Hajo L. Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 I´m currently working on a 1/72-scale "Miss Clawd IV" (Hugh Mills OH-6A). I read in Squadron Signals "Gunslinger" that Mills painted a ""set of gold-crossed sabres" on the front canopy of his first aircraft. Any ideas if he continued that tradition on his later rides, including "Miss Clawd IV"? HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCAFFAN Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 (edited) Re Miss Clawd IV If using the Italeri kit you need two decal sheets as much of the markings were on both sides such that one sheet isn't enough. A number of years ago I posted a photo of mine on a website that Mr Mills visited at the time and he liked it but told me that the skids (not the cross bars, just the skids) were painted flat black. I corrected mine with a brush and some flat black paint. I also cut out all the doors on the kit, hung a M60 in the starboard rear doorway and put Mr Mill's personal M16 between the pilot seats (from an early Hasegawa Black hawk kit that included troops with weapons). For something really different Mr. Mills once talked of being scrambled when he was on the way to the shower such that he flew that (short) mission in his bathing suit and flip flops but that would be a hard figure in 1/72.......Not sure of original question but most markings of that type in Vietnam were usually yellow, not gold and don;t recall such on Miss Clawd IV.... Edited August 14, 2018 by RCAFFAN Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted August 15, 2018 Author Share Posted August 15, 2018 Thanks, I already have two decal sheets! 🙂 The current status of my Loach is more or less like this: As for the swords: I haven´t seen any of them on all pics concerning Miss Clawd IV, but sure would have looked cool on her... HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCAFFAN Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 Looks good so far.....Yes you really need several of the Italeri decal sheets all the time. You need two sheets worth of green pinstriping to do the Italian customs heli scheme properly too..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FM-Whip Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 On 8/14/2018 at 6:32 PM, RCAFFAN said: Re Miss Clawd IV If using the Italeri kit you need two decal sheets as much of the markings were on both sides such that one sheet isn't enough. A number of years ago I posted a photo of mine on a website that Mr Mills visited at the time and he liked it but told me that the skids (not the cross bars, just the skids) were painted flat black. I corrected mine with a brush and some flat black paint. I also cut out all the doors on the kit, hung a M60 in the starboard rear doorway and put Mr Mill's personal M16 between the pilot seats (from an early Hasegawa Black hawk kit that included troops with weapons). For something really different Mr. Mills once talked of being scrambled when he was on the way to the shower such that he flew that (short) mission in his bathing suit and flip flops but that would be a hard figure in 1/72.......Not sure of original question but most markings of that type in Vietnam were usually yellow, not gold and don;t recall such on Miss Clawd IV.... Hugh must be getting old. Most photos of 17340 "Miss Clawd IV" in RVN show it with black skids AND skid legs. It also had side exhausts late in the war. John Hairell Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hugh mills Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 No....hugh is not getting senile! On 17340, Miss Clawd IV the struts and skids were all black. 340 never had sabers. The sabers were an ill fated experiment in Apr/May 69 to jazz up my bird. 249 was the first with sabers and two days after it was painted I hit a tree and took out the art work with the bubble. I have pics of that somewhere. No Outcast with teeth (C/16 Cav 1971/72 had sabers, just teeth. I did not fly a mission in a bathing suit! That would be stupid. I flew it in my skivvies. OD green t shirt and boxers. Took my Nomex and boots but never had a chance to put them on. happy to correspond with modelers on helo issues. Hugh Mills John Harriel's younger brother hmills16@aol.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SinisterVampire319 Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Thanks for responding Hugh! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Hi Hugh and thanks for coming by this forum!! Above it was mentioned that your ship ended up with those anti-strella side mounted exhausts. Was wondering if you might have any pictures of her in that configuration? Regards, John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loach Driver Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Hi Hugh. Further to John's request, can you recall approximately the year and month when the anti-strella exhaust system started to appear in Viet Nam? Thanks. LD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hugh mills Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 The Easter invasion of 1972 introduced the SA-7 Grail (Strela 2) to the theatre. We were briefed on it at Can Tho in May of 1972. Initially the toilet bowels for the Cobra and Huey were fielded and Scouts were given Very pistols with Green and White star clusters marked US Ord. 1943 and told to have the gunner shoot one at a Strela -2 if we saw one. There were two concerns. First the Strela's speed is Mach 1.4. Secondly, when lounging around Muc Hoa one afternoon I picked up the pistol and loaded a star cluster. The third one actually fired. Stupid plan but a an interim plan none the less. We just flew lower and closer to the bad guys. SA-7's were not a factor for low flyers. The SA-7 hit I Corps in April and the principal result was forcing most helos to nap of the earth (not then a "thing") and others like FACS above 5000 feet where they could be engaged by other Divisional and Regimental ADA. During the BAt 21 op there was a huge goose eggs right in the middle of I Corps below the Z and a huge cease fire in place just to get Hambleton out. It was a mess. Short answer to your question...about May/June 1972. The anti Strela kits for the OH-6 arrived about July/August in IV Corps. The some of the last casualties our unit suffered was a CH-47 shot down by a SA-7 on 18 October 72 taking some troops to Saigon to DEROS. Out last scout was Outcast crew chief/gunner Sp/4 John Satterfield shot down and killed 28 Dec 1972, days before the cease fire. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted August 21, 2018 Author Share Posted August 21, 2018 (edited) 16 hours ago, hugh mills said: No....hugh is not getting senile! On 17340, Miss Clawd IV the struts and skids were all black. 340 never had sabers. The sabers were an ill fated experiment in Apr/May 69 to jazz up my bird. 249 was the first with sabers and two days after it was painted I hit a tree and took out the art work with the bubble. I have pics of that somewhere. No Outcast with teeth (C/16 Cav 1971/72 had sabers, just teeth. I did not fly a mission in a bathing suit! That would be stupid. I flew it in my skivvies. OD green t shirt and boxers. Took my Nomex and boots but never had a chance to put them on. happy to correspond with modelers on helo issues. Hugh Mills John Harriel's younger brother hmills16@aol.com Hugh, it´s a pleasure and a great honor to have you answer the questions! I read your book several times, and my "Miss Clawd IV" is meant as a kind of tribute to you guys. Actually, she is part of a "Pink Team-build" I´m doing at this moment. I have chosen AH-1G BuNo. 16369 "Squatter Swatter" to accompany "Miss Clawd IV", since several sources said that this Cobra was flown by your favorite "gun-pilot" Dean Sinor. I also found statements that you flew that aircraft. Could you give us some details? My guess is that you and Dean propably both flew "Squatter Swatter", since only Crew Chiefs sticked to "their" bird. By the way, I hope this Hugh L. Mills in 1/72-scale finds your approval...: 😉 HAJO Edited August 21, 2018 by Hajo L. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FM-Whip Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 13 hours ago, 11bee said: Hi Hugh and thanks for coming by this forum!! Above it was mentioned that your ship ended up with those anti-strella side mounted exhausts. Was wondering if you might have any pictures of her in that configuration? Regards, John Here's a photo I found several years ago: https://vietnamwar.govt.nz/photo/hughes-helicopter-chi-lang-1972 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FM-Whip Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 21 hours ago, hugh mills said: No....hugh is not getting senile! On 17340, Miss Clawd IV the struts and skids were all black. 340 never had sabers. The sabers were an ill fated experiment in Apr/May 69 to jazz up my bird. 249 was the first with sabers and two days after it was painted I hit a tree and took out the art work with the bubble. I have pics of that somewhere. No Outcast with teeth (C/16 Cav 1971/72 had sabers, just teeth. I did not fly a mission in a bathing suit! That would be stupid. I flew it in my skivvies. OD green t shirt and boxers. Took my Nomex and boots but never had a chance to put them on. happy to correspond with modelers on helo issues. Hugh Mills John Harriel's younger brother hmills16@aol.com Sheesh - can't even spell my name right....:-) John HAIRELL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted September 8, 2018 Author Share Posted September 8, 2018 I posted pictures of my finished "Pink Team" here: HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.