Gotta say hollywood. when i was reading the book, it seemd to me by the way they talked that only two ropes were used. Perhaps the techniques have changed?
Another thing that might help with balance would be to put a peice of fishing line from the tait down through the base of the diorama. I don’t know if it would be sufficiently “invisible” but it might work.
Like I mentioned before go to the army website, then go to reference, and search for a manual about rapelling, in there there’s a whole charpter dedicated to fastroping, and it also shows a very good drawing of the fast roping attachment, and every single detail about fastroping from a blackhawk, now, Academy’s blackhawk does not have the fastrope attachment, it only has a wench which is not used during fastroping so you’ll have to buil the fastroping attachment…
The support in the ropes (especially if you use four ropes) would provide the most stability. Somewhere I remember someone used some “smoke” in the form of cotton batting to hide some support for a model once. At first I thought; the Somalis were onto the raid and were burning tires to create confusion and cover. Thought that would work but then remembered the rotar wash would disperse it.
Could you cheat a little and just make contact with a corner of a building and run a rod into a tail wheel or skid from a building? This would provide support and might be hidden by “perspective” or the “drama” of the scene. Although I suppose if you were willing to cheat a little you would use 4 ropes rather than 2.
I suppose another possibility would be to build it as a shadow box with a bright light overhead. Then you could just run a support rod from the back of the box to the helicopters. It would certainly be different but might provide some nice “find Waldo” opportunities with the diorama.
Mike
you could do two one each side http://www.pbase.com/image/8246923
http://www.pbase.com/image/7612727
check out this site for some piccys http://www.militaryphotos.net/
im sure there was four ropes on the blackhawks in somalia two each side
it was on the documentrys
Fellows…rode on quite a few MH-60s and I only remember their being a single bar across the roof supporting only 2 ropes, one on each side. Maybe 4 rope is a new mod? I would like to see pictures?
If you are doing a Hawk fast roping at one of the blocking points by the hotel, I would run a dowel out of a building behind it, providing support, and hidden by view 
Military modelcraft magazine had an article in which the author scratchbuilt the rope attachments (with instructions and photos) for the Academy 1/35 scale Pave Hawk. As soon as I locate it I can give you the issue info (date/issue number).
Hi ev’ryone!
I wanted to make a BH down Diorama too but then I changed my mind and transposed it into Afghanistan. (By the way can anyone help me with the Air Force Desert Camoflage?[?])
For the fast rope, I plan to use a thin steel bar and to cover it with a shoestring, in order to obtain two ropes (one on each door).
For the balance I was thinking of small lead weights.
Anyhow I found a lot of detailed pics on the net: just typed mh-60, blackhawk, etc. in google.
I bought the Czech Masterkits Crew and i had a lot of work to do since they are standard Army Air Crew and not Nightstalkers Crew.
Maybe you should take a look at eduard’s photoetched kit for Academy’s UH-60.
See you!
Depending on how long you want the rotors to spin, a really cheap, easy and light way would be to do something with rubber bands like in those rubber band-powered airplanes. but if you want it to spin for more than a minute, a motor would probably work. And are you thinking of motorizing both rotors?
The following link will take you to “Ted’s Corner”, the website of a British modeler - specifically to the pages detailing his review and build of Academy’s MH-60G. There you will find a description and pictures of his scratchbuilt fastrope attachment points on the inside of the cabin roof.
His build quality is awesome, and he’s seriously detailed the model. I’m sure all of you will appreciate it.
The following link will take you to “Ted’s Corner”, the website of a British modeler - specifically to the pages detailing his review and build of Academy’s MH-60G. There you will find a description and pictures of his scratchbuilt fastrope attachment points on the inside of the cabin roof.
http://www.scale-model-aircraft.freeserve.co.uk/pave-hawk/page17-sma.html
His build quality is awesome, and he’s seriously detailed the model. I’m sure all of you will appreciate it.
Sorry to have to re-post this, but I forgot to include the link the first time. Duh…
Hello, I am a UH-60 Instructor Pilot in the 101st at Ft Campbell. Fastroping only uses two ropes, one out each door. Normal rappelling uses four smaller diameter ropes two out each door. Nowadays rappelling is only taught at Air Assault school and hardly used outside of that. Fastroping is the preferred method because it is faster and the roaps are easier to cut away from the helicopter. thanks Erick
There’s no problem to motorize the copter, just have to get a vibrator motor from a pager and that will do the trick to get those rotors turning… good luck…
Considered doing this one myself, only in 1/72 scale. Italeri makes (or used to make) an MH-60K and an AH-6 in 1/72. Preiser makes modern US infantry in 1/72. You give up the potential for detail but the suspension problems aren’t as drastic. Use steel wire for both ropes and run an armature back through the fuselage and under the base to give stability and adjust your center of gravity. When I went through Air Assault School, we only used 2 ropes. I haven’t cracked the code for motorizing them yet. Too many complicated factors involving gears, shafts, voltage, balance, etc. If I can figure it out some day I’ll post the photos. I have some good photos of the choppers and diagrams of the rope hook-ups and can e-mail them if you’d like.
Doug
Actually, Hollywood didn’t do it in the movie. All the helos were from the 160th SOAR, the guys doing the fast roping were from the 75th Ranger Regiment, both of them the actual units that were in Somalia in '93.
Hey guys,
Anyone aware that Cobra Company does the decals for the 160th in all scales? Check em out at www.cobracompany.com
Cool stuff. There was a 160th bird at Ft. Hood earlier this week. Sadly all my film was used up shooting the Apaches there, but when I go back in September, if its still there, I’ll shoot some film of it.
This is an older post but it something I’m also currently working on.
I’ve been in the business (Military SAR) for the past 13 years. I spent 4 1/2 months in somalia (most of that in and around Mog). Here’s the no kidding dope.
Fastroping_done using 1 rope or two. I’ve NEVER seen or done it using 4 ropes. They’re attached to the H-bar support inside the H-60 cabin (runs throughout the rear ceiling) by means of 4 (two on each side) steel rings (painted red on our birds-HH-60G). We secure all kinds of crap on the H-bar mainly because space is a major consideration (aux. fuel tanks, hoist penetrator, litters, basket, etc…)
MH-60G_no more. All of the USAF H-60’s are HH-60’s. The 55th SOS being a AFSOC unit operated the MH-60G but has since farmed them back into the rescue community (now that USAF rescue has gone back to AFSOC it’s a moot point but anyway). The “M” desigantion is for AFSOC birds, hence M/HC-130P. Basically the same birds. We’ve got the same gear on our HH-60G’s. The 160th SOAR MH-60L’s are very similar, and the -K’s are somewhat similar, but their are subtle differences; some of which are very appharent (location of the radar, FLIR, RHAW sensors, etc…)
rappeling_still done but on a very limited basis. We usually use the hoist, but rappeling is occasionally an insertion option.
Gothic Serpent (Somalia) notes_Two ropes were always used; I never saw more or less. Every helo I saw or rode in over there flew aircrew doors removed, and cargo area doors locked back and open. The little birds (both AH and MH) flew doors off. Don’t forget the fast rope supports on the MH-6. Fastroping was done from MH-6’s in the Mog to deploy D-boys on occasion. These supports were mounted ablove the rear crew door openings, just above the planks.
DML did produce the AH-6J in 1/35 but it’s out of production. I was fortunate enough to have someone respond to an earlier post (request) and have one copy, but I’m having a tough time locating any additional copies. I’ve heard that ALL of DML’s -500/-530 1/35 models contain many of the same basic parts for the -500D (mainly round nose, t-tail, etc…)…Can someone confirm this. And if ANYONE has a 1/35 DML AH-6J they’re willing to part with, please let me know.
Salbando,
Are 160th SOAR helos (MH/AH-6’s and MH-60’s) painted black or still Helo Drab with OD markings? I can seem to only find photos of Helo Drab, but have been told they are black as well.
To Heavy Arty,
Sir,
To me they are all (-6, -60, -47) very, very dark drab, but not quite flat black, even though it appeared very dark (especially in very high light conditions). Every one that I’ve seen since (most recently MH-60L) were helo drab with the yellowish drab markings (United States Army, etc…). In fact the markings are hard to make out most of the time, except for the chalk markings I saw in Mog. The MH-60L’s I saw were parked close to several AH-64’s and it seemed to me like the color was very close, if not the same (except for the markings).
Hey Sal,
Did you seen any Apaches in action in Mog? If so, care to talk about it? Drop me an email at Cobrahistorian@yahoo.com
Thanks!