Revell OH-13H Build (my first one!)

Modeling Subjects Helicopters
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Well, there isn’t any time like the present.

My first build on the internet.

The venerable Revell H-13H “MASH” kit. hasn’t been a Bell 47 build here in over a year so probably time to do another.

Just cracked the box a few days ago, and everything is there except for the decals.

Yeah it’s been a shelf sitter for way too long.

Ordered the decals from Revell yesterday and they are telling me 6-8 weeks to arrive, probably right about time to apply them.

I’ve read most of the previous builds here going back the last four years to head off some issues that others may have resolved already and pick of the references that are so very valuable in this business.

This is going to be a standard US Army OH-13H. (Bell 47 G-2) Probably around 1960ish or so. I’ve discovered some photos of this particular aircraft from then in US Army service and also Austrian, Greek, Spanish, Thai and British service. I’m pretty sure I have the type down and know the particular details that make this an “H” model.

Will be posting the results of my reference search (with photos) in the next posting. And one thing I noticed in the build threads, there is a part that is a bit mysterious as to where it goes and how it fits. In step 1, Part # 37 Antenna Base, it mounts to the left side of the tail boom but is very unclear as to how. I noticed that most just leave it off.

Well, I have the references to show where it goes and what it does, and that it is specific to the “H” model only. None of the prior “G” and subsequent “S” models of this bird have it. Only the “H” model.

Starting out on the road, Going to be fun…

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It’s a nice kit to build. I did one a few years back on here, and it built up very nicely. I think I deviated just a bit from the instructions on the engine area a bit to improve the appearance and ease assembly after painting.

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One thing, do not use MASH decals, this is not a Korean War vintage bird, it is a OH13 G, Vietnam era.

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The H-13D was the Korean War version. The easiest way to tell is the fuel tank(s) and the skid downtubes. The D had one long, flat fuel tank that went across the fuselage above the engine and seperate, squared off skid downtubes. The MRC/Academy kit is a proper Korean war H-13D MedEvac, and a really nice kit. It is way better than the Revell kit.

The Revell kit is either an OH-13G or H, depending on which engine it had. The G/H had the two separate fuel tanks and skid downtubes that were one piece and rounded. It also has a small elevator at the tail. All of these features are present on the Revell kit.

The MASH decals in the kit are not correct for an Army helo though. Army MedEvacs did not have MASH on them anywhere. The decals are supposed to represent the Bell-47s seen in the MASH tv show. However, the ones in the show were actually H-13Ds, with side panels on the engines with MASH and a caduceus on the side panels.

It would be more accurate to build the Revell kit as an unarmed observation bird, as that was their most common use during the Vietnam war. That is why they were OH-13s (OH = Observation Helicopter).

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It’s an “H” it has the Lycoming VO-435 Engine, the “G” had the Franklin engine. (you can tell by the rocker covers)

I am aware.

Vietnam medivac was known as “Dustoff” and was accomplished with primarily UH-1D’s, I need the decals mostly for the insignias and markings/numbers.

I could always inquire to someone about decals… {chuckle}

NICE Image! That bird is from The famous Flying Circus Aviation Unit Headquarters & Headquarters Company 1st Brigade - 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) The bird itself is an “S” model not an “H” Reference here. Lots of images there of the pictured birds. (“S” models only and none that I could see with the troop designation on the bubble not to say it wasn’t there, such were usually field painted and varied widely)

Read the reference link posting, when the Flying Circus arrived in Nam the 1st Cav were already equiped with OH-13S’s (you can tell an “S” from an “H” by the turbocharged engine and larger tanks in a pan shaped carrier. Also the steel rotor) But this image does confirm that the “S” model carried the 2 meter antenna on the longer tail boom, the “H” models had a shorter tail boom.

Also the '67-'69 period was when the “S” models were in Nam, the “H” models were there in the '62-'67 period. (they transitioned to OH-6’s in mid '69)

Thank you for the information. It gave me new avenues to research.

This is an image of a fairly brand new OH-13H from USAREUR at Templehof Field in 1960, Note the antenna at the tail…

Original image…

It has the correct engine and fuel tanks. Cockpit seating is correct as is the instrument cluster, the landing light is in it’s proper place centers on the cabin. And the red nav location light is way back at the end of the boom, the strobe is under the middle of the fuselage and side lights are on the skids. Also, note the two star placard on the instrument column, this was a general officers personal aircraft.

This is probably the bird I have to replicate as it most closely matches what is in the kit. BUT, it also has the cabin heated air system and doors which the kit doesn’t have. (note the two vent holes in the doors)

I will have to scratch out those somehow.

The Cabin heated air system…

The system exists on both sides of the aircraft.

Ok, to settle where the mystery part goes on the kit, here is another European museum bird with a clearer shot of the antenna tail mount…

And of course the full pic…

No cabin air on this Agusta built bird formerly of the Austrian Army…

Another angle…

Note the side Nav light on a pylon on the cabin side. This was also found on some later built US Army birds. (also note that the doors on this bird have two plugged holes, that was to balance cabin airpressure from the air system, on this bird they are closed off as not needed.

Just doing my research as I always do when building. I prefer to build equipment that looks newer, so I usually wind up looking at museums for clean images.

Again, THANK YOU GUYS!

Your a virtual treasure trove of information. and inspiration…

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Good deal. It looks like you have done your homework and it should be a great model. I can’t wait to see it built.

Noted on the S model. I quickly picked a pic from Vietnam without looking at it closely.

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Thank you, I’ll be putting glue to plastic soon, still have a few details that need to be nailed down… Gonna take my time with this one…

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Well, research is just about done. Was having an issue with which bird I wanted to represent, the typical Liason bird similar to the General’s bird pictured here…

Or a Ft Wolters, Texas primary trainer bird pictured here…

The Ft Wolter bird most closely represents the Revell Kit’s parts and it’s layout. (parts positioning) In fact, it would only require some small, minor additions over the kits basic parts to build. (with a little accurization, closest kit build you can do almost straight outta the box, minus the litters)

But of course, (even though I said I was going strictly OOB) I’ve decided to build the General’s private taxi above. Basically the same aircraft but needing a lot of corrections from the kit. Like the FM radio aerials, oob they are mounted right where the Ft Wolters bird shows them, 2nd verticle station aft the main tail boom union. The General’s bird shows the same part at verticle station 4. (most H-13H’s had it at verticle station 4)

Just litte details that set the two apart. My primary hold up was getting good references to the fuel crossover/carb connection. it sits above the intake side of the engine behind the mast and is something that would be distinctly seen from above. But there are no good pics of this one feature on the net.

So I purchased the Illustrated Parts Manual for the Bell 47-G2. (the base model for this aircraft, these parts will not change from the civilian version to the military version)

And it gave me this…

Not only do I get the crossover, I get the metering valve and filter cannister, their mounting bracket and how they mount to the airframe! (and a lot of other details I never thought I would ever get to see. 386 pages of details, half of them like the drawing above) I also get the complete diagrams of the weatherization/cabin heated air system! (which was an optional feature that seems most liason birds had)

Now working on color references. Overall Olive Drab, mechanicals and inner panels/bulkheads Light Ghost Grey, cockpit interior Dark Ghost Grey. Details are what details usually are. (and the engines were painted on most of these birds Light or Dark Ghost Grey about 50/50, probably depends on where it was maintained)

Seems like I’m going to have to wait on the decals, to finish, I can obtain passable insignias aftermarket, but the all important details you know the yellow warnings and spec info that were usually plastered oll over military aircraft, the microscale revell decal set is the only set that has them for this bird. I certainly hope they get here…

Well just wanted to let everyone know that I’m still on it…

I haven’t gone away yet… [bnghead]

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If your doing a Vietnam era bird, shouldn’t the cabin interior be gull gray, like other Army aircraft?

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Yeah it’s kinda a tossup, Light Gull Grey FS 36440 or Gull Grey has a blue base where Ghost Grey has a white base.

I have a Dark Ghost Grey FS 36320 which seems to have a similar blue base to Light Gull Grey. Both are bluish in tint.

My ancient eye’s have a problem telling the difference…

But I will test them out against each other…

My Light Ghost Grey is FS 36375 which is right on the money…

My real problem is I cannot find any Testors flat enamel Gull Grey in any shade but dark anywhere I look, even online…

So I’m adapting…

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I’m pretty sure that Dark Gull Gray has been the standard color for US cockpits from the late 50s until the 90s when NVGs came into widespread use by aviators.

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OK, well I’ll give it a shot to see what it looks like then. I’ve always used Gull Grey or Light Gull grey for interiors in the past. (and just can’t find any now) If it’s a bit dark I’ll just add a drop or two of white to lighten it up some… thanks.

It’s all in the look anyway… Dark Grey or Green canvas seat cushions? I’ve seen both.

I’ve also seen some drab brown ones (Kahki?) also.

Any suggestions there?

Also, any idea where one can find decals like “Emergency Exit” in yellow and small enough to resemble scale? I’m going need them for the scratchbuilt doors. Will assemble them as individual letters if I have to, they are a standout detail on the birds with doors.

Update: According to cybermodeler’s color reference, US postwar (to current) general cockpit color is Dark Gull Grey FS 36231 (scroll down US colors are at the bottom)

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Just for inspiration, I’ll post a pic here of the bird I did, I combined Revell’s kit with MRC’s to make the chopper from the old tv series The Whirlybirds. I used the ip and skids from the MRC kit, blance is Revell. Decals were made by Speedway Decals.

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Fierball Modelworks has a great set of Vietnam Huey decals that include yellow stenciling. You can probably use a bunch of the other markings as well. Joseph’s decals are excellent and I highly recommend them.

Check them out here: http://www.fireballmodels.info/fm_D04.htm

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Beautiful bird Lee, I always loved those whirly birds when I was a kid…

Nice build. Something not military that’s definitely different.

And assuredly, an inspiration…

Thank you. (and thank you for the tip)

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Thank you, some of those are just what the doc ordered…

(I do have a “Slick” in my future also along with a 1B gunship)

Nice to see someone doing 1/35 scale aircraft…