Hello everyone,
Has anyone ever attempted to include either Academy's USMC 1/48 CH-46 or CH-53 helo in a diorama with Marines disembarking from the rear ramp or repelling(difficult project) from them. I have already built the CH-46, but did not include the pilots.
Ray

Not that I have ever seen. It sounds very good. Where would you have it set?

-Mike

Not that I've seen either. But you'd need the 1/35 CH-46 (which is what I think you meant, as the CH-53 is 1/48). I also am pretty sure that there are no 1/48 modern Marines so using the Sea Stallion would be pretty difficult.

Jeff

Hello Mike,
I was a Marine from 83-87 with 2 trips overseas with the 11th Marine Amphibiuos Units.
We participated in Cobra Gold with the Thai Marines.
We were aboard US Navy Ships(USS Pelleluie and USS Belleau Wood both helo carriers). We were helo'd from the ship...inland...past the coast and droped off on some hills. I had a small camera and I was able to take some pics of 46's and 53's droping off my fellow Marines after I was dropped off. Unfortunately many years have gone by and I have lost only that set the pictures(4-6pics). Therefore I'll have to rely on my memory. I do have pics from the air, countryside and the surrounding hills.
Ray

A 1/35 CH-46 would be awesome. However, it doesn't exist as of now. Academy does the CH-46 in 1/48 as well.

Sounds like a great dio idea. It would be huge though, especially if you used the -53.

Hi Jeff,
You are corect both of Academy's helo's(46 and 53) are in 1/48 and I believe Dragon only makes 1/35 figures. So I guess this project will be on hold.
Ray

Hi HeavyArty,
After looking at some old pics I did find 3 pics of myself and 4 other Marines running toward the helo to board it somewhere in Camp Pendleton. We conducted a recon patrol after being inserted by the helo.I think there are many 1/35 Huey's out there...But which variant to use?
Ray

If you are looking for 1/35, Panda does a USMC UH-1N. Cobra Company has some nice update sets to bring it up to late-model (about 2000-ish) standards. Academy has a really nice AH-1W in 1/35 as well. Cobra Company again has a set to bring it up to more recent NTS standards too. Those are about the only USMC helos in 1/35 that I can think of.

There are lots of USMC helos in 1/48 though; pretty much every model. Propaganda Kompany has 1/48 modern US figures that would work as some Devil Dogs. They also have helo pilots, doorgunners, and weapons and gear sets in 1/48. They have the same in 1/72 as well.

Thanks for the clarification. It was late when I wrote it and I could have sworn one of those was in 1/35.

Jeff

Dragon recently came out with the UH-1D I believe. Complete with crew you could probobly do a Vietnam scene or do some scratch work and make it a more modern scene with the newer versions of the Huey.

Sounds like you had a great career! As of now I my MOS is in armor, but I am still thinking about service with the infantry. Big tin-cans make for big targets. But someone's got to do it!

-Mike

Dragon's "new" UH-1D/H is the Panda kit with some extra PE and the crew figures. It is the same basic kit as the UH-1N, just without the N dual engine cowl and nose.



Panda UH-1N (Both versions come with USMC decals as well.)



The only issue with the UH-1D/H for a Vietnam Marine helo is that the USMC didn't use any D/H models in Vietnam. The USMC version Huey was the UH-1E. It was based on the UH-1B/C models (short fuselage version) with USMC specific specs and modifications. Some of these USMC mods included a rescue hoist on the starboard side and the TAT-101 turret with dual M60 MGs under the nose.





UH-1E w/ TAT-101 turret.



To build a Vietnam UH-1E, you could start with one of the MRC/Academy UH-1C models, a Cobra Company UH-1B backdate set, and some sheet styreen for adding the USMC specific parts.



The primary helos for the USMC in Vietnam were the UH-34, CH-46, and CH-53. The Uh-1Es were mainly used as gunships and a few were used for troop transport.

UH-34D


CH-46A


CH-53D