 float.

 

Artwork

 

Logo

 

FIJI AIRWAYS VQ-FAA Cn 741, Early operator of the Beaver Mk I, with EDO 4580 Amphibian floats.  The Retract kit was offered as an option.  Note the hole for the beaching axil just in front of the Step as the seaplane floats were converted to Amphibian floats.  It says Australia under the flag.  dHC logon on the tail.  dhc-2.com shot.

 

N1018A coming in over the ship I was on.  Shot in Ketchikan AK in Sep 2023, a Taquan Air seaplane taxis in on EDO 4930 floats.  Note the ropes used in docking.  It appears to have flared STOL tips.

 

 

N1018A buzzed the ship I was on as we pulled into Ketchikan AK early in the morning.  Note the canoe paddle and the ropes dangling from the wings and floats.

 

Shot via Taquan Air showing the blue panel on the belly.

 

 

Sea Wind Aviation N87597 as it came in over the ship.  Note paddle and shorter ropes.

 

 

 

Sea Wind Aviation tied to the dock in Ketchikan AK.  Shot was at extreme range and the atmosphere was heating up showed a bit of distortion.  EDO 4930 floats used by a large number of Commercial Operators and pilots with uprated lift on the Beaver to increase LOGW.

Edited January 4 by BWDenver

[BWDenver]

Harbour Air is the is one of the heavy weights of seaplane ops.  They run a very active commercial operation out of Vancouver AB.

 

Past colors were yellow and black, but the current colors are blue and yellow.  During the 150 Year Anniversary of Canada, Harbour Air painted a select number of Beaver and Otters in red and white.

 

 

Harbour Air dHC-2 Beaver Mk I C-GOLC_EDO-493 on approach in Vancouver.  I was waiting to sale on a trip up to Alaska and had a great time shooting seaplanes.  The nose No. of this bird is 221, but 21 is displayed on the left wing, all the Harbour Air birds have the last 2 numbers on the wing leading edge.    You can just make out the "HARBOURAIR.COM" on the inside of the right wing strut.  EDO 4930 floats.

 

AC 219, C-FWAC landing in Vancouver CA, this bird was on Aerocet 5850 composite floats.  With enlarged markings and decorations.

 

 

C-FWAC taxing out on a flight.  Ropes on the floats, and lack of paddle.  Aerocet 5850 floats are composite's and lack surface detail.  The anti slip surface is cast into the float, while others paint anti slip paint on.

Screen cap from a Youtube video, "HARBOUR AIR" is on both wing struts.

 

C-FFHA (Cn. 39) on a low pas.  dhc-2.com shot.  Edo 4930 floats.

 

Two 150 yr anniversary birds.  Not the Maple leaf on the wing and HARBOURAIR.COM on the right wing.  dhc-2.com.

Edited January 3 by BWDenver

[Corey]

I would imagine the problem with air carrier livery, especially a company like Harbour Air, is the copyright issues.  It’s probably more expensive and complicated than dealing with military subjects.

[B-ONE27]

Would absolutely love some Nail Fac OA-10As, PAANG OA-10s and AFRES Grissom A-10s, and any GunSmoke comp A-10s Blue Foxes, guard and AFRES.

[BWDenver]

12 hours ago, Corey said:

I would imagine the problem with air carrier livery, especially a company like Harbour Air, is the copyright issues.  It’s probably more expensive and complicated than dealing with military subjects.

Military subjects are generally not a problem.  The problem come in with companies like Boeing deciding they need to get paid for the use of their name.  I always thought it was rather irksome that a model company had to pay Boeing for putting their name on, say a B-52 kit, when the US taxpayers paid for it.

 

If you want complicated, try marketing a Ferrari kit....

 

 

[F-16]

Perhaps some new OV-1D sheets.

 

 

Superscale made this sheet many years ago (2005/2006?) and is hard to find now. A new, modern, accurate sheet is needed for the first option (62-5874).

 

 

Scott

[Spruemeister]

That shark mouth is way too friendly looking. 
 

Rick L. 

[hemspilot]

On 1/3/2026 at 8:45 PM, Corey said:

I would imagine the problem with air carrier livery, especially a company like Harbour Air, is the copyright issues.  It’s probably more expensive and complicated than dealing with military subjects.

You may want to check Draw Decals😀

[AD-4N]

With the announcement of the new tool 1/72 Airfix Canberra B.2, we need a sheet for bubble canopy birds, like the RB-57A.

[Corey]

4 hours ago, hemspilot said:

You may want to check Draw Decals😀

It’s all rainbows and unicorns until the cease and desist letters arrive.

[hemspilot]

On 1/14/2026 at 4:30 PM, Corey said:

It’s all rainbows and unicorns until the cease and desist letters arrive.

🤣🤣🤣 it's important that you believe that.

 

 

[Corey]

5 hours ago, hemspilot said:

🤣🤣🤣 it's important that you believe that.

 

 

Seriously dude, you’re still going for the douche angle?