…in my best Robert Shaw ‘Jaws’
“You all know me…and what bird I’m working on…”
In hopefully a Humbrol or Testors…are there any GOOD colors for the Coast Guard helos out there?
AND!
In real life I’m pretty sure that these birds are glossy if not a hight gloss…but in scale I’m thinking that a semi gloss finish should do the trick?..don’t want that ‘TOY’ look now do we!
“Here’s to swimming with bow-legged women”
Troy.
I think you are probably on to something with the semi-gloss for that “in-scale” look. What with the effect of light refraction or whatever it’s called. [%-)]
Randie [C):-)]
Do this chart look right to you?
http://home.online.no/~lawford/xrl/model-paint-codes.htm
Testors does have an Acrylic ‘Coast Guard’ orange but I don’y like Acrylics…too whimpy!..I could just go to the Hobby shop and compare that one to an other
…and should I be careful about Helo colors being different than ships?
Hay Papa-Echo-64, FS12197 is the numbers I’ve seen for Coasty Orange. Hannets extra color, and Aquaious Hobby color ( Acrylic)shows Red Mader as a match to this. although I haven’t tried it yet.
You could go with the Chevrolet engine red and a gloss white and then overspray with a matte clearcoat. Somebody out there makes one. But, I can’t think of who it is right off the top of my head.
Randie [C):-)]
Hey Guys,
Testor’s Competition Orange is a perfect match for the Orange. (yeech) .
The Blue for the racing stripe is close to a Testor’s French Blue.
As for the High Gloss, Semi Gloss, Absolute Flat finish, depends on the geographic area you are trying for.
High Gloss in the Great Lakes area, Semi Gloss for the salt water areas, and almost flat for those stations that leave the airframes out side year 'round, ATC Mobile comes to mind.
Before we get our panties in a bunch, the airframes are polished every seven days as per the (old) seven day inspection requirements if conditions allow i.e. not on the back of a ship, but the hot southern sun plays havoc with the paint, as does a salt water environment.
Don
Thanks Don!
My 1/35 Helo would be on the coast here in Washington so the semi-gloss would be perfect …I guess.
I figure for the decals sake starting with Gloss coats and finishing with clear semi gloss should do the trick?
I have seen some pics on the net of a large helo that the USCG uses ( or use to ) of a Bird that looks kinda like a Super Frelon…what is that helo?
The Super-Frelon looking bird was the illustrious HH-3F “Pelican”, a derivative of the USAF’s HH-3 ‘Jolly Green Giant’ which was an evolution of the Navy’s SH-3 ‘Sea King’.
COOL! then my Super frelon will not be too out of wack!
Thanks RotorheadTX [:D]
Did the USCG stop using those birds?..if so when?
Hey Troy!
There are some pics of a USCG HH-3 in Squadron’s In Action volume of the Seaking.
Randie [C):-)]
WOW… I got rather lucky yesterday.
I was at the USS Intrepid Museum, innocently photographing their AH-1J up on the flight deck, when I heard the familiar sound of rotors…
I turned around and looked… not up… but straight across the flight deck, and saw a beautiful MH-68 Stingray beginning a low and slow circle around the ship. It was no more than 100yds away from me, so I quickly began snapping pics of it. When he slowed to a hover 75yds off the port side of the ship, I got a clear view of the '60 gunner in the back and all the bumps and stuff on the helo… I’ll post pics as soon as I get em developed.
That, coupled with trailing the HH-60J flying down the Hudson on my drive down to NYC, It was a Coast Guard-filled day!
Later all!
I would say that you were in:
HELO HEAVEN!! [:D]
PE-64,
Yeah, there was just something about photographing a Stingray from the A/C’s seat of a Cobra… [:D][:D][:D]!!!
I wonder if there is any way for a regular dude like myself to get a FREE ride on a helo?..I know I can get a ride along with my local Police dept…but what about helos?..any chance at all?
I haver had the opp to ride in a helo …not even in the Army [:(]
For a free ride in a CG helo you have to do something really stupid on the water and get in serious trouble.
The downside is you could die, but that never seems to stop people anyway.
You could even try to ride a snowmobile across a nearly frozen lake, that is a favorite passtime this time of year in Michigan.
PE64 Where are you in Washington?
For some cool stuff on USCG Aviation go to http://uscgaviationhistory.petro.org/
Don
Thats funny cuz I wuz thinking of saying something like “other than doing something stupid!” LOL!
North of Seattle… in aviation heaven! …north of the main Boeing field, The Museum of Flight and south of the North Boeing plant, Pain Field and the aircraft restoration center…lotz of COOL stuff to see! Too bad the U.S. Army Chinook teams moved down to Fort Lewis a few years ago…I miss hearing those rotors and huey’s pounding the neighborhood!
I was stationed in Port Angeles in the early 80’s
LOVED IT!
Don
Port Angeles is one cool town!..there is so many old homes there…very interesting area…only been there twice but I liked it!