MD500 Defender to MH-6 conversion

Modeling Subjects Helicopters
1

Hi all!

I’m new to the forum, and currently busy converting a 1/48 Academy MD500 Defender to MH-6 Little Bird.

Here are two pics of the fast rope / rappel bars that I added over the weekend.

Please, all comments / suggestions are welcome.

Cheers
Quintin

2

Never seen fast rope attachments on am MH-6J. The MH-6J version is with troop planks on the sides to carry 4 Operators or Rangers on. It is not really practical for fastrope insertion, without the planks, you can only carry 2 guys in the back, not including gear. It would get quite cramped.

Here is my 1/35 Dragon MH-6J.
http://www.hkngallery.org.uk/hkngallery.nsf/9e7858703c56bfb280256b960044cd7b/a7fdb4775cbc299480256f5300655119!OpenDocument

3

I have some pics w/ the fast rope attachments in place, along w/ the planks. It’s is a AH-6J and has the “No Fear” on the nose and no#629. I can’t seem to post pics here so if you want these pics leave an e-mail and i’ll send them to you.

4

The movie Black Hawk Down, all the little birds has the fast rope attachments to them as well.

5

Looks good Quintin. I’ve thought about fast rope mounts on my MH-6 myself.

Bracketeer, I’d like to see those pix. I’ve also got web space that I can post them for you to show here if you like. Send me an e-mail thru the forum

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Hey ya go Trigger74 my e-mail.
bracketeers@yahoo.com

7

I’d love to see the pics too. I haven’t seen them. I wouldn’t put too much into Hollywood as a referance, they are usually not correct.

8

Yeah… but the pics are real and as for hollywood, the birds came from the Army. 160th provided the helicopters and pilots ( some who where even there ) to be part of the movie as did the 75th rangers who did the fast rope scenes.

9

I’ll agree with Gino about the accuracy of Hollywood, but that’s once instance where they got it pretty close (albeit with some help from Washington). A great example is the rescue scene of Dan Bush from the Wolcott crash site; that’s actually Keith Jones flying the MH-6 in that scene, just like he did back in 93.

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Okay, here are the shots Bracketeers sent me this afternoon of an MH-6J with riding planks and fast rope insert rig…

Thanks Bracketeer!

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You may also be interested to know that the MH-6J’s had the provision to carry two SOF dirt bikes (one on each side) via mounts on each side of the aircraft. At least back in 1993, they were enduro types manufactured by Harley-Davidson. Low center of gravity, kevlar bags on each side of fuel tank and in the rear, IR lights, etc… We used the same types of bikes to run around Kismayu and Baido (Somalia).

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Were they similar mounts to what QpH1029 has fashioned, or a totally different design? Ya see, I went and ordered two copies of DMLs Light US Infantry, the set with the bike. Since Avus already has some operators on the planks of his -6J, and they were $6 a pop I figured “Why not?” Now, if a 6-Pac carries two bikes, are the bikers along for the ride inside, or is that more of a delivery method?

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Grant,
I’ve thought about doing the same thing.

Now, if memory serves…when I saw them in use the planks weren’t mounted and there was only the flight crew onboard. The bikes were mounted such that the tires were close (if not on) the skid tubes. Again I preface this with a cranium missing a small amount of gray matter (thanks to an aircraft incident long ago). That and WAY to many feet-face PLFs.[:D]