Here is my latest build. It is a UH-1H MedEvac Huey form Vietnam. It started life as a 1/35 Panda UH-1D/H model. I corrected some of the deficiencies in the kit, namely a lot of holes for incorrect antennas for a Vietnam helo. I also used the excellent Cobra Company UH-1 Detail/ Correction Set, #3511 to replace much of the detailless and out of scale interior parts.


Most of the cabin interior detail is scratched built. The crew seats in the rear were modified from UH-60 troop seats, the door gunner seats were widened and new, in scale legs were added. The litters are scratched from sheet and rod styrene and lead foil. The hoist is a modified piece from the Academy MH-60G kit, as is the jungle penetrator. Pilots are from the DML Vietnam Helo Crew set. Seat belts are all made from lead foil. One crewman will be in the back and another in a surprise position when completed. More to come later.

Here it is so far:






More here.

Let me know what you think.

I really like what you've done with the interior. Is this kit better for a vietnam version or one of the Academy kits? I've wanting to build one but I'm not sure which kit to get.

Always enjoy seeing your work.

very nice and the attention to details..impressive. i got one too but i'd build it out of the box nothing more..if only i'd known you're a helo specialist..guildelines from you and the other guys really makes a diffrence in a project. can't wait to see it done. thanks for sharing.

any walk-around on the same helocopter? thanks again.

Thanks guys.

Either the Academy UH-1C or this one UH-1D/H are good for vietnam. Both versions were used there in different roles. The Academy one is a better overall kit though. You don't need the Cobra Company upgrade for the Academy C model to make it look good.

No walk-arounds per say. I have just a bunch of photos of different helos from Vietnam and other eras. There are many UH-1Hs still flying in this same basic configuration.

Thats really good Gino! I love all the details and it looks perfect. Any chance you could share some of these reference pics because Im hoping to do a dio with a medivac pretty soon-I have some Kirin Gi's dragging their wounded buddy and I want to do a scene with one just landing being loaded ready to fly off again-seeing you work has inspired me to want to start this project.

Excellent work!

Thanks. Sent you a PM on the pics.

A very interesting, and as allways, good looking project. What kind of figure will you use for the medical personel? I guess a Vietnam Medevac chopper had a army surgeon or trauma nurse aboard?

Erik

Thanks Erik. Nope, no nurses or Docs were aboard. The standard was one enlisted medic and the crew chief who was a helo mechanic. The figures will be in standard flight suit, Chicken Plate body armor, and helmets like the pilots. These were basically air ambulances to evac the wounded back to the field hospitals. Not really much more than basic stabilization was performed to allow the wounded to make it to the hospital. This was the very early days of MedEvac, it was still in its infancy.

I like all the corrections you have made. Going to be a very nice Huey when finished. Would make a great feature hint hint :-) Really nice Gino.

hi gino, one curious question..are the panda's tubular frames on seats really that thick? i'd build a pavehawk which has tubular frames kind a thin and fragile to build. thanks for clearing this.

Yup, Panda's kit seat frames are overly thick, so much that they would be about 6" thick in actuality. I replaced the legs and cross supports (which are missing) on the gunners' seats and the new horizontal support bar from the CC set fixes that. If you are using the troop seat, the legs and sross supports (again missing) should be replaced as well. I actually Used UH-60 seat parts to make the individual crewchief seats. The UH-60 parts are pretty much in scale.

You can see the original size of the legs in this pic.


And compared to mine.

Here are a couple pics of the helos I am basing it on. They are from the 57th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), "The Originals". They were the first dedicated Dust Off unit. Anyone have any more info on them? Looks like the stabilizer tops are red. Any other markings that I may be missing?

Briljant! I love this chopper! great subject. Are you planning a diorama with this one? I'll keep an eye out for it!
Keep it up.

Mark