I was wondering if there are any kits out there for the UH-1V. I have been out of model building for a few “decades” and don’t recall ever seeing a Medevac Huey.
UH-1V is a modified UH-1H equipped with radio altimeter, DME, glide slope indicator, and hoist. According to the references I have available it was an “unofficial” designation given to the modified H models. The first unit to receive the UH-1V was the 397th Aeromedical Detachment of the New Hampshire National Guard. I doubt that there were any obvious external differences. In the one photo I have seen the only odd bit I can see is an antenna on the roof with a forward rake of approximately 30 degrees with a “whip” trailing aft parallel to the cabin roof. The hoist is probably a factory installed job
(photo on p. 32 Squadron Signal In Action # 75). Tail # NHNG over 0-01864. Three position air ambulance marking on cargo doors and nose with 397TH at junction of
red cross arms. Full color National Guard emblem on pilots’ doors. Yellow skid steps.
Wish there were more. Good luck.
As an afterthought, you may want to write to Bell Helicopter/Textron and request a Product Reference Guide. I got one years ago and it is loaded with a wealth
of photos that detail bolt on equipment.
I’ve just gotta ask: Why would a helicopter need a glide slope indicator?
Gary,
They need it for “power” instrument approach while flying IFR. Everybody knows a helicopter doesn’t “glide”. Just drops like a home sick brick! You just pray for rotor inertia and a pilot who practiced his autorotations! Also the Victor models had some “standoff” plates attached to deflect the heat signatures from the screens on the engine cowlings and at the bottom where the oil cooler exhaust was. Don’t forget the “toiet bowl” on the exhaust can of the engine.
Sorry, but “V” models never served in an environment where “toilet bowl” IR masking was required. Glide Slope indicator was most likely associated with the “Medevac”
avionics added by “electric guys” at Lakehurst, NJ.
These are picky points, but are only important if you want to model a machine operated by a unit that flew “V” models. If you want to model a really significant
“Medevac” bird… go for some 15th Med, !st Cav or any of the 101st "Dustoff " units.
Many markings and crews with huge BA____________s
Never say Never! The 872nd Med Det had them in Desert Storm! http://www.872med.com If they saved lives every one was significant!
I crew and have crewed UH-1Vs for years. We have some with the toilet bowls, most without. There were many medivac units that were in Korea, Germany and Desert Storm that had the IR kits. They were required for all army hueys overseas during the 80s to now. They are still hueys overseas, such as the Siani and CMTC in Germany. Uh-1Vs are not just medevacs now. Many slicks that are still around are UH-1Vs because these are the “newest” models in the army system.
OOPS!!! Sorry, my reference material on the UH-1V stops in the mid '80’s. Forgot about Desert Storm assuming, incorrectly, that UH-60’s would be used because of the additional power. During the Vietnam War one of the problems we encountered was the power degradation in “hot, high” environment. Multiple casualty hoists were tough
and as weight was added it got increasingly difficult to maintain a high hover.
I did not mean anything by the “significant” role comment. I flew Medevac missions
as well as AH-1G’s during the Vietnam War. I much prefered the Cobra to the two weeks I spent in the right seat of the H model with the big targets on the nose and sides.
Snakedriver,
No sweat GI! That’s why the forum is so great. Lots of talent and “wisdom” (otherwise useless info) out there. We still had the Charlie model gunships in the 174th in 1971. I have a buddy who flew Cobras two tours in the 20th ARA , the Blue Max I believe.
Happy Holidays!
Mel,
Would you be able to forward my email address to your Blue Max friend? One of my long term projects is a history of Blue Max aviation from 1966-2003 and I’m trying to get as many personal recollections as possible for it. For my current Apache project I’m covering a lot of C/1/229th Blue Max ops in Afghanistan.
Thanks!
Snakedriver,
Are you who I think you are? [:D]
cheers!
Yup!!!
The only UH-1D Medevac kit was an old ESCI kit # 8218. It was white with the markings for the Brooke Army Medical Center. With a small amount of scratch building you could make it a “Victor” model. Probably be able to do the same with Italeria UH-1D. I don’t have one of those. Didn’t like what I saw in the “November” kit. Doesn’t look like we will ever get a good UH-1D/H/V kit in any scale!
Snakedriver,
Fantastic… thought I recognized the writing style. Gonna be home Jan 3-12. Up for a beer?
More to add…The army is taking hueys out of mothball and putting them back into army service. I think they are goingto stand up more medevac units for stateside missions like the one I am doing. Dave