UH-1C Ft. Rucker trainer WIP

Modeling Subjects Helicopters
1

Charlie asked for it, so here is the beginning of a thread devoted to my first 1/35 Huey. I decided to build the Aademy/MRC UH-1C bacsically OOB to get a feel for the kit (I have about 7 more to really trick out). So far I’m about done with the cabin and cockpit. I just have to glue the roof and B pillars in place and then close her up. The only parts that aren’t from the kit are the troop seat seatbelts and the map case. Both are made from scalpel blade foil packets. I weathered the interior with pastels and sealed with clear flat. Perhaps I went a little overboard with the weathering, but what the heck. Anyway, we’ll see how it goes.

Ray

Before weathering:

After weathering:

2

I see you also whacked off those little tabs on top off the transmisson. I still do not know why they had them other than to make the case top sit higher.

She looking good and I hope you overcome many of the difficulties I had with mine.

Charlie

3

G’Day Ray,

The iroquois is coming along well! I was wondering if you had any more pics of the 1:1 Rucker trainers or any indicators of external colours I assume it’s standard OD but am chasing where the Orange panels start and stop, What particular shade of orange it is and perhaps a tail number or 2 do you know of any websites where I might come across this?

Cheers
Cairnsy

4

All trainers were painted in standard OD with International orange panels. I’m sure a Tech Order exists somewhere denoting what parts should be painted orange.

I know of no websites specifically for Army trainers. Best bet is to surf the web or watch modeling sites for private photo’s people will post. You could post and ask for photo’s, which might be your best bet

5

The Charlie models and old G model training birds used to be located at Lowe army Airfield. They parked in what we used to call the snake pit. If I remember correctly, the only orange on them where the cargo doors. The B models in the sixites used for tactics training often had the rear seats removed and had a custom made 55 gallon drum filled with water or sand (don’t remember) to simulate combat loads. It was a drum that laid horizontal on a custom made rack.

Charlie

6

Cairnsey,

I have photos of almost every type of Ft. Rucker trainer. Areyou only interetsed in Huey? Here are a few examples of Rucker trainers.

AH-1G:

[img]http://Photobucket

AH-1S:

[img]http://Photobucket

AH-1F:

[img]http://Photobucket

UH-1A:

[img]http://Photobucket

UH-1B:

[img]http://Photobucket

UH-1B alternate markings:

[img]http://Photobucket

UH-1H:

[img]http://Photobucket

6[img]http://Photobucket

[img]http://Photobucket

H-37:

[img]http://PhotobucketH-47:

[img]http://Photobucket

CH-54:

[img]http://Photobucket

H-19:

[img]http://PhotobucketH-21:

[img]http://PhotobucketH-34:

[img]http://Photobucket

OH-6:

[img]http://Photobucket

OH-13:

[img]http://Photobucket

OH-58A:

[img]http://Photobucket

TH-55:

[img]http://Photobucket

UH-60:

[img]http://Photobucket

As you can see there are many different trainers in many different schemes. I want to build one of each in 72nd eventually. Unfortunately, I don’t have any closeups of the UH-1C trainer.

Ray

7

The UH-1B alternate is the color I remember. I forgot about the orange on the nose. As they were repainted with the later Vietnam dull OD I believe they went with just painting the cargo door orange. This was done so ships could go back to the active fleet easier. All that needed repainting was the cargo doors. The less orange in the later years was due to the addition of the proximity warning devices which were unique to Rucker only. Thanks for the pictures Ray.

charlie

8

“The B models in the sixites used for tactics training often had the rear seats removed and had a custom made 55 gallon drum filled with water or sand (don’t remember) to simulate combat loads. It was a drum that laid horizontal on a custom made rack.”

Charlie,

I always wondered what the heck was in the cabin of this Alpha. Now I know! Thanks for teh info. It looks bigger than 55 gal. on this bird to me though. What do you think?

Ray

9

I went to 67N school (Huey Repairman) in 1970 at Ft. Rucker. I think I have a few pictures of some B or C model Hueys somewhere. I’ll try and find them.

10

Ray, could you just email me the contents of your hard drive, you always come up with great pics. [:D]

How much difference is there between the UH-1A and the B or C models? Would it be a major conversion?

11

Mel,

Please, Please ANY trainer pics you have, I’d love to see. That goes for anyone else who reads this thread. I have collected over 500 pics of Army trainers, but you can never have too many!

Aaron,

I e-mailed you the other day, I guess you didn’t get it. PM me if you get a chance. As for the differences between A, B and C model Hueys:

Alpha: short rotor mast, blade counterweights face down not up, different weights on the stabilizer bar, ammo chute exited forward fuselage instead of the rear like B and C models. I think the rotor blades had a smaller chord as well (maybe 15 inches), right handed fuel filler, nose mounted pitot, narrow chord symmetrical stabs, narrow tail.

B model: Same as Alpha except: taller rotor mast with blade counterwieghts on top of blade grips, newer style stabilizer bar, ammo chute exits the rear of the cabin (more forward on the left than the right), blade chord is 21 inches

C model: Same as Bravo except: different rotorhead (540 in C vs. 204 in B), blade chord increased to 27 inches, left handed fuel filler, roof mounted pitot, wide chord assymetrical stabs, wider tail cambered 5 degrees, support bar for the M156 universal weapons mount.

There are other differences that were variable, but those are the main structural ones. The 1/72 Italeri kits can be made into a nice B, but to make a Charlie model you’d need a 540 rotor. Cobra company makes one or you could steal one from a AH-1G cobra as they are virtually indentical (except that the cobra lacks the stabilizer bar on top). Making an Alpha just means some scratchbuilding, but making ANY accurate US Army bird from the Italeri kits will require some scratchbuilding. I hope that helps.

Ray

12

I agree they look bigger than 55 gallons and probably are. I just new everyone would know what a 55 gallon drum looked like. I do not know how many gallons they held, but that is what they were used for, tactical training before being shipped off to Vietnam.

Charlie

13

I was just joking about sending me your hard drive.

I haven’t received any email, I’ll send a PM.

14

Hey Mel I was just graduating from High School here at Rucker in 1970, the draft did not catch me until 71. I think, but could be wrong that by 69 the Huey’s pretty much just had the nose and cargo doors painted orange.

Charlie

15

Only trainer photo I have, taken at Ft. Rucker in late summer of 68

16

Grandad,

THANKS! Yet another scheme to add to the list. The tailboom totally devoid of any Army marking is interesting. Would love to see any others folks have. Great stuff!

Ray