Subject: Re: Gallery Submission - The First Littlebird
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "JohnandLisaIrwin" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 02:28:35 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: JohnandLisaIrwin 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Saturday, October 19, 2013 8:31 AM
  Subject: Fwd: Gallery Submission - The First Littlebird

  "1/35th AH-6C - The First Littlebird" 

  by "John Irwin (11Bee)" 

  Please include your ARC Discussion Forum Name with your submission 
  -------------------- 

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  The AH-6C was the first in a long line of US Army Special Operations "Littlebird" attack helicopters.  The Charlie-models were converted Vietnam-era OH-6A's taken from a National Guard unit and upgraded with multiple modifications to allow low level night flying.   These were flown beginning in 1980 by the then-secret Task Force 160, which eventually evolved into the much more widely known 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, AKA "The Night Stalkers".   Although there are plenty of pictures out there of later Littlebirds, there was next to nothing in the public realm on the C-models,probably due to the unit originally being highly classified.  All that changed when some personal pictures of "GT" (one of the first Night Stalkers) were posted here on ARC.    There pictures and much more are included within the pinned thread in the Helo Forum here on ARC. Well worth the time to check them out as they are pretty much the best resource for this subject anywhere online or in print.  The only other information I obtained for this build was a nice detailed picture of the instrument panel, received courtesy of a Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted to the friendly folks at the US Army Special Operations Command!

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  The model is the Dragon OH-6A.  This kit has been around for many years and is a nice one.   The parts for the modified exhaust, tail cone and some other bits came from the Dragon MD500 kit and were generously donated to me by another ARC member, "Arkhunter 2002".  I used a few left over bits from the Eduard PE set, the only other non-scratchbuilt part was a very nice resin mini-gun from Werner's Wings.  The decals are Cobra Company's "SOAR Markings".  Everything else was scratchbuilt or came out of my spares box.   The complete list of modifications is much too extensive to include here, feel free to check out my posting in the Helo forum for all the details.   http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=188856&st=0&p=1766366&hl=first%20littlebird&fromsearch=1&#entry1766366.   Essentially, I pretty much rebuilt the instrument panel, added all sorts of avionic boxes in the cockpit / rear cabin, added all the additional antennas, the starboard side rocket pod and it's mounting arm.  I also included a few 5 gallon gas cans strapped down in the back.  The pilots would often land in a clearing and refuel themselves to extend their range a bit further.   The finished kit was painted a mix of Testors Interior Black, Flat Black and darkened Gunship Grey to replicate the unique black finished used by the Night Stalkers.   The last touch was to cut the rotor blades and fold them back, as if to prepare my Littlebird for rapid deployment in a C-130 or C-141.  Rather than spend money to develop a custom steel brace for the folded blades, the Nightstalkers simply took a sheet of plywood and cut it up with a saw! 

          
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  This build is dedicated to "GT" and all the past, present and future members of the 160th SOAR.   

  "John Irwin"

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  Just delete any of the boxes below you don't need.....it's not important to include them.....they are there to give you an idea of the finished article.  It is best to limit your article to no more than 60 or so photos, so the finished webpage won't take too long to open.

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