Is a current/OIF USN HH-60H Rescue Hawk painted overall Light Ghost Gray, Dark Ghost Gray, a combination of both, or something else, such as Gull Gray? Any help would be greatly appriciated. Thanks, Pete Brown
Most are overall Medium Gray, FS# 35237.
Some are painted in the same light gray/dark gray scheme as most other current USN/USMC helos. Lighter gray is Light Ghost Gray, FS# 36375. Darker gray is Medium Gray, FS# 35237.
Gino, Thanks for the quick response! Now I can start moving forward with this project. Pete
Pete,
Don’t forget that the bely from nose to tail should be regular light grey. I don’t have the paint number because currently I am deployed in Iraq with an HH-60H squadron. The belly is light grey followed by the light ghost grey/medium grey combo. Iv’e used dark ghost grey for the top before to simulate sun bleaching. but if you are buliding something that is newer medium grey is better. Out here our birds have several touch ups. Some of our birds have black tip caps we got them from the Army. There is a bird with a stab center box that we had to paint because it also came from the Army. If you want I can try and post pictures.
IYAOYAS
Hey Firehawk, Thanks for that information. Posted photos would be appriciated if you have time to do so. You’re probably a little busy over there. Pete
Pete,
If you look at the back of the Italeri 1/72 scale HH-60H you’ll find a great paint guide for the HH-60H. good luck with your project.
IYAOYAS
Firehawk, With the information I’ve gotten from you, Gino, and other sources, I think I’m set. I"m diong my HH-60H in 1/48 scale, using the Cobra Company conversion kit. I believe it is going to turn out looking great thanks all of the “tech support”. Thanks again for the assistance. And a big “Thank You” to you, Gino, and all who serve in our military! Pete
Pete,
I am a Chief Corpsman (FMF / flight medic type) in the Navy. While not 100% technically accurate, I have found that if you are modeling an operational ship that is constantly in use, such as our birds in Iraq, Light Sea Gray (FS 36307) looks great with heavy weathering and produces a more faded appearance.
You can get some great weathering tips from the photo gallery at the site for the USMC Combat Helicopter Association. www.popasmoke.com
“CASUALTY EVACUATION- Give a shout and combat aircrew will pull you out!” [tup]
petebuilt- I finished a 1/48th HH-60H using the Cobra Company set a few months ago. If you’d like, I can provide some comments and suggestions and I have an album of in-progress pictures as well. Good Luck, it’s a fun project. Phil
Phil, Any input would be appriciated. Yes, I would like to see pics of your HH-60H. Thanks, Pete
FMF Doc, Thanks for the tip. I will check out the Lt. Sea Gray color as well as the site. Pete
Ok, here’s what I learned. Overall, the Cobra Company set is outstanding. The only issues I had were that the Left Hand Extended Pylon (LHEP) is not shaped correctly. The CC LHEP is too flat. When you look at it from the front, it should be parallel to the deck where it attaches to the helo, angle upward, and then the outboard part where the bombrack is should also be parallel to the deck. I ended up cutting mine into three pieces to correct it. Let me know if this doesn’t make sense. Second, the center console or instrument panel is too tall, and if assembled as they are, you have to position it too far aft and it leaves a gap between the base of the windshield and the forward part of the instrument panel. I did a lot of trimming to get them to meet. Last thing was my own dumb fault. I tried to be clever and use the CC left side pilot door since it had really neat interior detail, but I did not use the right side CC door since it would involve cutting the other door out. This worked fine until I realized (way too late) that I would have to use the vacuformed CC door window on one side and the Italeri door window on the other. So my helo looks a little different on the left and right sides.
Here is my album of photos:
http://photobucket.com/albums/v485/par429/HH-60H
If you have any questions, I’d be glad to try and answer them. Good Luck.
Phil
Very sharp looking HH-60H you’ve built there Phil! Thanks for the heads up regarding the CC parts. I built an HH-60J Jayhawk using CC’s kit. Many of the same parts as the HH- 60H. However, I missed the LHEP being too flat. I 'll have to check that out. I did catch the center console problem and corrected that. Both of my pilot doors will be open ( as I did on my “J”), so I’ll be using both CC doors and vac windows. Are your M-60’s from Meteor? I robbed a couple from a Minicraft UH-60 kit. I’m also using an exterior PE set from Eduard and a CC SH-60 PE set as well. There are a few different items on each that can be used on the HH-60H. I threw a couple of bright orange rescue bags in the cabin to add some interest and color, and a few gunner and crew seats w/ PE belts. So far it’s coming along fine. Seeing how well yours turned out gives me some inspiration! Thanks again for your help. Pete