Hello all.My name is Chris and I have a modelling problem.I am currently working on the MRC/ACADEMY Heavy Hog.I have ordered some detail sets for it from Eduard and while I wait for the Eduard sets to come in,I am going to do a little work on the old classic 1/24th scale Monogram UH-1B. I am wanting to scratch build the correct seats for it, among other things.The problem is, I don’t have any real clear pics of the seats.Anyone have any they would be willing to post on here?It is my understanding they are a bit different than the UH-1C seats. Thanks, Chris
This is from the UH-1 TM
Chief Snake
Chief,
Wouldn’t it depend on the era of Huey Chris is modelling? Here are pics from the cockpit of a couple of UH-1B’s my dad flew in in 1968. As you can see they are the newer armored type. The one you illustated above is the older type with red cloth cushions. I don’t know when they were all changed from the older style to the newer one.
Ray
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Edit: Sorry Chief, I see Chris is modelling the older type seats based on his other post, but I’ll leave these up anyway, since they show the armored seats pretty well.
When the armored seats became available, they were retrofitted to some UH-1B’s. The earlier seats had a field designed “armor” that was made of locally obtained materials and attached to the sides of the seat in the thigh area. Panels were also fitted to the doors at shoulder height.
Chief Snake
I had planned on scratch building the earlier UH-1B seats but I think I will scatch build prototypes of the early seats and the retrofitted armored seats and see which I like best.Also will depend on which UH-1B I chosse to portray.I am just killing time on this project until the detail sets come in foe the UH-1C, as this is gonna be a very, very long drawn out process,hopefully the UH-1 Gunship walkaround I ordered with the 1/35 detail sets will also have some good UH-1B reference material.Thanks again, Chris
Not all a/c had the un-armored seats changed to armored seats, somewhere I have a photo of me in a B in the late 70’s sitting on the old seat.
Grandad,
I guess I should have specified that I meant Vietnam Hueys. I figured that stateside Hueys wouldn’t need armored seats. However, I’m sure there were B models that finished the war with the unarmored seats, but I thought that most in country birds had them replaced.
Ray
Thanks Grandad.I first have to find which b-model I want to model and go with what the reference pics show.I don’t have to much B-model info now,so I am finding it difficult to know which seats to go with.I am going to scratch build both types of seats and then make resin copies of the kind I intend to go with.Only thing I know for sure is the the seats in the kit will not do!Thanks, Chris
Oops! thanks Ray as well! Chris
Chris,
I finally got to all my Huey pics and I thought you might like these of the seats in two UH-1B’s at the Army Aviation Museum. First, however, is a comparison pic between the armored and un-armored seats. It is from TM 55-1520-220-10 for the UH-1C:
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The next two images are from UH-1B 60-03553, one of the two TOW Hueys that were in country:
Here’s the armored seat (sory about the angle):
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Here is the back bench seat as well (just in case you’re interested):
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The next set of pics is part of a SUPER WALKAROUND I did of UH-1B 60-03554, an exhibit at the museum. This bird is a hodgepodge of parts, but the seats are at least good representations of the older type.
Copilot seat, left side from the rear:
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Copilot seat from the rear:
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Copilot seat from left side:
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Both seats with console in between:
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Details of seat bottoms (note map case behind center console):
Seats visible through front windshield (note deployed rocket sight on pilot side):
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Hope those are of some help.
Ray
Hello Ray.I don’t know what to say exceptWOW! Thanks so very much for sharing this info wih us all.One thing I am finding out is that at least where I am concerned there is a shortage of good info on the early UH-1B seats and everything else for that matter.I even thought of starting a new post dedicated to info on the UH-1B only.I have searched as many of the previous posts in the Helicopter part of this forum as I can stand ,still with limited results, so you have really made my night.Please continue if you have any more and want to post them, Thanks again ,Chris
Chris,
Check the Vietnam Huey thread. Any pics that I posted of my dad and his aircraft are of UH-1B’s. I try to give captions for all the pics I post that include the model and any pertinant info that I have. Drop me an e-mail and we’ll see what I can do about getting you more pics. Otherwise, ask particular questions and I or one of the other guys on the forum will do our best to answer them. Welcome to the wonderful world of Huey!
Ray
By the way, I forgot one seat type. Here is a pic of one of the single seats that were arranged in various configurations in some Hueys:
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[Here is a series of pics from a seat that sold on E-bay. The seller was nice enough to provide a walkaround of the seat:
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Hey again,to all who might know, although this question has already been answered partially, I would like to know if it was a mandatory thing that the UH-1B original seats were always replaced as they are delivered in country or were they replaced state side and then delivered, or were some even left with the original seats and just modified by what was on hand?Whew!Sorry guys for all the many questions but I believe in gaining as much knowledge on a subject I am building as possible and I am on a bit of a budget .Just blew my remaining savings for models on eduards 1/35 UH-1C bIG eD SET!Thanks and maybe someday I can return the favor! Chris
Chris,
The short answer is that early in the war, even birds in country had the un-armored seats. as Chief Snake already mentioned, makeshift armor was fashioned as a stopgap before th armored seats were introduced. Based on my experience, most late war B models had armored seats. Maybe Ed (Snakedoctor) can tell us whether they were installed at the factory and when. I was under the impression that many were retrofitted with armored seats, but later birds came in country with armored seats installed.
Ray
Hey again Ray.Thanks for the welcome and it is a wonderful world isnt it!!??I have been wanting to super detail any number of the Hueys I have for years and I am just now aqquiring the skills and resources to do so.I am mainly a builder of 1/35 AND 1/32 scale but have had the 1/24 scale Huey for years now and just recently got another copy of it and look forward to detailing it out to the max, as well as the several MRC UH-1C hogs and frogs I have.Not to mention the Revell 1/32 UH-1D/H. For one of the 1/24 B’s I will do a early Army scheme and I think a Seawolf B would be great for the other one since FireBall has the Navy decals available.Thanks again all, out. Chris
Chris,
Here’s a little inspiration. This is a early Vietnam pic of a 118th Bandit ship (UH-1B) at Bien Hoa:
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This bird sports the M16 armamant subsystem with quad M60C’s (the barrels have been removed) and 7 shot XM157 7-shot rocket pods (the earliest ones were white, but most were OD green). Also, note the gloss finish and high vis markings. If you’re modelling an early B model, make sure you include the FM antennas on the nose. The best thing about this pic, though, is that you can see the old style un-armored seats. There is also an M60A on a Sagami mount in the door. If you like this scheme, I have a few other pics of Bandit birds from this photo set. It was donated to the Army Aviation Museum by a soldier with the last name of Reese.
Ray
WOW Indeed!
Great set of pictures there Ray [tup]
Thanks for posting them.
Andy.
(PS. Welcome to the Forum Chris [:)])
Hello all.Yes Ray I would be interested in seeing any and all UH-1B photos that you would like to share.They one you posted is most excellent along with all the others you have posted.Thanks a million!Chris
Thanks for the welcome skypirate.I love it here! Chris
Chris,
Here are the other 118th pics from the Reese collection that I have. The 118th consisted of three platoons: 1st platoon: Scorpions, 2nd platoon: Choppers, 3rd platoon: Bandits (guns). Enjoy!:
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This is the same ship as the one above. I just love how the Huey was used to make shade for naps! Check out the weapons scattered about. Is that an M1Garand I see there?!
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Nice shot of the bandits art and the nose of the aircraft. Notice the early rocket sight in the pilots window.
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A 118th psy-ops bird. This really belongs in the Unusual Huey thread, but what the heck. The scorpion on the doorpost indicates that this bird is from the first platoon of the 118th (Scorpions).
A B-model minus armament coming in for a landing. I can’t tell is this is a 118th bird or not, but notice almost all high vis markings are gone (including US Army). However, in the background you can see a high vis armed gunship. This was definitely a time of transition!
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This is the bird whose tail can be seen in the preceding picture. Notice the narrow chord tail fin and symmetrical horizontal stabs characteristic of the B model. You can also see the 204 rotorhead with it’s vertically placed counterweights and the nose mounted FM antennas.
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This pic shows off the Fuel filler cap and 204 rotorhead quite nicely. Note that the placement of the fuel filler cap on the right side is the one sure-fire way to tell a short fuselage Huey was originally a Bravo model. The Charlie and Mike models both had the Fuel filler on the left side. to prove this is early VN, check out the H-37 Mojave airlifting a Huey in the distance!
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Pic of another Bravo. Note Mojave is getting closer!
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A great pic of the high vis Army and National Insignia markings on the tailboom of a Bravo.
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Some 120th “Razorbacks” ships. Note the guys taking a siesta under the fuselage. This is definitely a candidate for the Unusual Huey thread. Check out those rockets! I believe this bird is armed with the M6 quad M60C system and a variation of the “Mighty Mouse” 2.75 inch rockets that were used on A models when they first come in country. It looks like there are 12 tubes slung under the guns. Very odd and I don’t know the exact nomenclature (if there is one) for this setup. For more great Razorback pics and info check out: http://www.angelfire.com/az3/razorback947/contents2.html
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Great pic from the back of a Huey showing the M156 Universal mounts to great effect and the M16 Armamant subsystem as well. Note the XM157 rockt pods are OD green on this bird, not white as in the earlier pic. Once again some guys are getting a little well deserved rest.
Bandits working out their next move. Note the ship in the background has white XM 157 pods. as I said, these pics were taken during a time of transition.
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Loading up for an assault. The absence of D models on the flightline and all the unarmed Bravos make me think these pics are late '64 or early '65.
Check out the water cooler on the pilots floorboard. Is this something you could lagitimately put in a Huey? Does anyone know if these were regularly carried onboard say C and C ships? This pic also shows a nice view of the doorframe and the bright yellow inside the frame.
Last, but not least, here is a pic of a Bandits Heavy Hog ship. Sorry it’s a bit dark. Here is the 118th website with lots of great pics and info:
http://www.118ahc.org/Index.htm
OK, I’m going to bed! Gotta drive 6 hours back to Baton Rouge tomorrow and my brain is fried! Ray