OK, kids, lets see if this works. I think this is my third official post and its my first attempt at attaching some imagery. Please don helmets and goggles for your own safety.
Anyhoo, here’s an update on my current Black Hawk Down modelling binge. The AH-1J is 99% finished, the Delta guys just need some weathering and the MH-6J MELB is under construction (yeah, yeah, I know, the MELB didnt exist in '93, but I dont care, once I get the four figures glued down you wont be able to see the new seats anyway.)
The pilot figures are a melange of parts (DML: Vietnam helo crew legs, DML Delta Somalia torsos, various arms, and Kiowa Warrior pilot heads, all cloned in resin). The Delta operators are all from the DML set, with 4 seated figures assembled from various combinations of legs, and will be used on the MH-6J.
That’s an impressive array of figures, and they are all really well done. Any secret to your success? The Killer Egg is looking good, too. Thanks for sharing your progress with us.
Looking real good! Nice group of figures too! One question? The shoulder harness looks to be attched to the seat belt attach point. Shouldn’t they go to the center at the seat belt buckle and latch point?
I’m not sure but the helmets on the pilots ( I know they are the heads off the crew figures off the Kiowa Warrior kit) look a little dated (1980’s vintage helmets that look awfully close to the Vietnam era flight helmets that were used by the US Army Aviation Corps during armed escort ops in the Persian Gulf during the Iran/Iraq war in the 80’s) weren’t the helmets used in '93 a little more bulkier and had night vision goggle brackets on them because I believe they used NVG’s in Somalia during Night Op’s. Oh and how do I turn DML’s MD-500 into a MH-6 Armed transport helo.
I have NO idea. I’ve never been in a helicopter myself, and these guys are the first pilots that I’ve installed that had belts.
I only had the Cobra Company seats to go by when I made the straps (cheap champagne bottle foil cork wrap cut into belts). I couldnt really tell how they attached or where they went, so I just winged it.
Yeah, they looked bigger in the movie, too. I read a post in here some time ago that said the Kiowa Warrior pilot helmet was close enough to use. For my purposes, its fine…“close enough for government work.”
Not sure I can help you on the MD-500 to MH-6 conversion question…there are far more knowledgeble people here than I who can answer that.
Well, if I told you, it wouldnt be a secret, would it? [:)]
I used Polytek 1:1 RTV molding material and Alumalite polyurethane plastic resin, on this batch of figures, anyway. . I’ve used Alumalite’s RTV material, but it mixes at 10:1 and I’ve never been able to get the proper mixture and eventually the molds crumble. Polytek molds stay pliable much longer.
The Alumalite casting resin is ok, but I prefer Polytek’s resin (I can get the little Alumalite casting kit at my local hobby shop, but if I want the good stuff I have to drive over to the west side of Cleveland, and I dont have a valid passport to go across the Cuyahoga)
Cobra Company sells a conversion that’ll work with either the AH-6J kit or a DML Hughes 500. You can find it here at: http://www.cobracompany.com/35003.htm
well the AH-6J that cameraflage built is the same as the MD-500. The MD-500 has the T tail so does the AH-6 and the MH-6. Does anyone know what type of seating arrangement there was in the MH-6 was it bench type canvas seats or did the troops sit near the edge of the doors and what types of weapons did the MH-6 carry externally.
The troops sit on external seats that attach to the weapons plank. The MH-6J doesnt carry any weapons, except for whatever weapons the crew carry. I dont know about interior seating arrangements, if any. I believe it was Grant who said that the MH-6J sometimes carried a recon dirt bike in back. If its plausible, I plan to have a Delta guy sitting in a squat position inside the back area, holding onto the fuselage…this will keep me from worrying about what can be seen back there. My question is, do the guys sitting on the outside of the aircraft have any seat belts?
Sorry I don’t have any pictures I could send you of the typical seat belt and shoulder harness installation. My scanner isn’t working. If you can just move the seat attached part of the shoulder harness and shorten it so the edge is even with the lap belts in the center it would be fine. Looks great, at least you are building!
Actually, it was Sal who told me that they used to haul dirt bikes around (on the outside) sometimes in Somalia (wanted to give credit where credit’s due)
The subject of seat belts came up here a short while back. Sal, Gino or Avus one can confirm this, but I think the riders do have a strap they can latch onto with carabiners.
BTW - I just took a real good look at the ammo belts and they look great!
