Whirlybird Posted March 3, 2018 Share Posted March 3, 2018 (edited) New Kitty Hawk kit has me looking at an older project I was working on. Seems to be a better model to work with. Made the hard part in the back from scratch, have the 1/48th mini gun...and a 50 cal. from aftermarket. Looking for other 1/48 weapons and crew stuff - but most appear to be for 1/35th.... Anyone have a source for that kind of thing? Thought there was a French source for resin M16s... Edited March 3, 2018 by Whirlybird typo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Floyd S. Werner, Jr. Posted March 4, 2018 Share Posted March 4, 2018 Man wouldn't that look nice in say an aftermarket company's catalog? Just saying it looks awesome Floyd Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whirlybird Posted March 4, 2018 Author Share Posted March 4, 2018 (edited) Floyd, I'm blaming you for directing me to that kit at the recent OD show. LOL (just kidding) This thing is kinda fragile. Edited March 4, 2018 by Whirlybird Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Floyd S. Werner, Jr. Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 It would have to be broken down into castable pieces, but it looks great. Floyd Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whirlybird Posted March 6, 2018 Author Share Posted March 6, 2018 PM sent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Now you’ve got me thinking. I just tossed together an old ESCI H model, one thing led to another, and now I’ve got a kitbashed Nighthawk in the works. Any pointers on building the searchlight? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Khoa Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 Hi, Greetings from Saigon, VN Im building my own huey and im super intetested on the searchlight, i gueas it will make my huey look fantastic but im wonder where i can order such unique item, im looking around but no place have this for sale so Im really appreciate if you can share where/how can I order this searchlight, million thank you in advance Regards, Khoa Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whirlybird Posted July 22, 2024 Author Share Posted July 22, 2024 On 6/27/2022 at 9:13 PM, Khoa said: Hi, Greetings from Saigon, VN Im building my own huey and im super intetested on the searchlight, i gueas it will make my huey look fantastic but im wonder where i can order such unique item, im looking around but no place have this for sale so Im really appreciate if you can share where/how can I order this searchlight, million thank you in advance Regards, Khoa Sorry, have not seen a searchlight in 1/48 aftermarket or as part of a kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whirlybird Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 (edited) I've been away for a quite a while, did four car models (vintage hot rods) I really wanted to finish for local contests and then unfortunately got a diagnosis of cancer, right after I retired. Underwent two chemotherapy sessions and then I bit the bullet submitting to a bone marrow/stem cell transplant August 1, 2025. On the road to recovery, so I'm taking another look at finishing this UH-1D Huey Nighthawk and hoping I can do some airbrush painting...will have to be water-based acrylics as my doctor/oncologist says I have to stay away from solvents. With the searchlight/starlight scope previously done - time to look at the "in country" fabrications for the Vietnam era mini gun and 50 cal. mounts. Edited March 29 by Whirlybird Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Best of luck on the recovery. For paints you have Vallejo and Mission Model to choose from. I am sure there are a few more those are the two big names that I can recall and should be “easy” to source depending on location. Tamiya are acrylics but not water based. I have also seen really great paint jobs with big box store generic craft paints. Look forward to seeing your progress. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whirlybird Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 (edited) On 3/29/2025 at 7:14 AM, Tank said: Best of luck on the recovery. For paints you have Vallejo and Mission Model to choose from. I am sure there are a few more those are the two big names that I can recall and should be “easy” to source depending on location. Tamiya are acrylics but not water based. I have also seen really great paint jobs with big box store generic craft paints. Look forward to seeing your progress. Thank You very much- appreciate the good wishes and suggestions. I think any "clean-up with water" kind of paint will meet my health requirements. My doctor was concerned about solvents and petroleum-based thinners....which has put me off my Plein Air painting hobby as well. I've been swabbed with alcohol for blood work more times than I can remember during my treatment, - so a paint that uses alcohol to thin and clean up may be ok. I think Tamiya might work. Probably will have to use a mask or respirator when airbrushing just to stay on the safe side due to aerosol particles regardless. I unpacked an ancient collection of military style flat paints by Poly S and Gunze Sangyo and surprisingly - some of them still look useable! Found some older Testors Model Master Acryl paints too...."Waterwash Up/Non Toxic" as well. Unfortunately the Testors Military enamels have to stay shelved. I had bought a selection of Vallejo before this cancer got me - so I'm going to look over their line looking for military FS numbers - if any. The big selection at my LHS is a brand called AK....nice line of military colors but I know nothing about the chemistry. This may be a good conversation to start a separate post. Back to the project. I had amassed a pretty good file on Nighthawk Hueys and have correspondence with several Blue ghost team members on their armament setups so looking forward to getting back to work. Edited March 31 by Whirlybird Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whirlybird Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 (edited) Worked on the mounts for the mini gun and 50 caliber MG. There are many variations since most of them were fabricated in country. Edited April 2 by Whirlybird Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Floyd S. Werner, Jr. Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Looks great Floyd Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whirlybird Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 Thanks Floyd. Hope all is well. I was checking your website and had a question...now I can't remember. Think it was an "out of stock" or 'discontinued item" Do those ever come back in stock? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 Great looking details, I'm following along. Stay strong! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Floyd S. Werner, Jr. Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 19 hours ago, Whirlybird said: Think it was an "out of stock" or 'discontinued item" Do those ever come back in stock? IF it says discontinued, then no. Out of stock, then maybe. Depends. Some of the items the webmaster puts as out of stock are actually discontinued. Wasn't worth the hassle to have them change it Floyd Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whirlybird Posted April 5 Author Share Posted April 5 On 4/4/2025 at 8:37 AM, Floyd S. Werner, Jr. said: Ok Thanks...think it was a decal set...1/48. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whirlybird Posted April 5 Author Share Posted April 5 (edited) Doing a test fit for the scratch built mini gun and 50 cal. mounts, and the searchlight/starlight scope. Had to make some adjustments. Need to trim down plastic parts to scale. The position of each will be based on online searches, published resources and the contacts I made with former members of the Blue Ghosts. I understand the searchlight was often placed in the position further from the pilot seat, and in some cases a black curtain was put up to shield the pilots from light from the searchlight. Sources for the UH-1 Night Hawks for those interested: Squadron Signal: "Walk Around UH-1 Huey Gunships" p.43,45, 68, 69, 70 "Gunslingers in Action" p.14 "Huey" by Lou Drendel p.42-45 "Huey in Action" - Huey Night Fighters p.46, 47 Edited April 5 by Whirlybird Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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