Jabba29 Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) The opening shots of Op Desert Storm were made by several AH-64A Apaches when the aircraft took out 2 radar sites, shutting down Iraqs eye on the outside world looking towards Saudi Arabia allowing allied aircraft to fly through without being seen. I am hoping to make a model of a MH-53J which guided the Apaches to the correct area so that they could do what they had to do and of course an AH-64A. I am going to be making the MH-53J which a cross kitting of the Airfix and Italeri models. The Apache will be made with an Academy kit. I have the tail Serial numbers of the MH-53Js from dstorm.eu, but I am having difficulty finding the tail Serial numbers of the Apaches. The one that I would really like to make is the one in which one of the crew members say "party in 10" as a count down to the starting of the shooting. I would be grateful for any help with this. Edited January 4 by Jabba29 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LDM Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 There's a profile drawing in Squadron's AH-64 Walk Around book that shows "Rigor Mortis" which was flown by Lt. Col. Cody leading the mission. Its serial was 86-08977, which was 68977 on the tail. I'm not sure of any of the others. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jabba29 Posted January 4 Author Share Posted January 4 Thanks, that is the one that I do know as it is on dstorm. Unfortunately it has some sort of nose art in the name which I am unable to reproduce in decal form Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 I did a MH-53J by kitbashing Italeri-parts onto the Airfix-kit some years ago. If you are interested, shoot me a message! HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jabba29 Posted January 6 Author Share Posted January 6 Thanks, I wll keep that in mind. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PeepingBear Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 (edited) Squadron Signal's AH-64 Apache Walk Around book (# 5552) by Jonathan Bernstein (himself a former(?) ANG AH-64 pilot) shows a profile of 68977 "Rigor Mortis". The picture is a bit small, but one can recognise a painting of Iron Maidens' Eddie as BoB pilot on the vertival tail. The aicraft's name is not viosible on the starboard side. So far I have been unable to find photos of "Rigor Mortis" on the WWW and there seem to be no decals, which is a shame. Having the angry Eddie pilot portrait (https://www.google.com/search?q=iron+maiden+eddie+pilot) reproduced as a custom-made decal should be possible, but without knowledge about font, size and placement of "Rigor Mortis" this feels insufficient. BTW, you are aware about the asymmetric loadout used to extend the flight range of the Apaches of TF Normandy? One external fuel tank, 2 x four AGM-114 Hellfires and one 19 shot Hydra 70 FFAR pod. The fuel tank is of the same type as used on H-60 Blackhawks. Edited January 11 by PeepingBear added information on fuel tank Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jabba29 Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 Thanks for that info. Yes I was aware of the load, but I was unsure of what type of fuel tank was used. Also as far as I know the tank was fitted to the inboard left hand pylon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PeepingBear Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 Hello Jabba, yes, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/1091apache/ confirms your information "left inboard". https://www.jalopnik.com/desert-storms-opening-shots-came-from-this-daring-helic-1753466057 This was already disussed on ARC in 2014, makin it even sadder thet there are no decals yet: Another thread about the fuel tanks: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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