Hi everyone , I have yet another UH-1 Huey related question .
In the pic below , the Huey is resting on those metal planking system , sorry I don’t know the correct name for it . Anyway the local hobby store has lot’s of different size’s of square and rectangluar plastic strut , so I was thinking of trying to build a similar diorama with one of my Bushranger Huey’s I’ve almost finished .
I’m also curious about the size/diameter of the refueling hose and pipe as if I can add those items to the diorama , I think it would add to the realism .
BTW , I think this is my 500th post , I’m quite pleased it’s about a Huey [8D]
i believe it’s called marston or mardston matting. commonly P-S-P perforated steel planking. i also have seen it in photo etch, in various scales(squadron? i think) i have gotten a few plastic versions from verlinden, they are okay as a simple base for an aircraft, but not great to make a dio out of.
I was browsing around Squadron.com but as yet I haven’t seen anything that looks like the Helicopter Landing Mat . I tried typing in different words and phrases including Verlinden , however nothing yet . I was just curious as to what it looks like in scale . I also forgot to mention that my Huey builds are in 1/72 scale .
I have never seen M8A1 Landing Mat in PE or resin. Verlinden and a few others do PE PSP in various scales though. Verlinden used to do a resin base w/PSP already on it for aircraft models in 1/72 too. I think you could use a little artistic license and go with the PSP.
The 1/48 base is 6.25" x 9.25" [160mmx235mm] for $5.46 . The 1/72 scale base is $3.56 but no size is given for the base . I’ll think about buying two , 1/72 bases . I just wonder if their glued down onto a frame/base or can I remove the base so I can also use some grass matting running along one side for my diorama ?
i have a few of those from eduard. the psp is molded in. all one piece, from edge to edge. if you’re ambitious enough you could probably scrape away some of the detail.
John, I bought two of those display bases and was real disappointed. In my opinion they would be hard to paint accurately and I thought after gettting them I could cut away the base and just use the PSP, but then you would have to drill a million holes. I would not recommend them because, one the detail is not that great and the base is not very interesting. I searched the web for over a week trying to find aftermarket PSP with no luck. I do wish someone would make some PE PSP and Steel Planking also. I wanted to mount my OV-1 on steel planking and build a revement around it. Bummer, I feel your pain.
It’s probably a good thing I held off from ordering the Eduard base from Squadron . I wasn’t 100% sure as to if was going to suit my idea for a diorama . So I guess I’ll buy some plastic strips and paint it steel color and settle for that . I’m glad I asked first .
I am very greatful for the help guys , thanks again [tup]
I have the Ed 1/48 PSP molding. The matting is pretty well defined, but too “neat”. I plan on making a mold out of it then casting it in resin and cutting it apart afterwards. When laid out it will (I hope) look more natural. It will also be thin enough so that the holes will be open.
