Subject: Re: Huey submission
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Ben Nielsen" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:14:01 -0700

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

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.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: Ben Nielsen 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2008 12:19 PM
  Subject: Huey submission

              1:35 Scale Academy UH-1C Huey Gunship
                                  "Shark Platoon"  
  by Ben Z. Nielsen
  --------------------

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  Fellow modelers of ARC, we meet again!  This time around I've built the first of many Hueys in 1:35 scale.  This one is the old Academy mold.  Actually, it's a pretty good kit.  Stock details are excellent.  The only real gripe I have is with the overall fit of the fuselage parts to the cockpit/cabin... Oh that was fun.  The windshield is also a pain, but with some effort and a bit of patience, it can be overcome.  I had to trim down the instrument panel quite a few times in order for it to fit right.  The last part of this model that is just rediculous is putting the sharkmouth decal on.  Those of you who have delt with this know what I'm talking about.  Make sure you have a lot of decal solvent and time!  This kit took about six months to build, but since I had other kits on the table... well you know how it goes :)

  Aftermarket parts and markings -

  Believe it or not, I didn't use any aftermarket parts except for some copper safety wire, a clothespin, and parts from DML Dragon's Nam series helicopter crew.  I didn't much care the kit markings, so I decided to build the "Mexican Express" which is shown on the cover of the Huey walkaround by Squadron Productions.  I had originally intended to use the quad gun M-60 weapon system and I even bought the kit from Cobra Company, but I decided to go with the XM-134 minigun mount instead (I wanted to be as close to the real aircraft as possible)  
  I plan on using the quad gun set for another huey down the road.

  Click on images below to see larger images

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  Getting Creative -

  I wanted to display the pilot windows open so I just cut up the glass and left the middle piece out so it would look like the windows were rolled down.  The ammo crate in the back is the original part from the kit, except I added some real wood.  I didn't have any more "wood" paint, so I just shaved off thin pieces from a normal wooden clothespin and glued them to the assembled box.  And I really like the way it came out.  I filled the box with frags, smoke grenades, and ammunition.  I also made some spent shell casings and put them on the deck along with the ammo cans.  The visor and sunglasses on the crew chief and gunner were made from squadron white putty and painted over.  I tried to detail the figures as much as possible.  If you look close you can see the gunner is holding a smoke grenade ready to pop smoke.  It should be noted, that the confederate flag marking was used by a different crew chief on a UH-1D from another squadron, the Dolphins I think.  I just liked the idea so I used it.  Moving on, I scratch built the helmet mikes and the wristbands and watches from wire and tape.  I had to rearrange the co-pilot's gunsight because it wasn't at the right angle.  I positioned the miniguns at the same angle as the gunsight so it would look more realistic, as if the co-pilot were searching for a target.  I wanted the rocket pods to look like they had been fired, so I drilled out the tips to show that rockets had indeed been dispensed.  The last thing I did was hand paint the "Mexican Express" and the Texas state flag markings.  I got the stars from a spare decal sheet.

          
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  Conclusion -

  Lots and lots of super glue was used.... end of story.  For some reason, the kit didn't include the pitch change links for the main rotor.  I just scratch built two rods from plastic.  I don't what happened to this particular bird.  It's hard to say if it survived the war or if it was lost in combat over the jungles of Vietnam.  I wish I knew, but there is very little information on the aircraft of it's crew.  I did find one picture of this helicopter taking off, on a mission perhaps.

  I really enjoyed this model and I look forward to doing about six more.  Starting with a Navy Seawolves gunship.  Every helicopter will be different in some way: different weapons, crews, markings, open doors, etc...  I hope they turn out just as good, if not better than my "sharks" bird.

  Enjoy and Happy Modeling,

  Ben

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  Photos and text © by Ben Z. Nielsen, Squadron Productions, and courtesy of 174th AHC's websight

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