UH-1N Twin Huey 1/35

Post by **bobbewieter** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:53 pm

Finally I got my kit for this awesome looking GB! And I started it today.

I will be building the UH-1N Twin Huey in 1:35 scale from Panda Models.

Here is a youtube clip to get in the mood

[youtube]-QNlebUDb8U[/youtube]

Pictures from the kit itself:

As far as my experience goes it looks like a nice kit (but I'm not a really experienced builder

)
Don't have any remarks on the kit for now maybe once I'm further in to the build. The only thing I can say is that it looks pretty big

Some information about this iconic piece of machinery:

The Bell UH-1N Twin Huey is a medium military helicopter that first flew in April, 1969. The UH-1N has a fifteen seat configuration, with one pilot and fourteen passengers. In cargo configuration the UH-1N has an internal capacity of 220 ft³ (6.23 m³). An external load of 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) can be carried by the UH-1N. The CUH-1N Twin Huey (later CH-135 Twin Huey) was the original version, first ordered by the Canadian Forces.
Based on the stretched fuselage Bell 205, the Bell 212 was originally developed for the Canadian Forces (CF) under the designation CUH-1N Twin Huey. Later the CF adopted a new designation system and the aircraft was re-designated as the CH-135 Twin Huey. The CF approved the development of the aircraft on 1 May 1968 and purchased 50 aircraft, with deliveries commencing in May 1971.

The US military came very close to not procuring the Twin Huey. The purchase of the aircraft for US military use was opposed by the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee at the time, L. Mendel Rivers. Rivers took this position because the aircraft powerplant, the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T was produced in Canada. The Liberal Canadian government of the time had not supported US involvement in Vietnam and had opposed US policies in southeast Asia, as well as accepting US draft dodgers. Rivers was also concerned that procurement of the engines would result in a negative trade deficit situation with Canada. Congress only approved the purchase when it was assured that a US source would be found for the PT6T/T400 engines. As a result the United States military services ordered 294 Bell 212s under the designation UH-1N, with deliveries commencing in 1970.

Unlike in the Canadian Forces, in US service, the UH-1N retained the official name "Iroquois" from the single engined UH-1 variants, although US service personnel refer to the aircraft as a "Huey" or "Twin Huey".

The Bell 412 is a further development of the Bell 212, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. The UH-1N has also been developed into the upgraded, four-blade UH-1Y.

From late 1970, the UH-1N re-equipped the USAF 20th Special Operations Squadron in Vietnam, replacing the single-engined UH-1F and UH-1P. Armed with Miniguns (or 40 mm grenade launchers) and rocket pods, and painted camouflage with no US markings and only a Green Hornet insignia, the UH-1N supported Special Forces reconnaissance missions from Cam Ranh Bay.

The United States Air Force employs UH-1Ns to fulfill its ICBM mission, providing a utility helicopter for transport between bases such as Minot AFB, Francis E. Warren AFB and Malmstrom AFB to missile launch sites in North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado. The UH-1N is also used by the 36th Rescue Flight (36 RQF) at Fairchild AFB, WA for conducting Search-and-Rescue (SAR) and medical evacuation missions.

During the 1982 Falklands War, the Argentine Air Force deployed two Bell 212s to Goose Green grass airstrip from where they performed general support duties including the recovery of many downed pilots. By the end of the hostilities both aircraft were still intact but were dismantled by the Argentinians.

USMC UH-1Ns were used by the USMC during its 2003 invasion of Iraq. UH-1Ns provided reconnaissance, and communications support to Marine ground troops. They were also called upon to provide close air support during heavy fighting in Nasiriyah.

As of March 2013, the U.S. Air Force operates 62 UH-1N Hueys: 25 provide security at ICBM sites, 19 are stationed at Joint Base Andrews to evacuate Washington-based government officials in emergencies, and 18 are used for testing and training. Since most were purchased in 1969, the Air Force is seeking replacement of the Huey with the Common Vertical Life Support Platform (CVLSP). Possible candidates include the UH-72 Lakota, the AW139, and the UH-1Y Venom. The Air Force has been pushing for the CVLSP since 2006 and the program is not currently being funded, although officials are continuing to pursue the effort.

In August 2013, the Air Force said they were close to finalizing a plan to sustain and modernize their UH-1Ns for the next six to ten years. The plan is to sustain the fleet, address flight and safety mandates, investigate modest improvements in capabilities, and reduce capability gaps. While the Huey is one of the oldest platforms in the service, keeping the fleet going is seen as having "minimal risk." Fleet-wide upgrades will include night vision compatible cockpit lighting, crash worthy seats for flight engineers, and installation of a helicopter terrain awareness warning system and traffic collision avoidance device. The Air Force has not decided whether or not to retire the Hueys at the end of the timetable, and is in the process of further acquiring ex-Marine Corps UH-1N models. The Marines are working out a strategy to transfer as many as 26 helicopters to the Air Force, which may add them to their active fleet or keep them in reserve.

The UH-1N has seen combat service in the Colombian armed conflict. On 16 October 2013, an UH-1N helicopter crashed in the northern La Guajira department. The zone of the crash is a hotbed of FARC rebel activity.

The U.S. Marine Corps planned to retire the UH-1N Iroquois by September 2014 after 43 years of service. HMLA-773 was the last Marine squadron operating them, with their last deployment occurring in 2013 where two helicopters sailed on a Royal Netherlands Navy ship for an African Partnership Station deployment. Deliveries began to the Navy and Marine Corps in 1971 and totaled 205 UH-1Ns and six VH-1N executive transports for Marine Helicopter Squadron One. The UH-1N was replaced by the upgraded UH-1Y Venom; ten are remanufactured N-model airframes, after which the Marines decided to procure new-built Y-model airframes. Five unarmed HH-1N versions will remain in use by the Marines until they are retired in 2015. They are the only HH-1Ns remaining from 44 that were converted from 38 UH-1Ns and the six VH-1Ns, and will also be replaced by UH-1Ys. The last combat deployment of the UH-1N by the Marines was to Afghanistan in 2010. The Marines retired the UH-1N during a "sundown ceremony" at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans on 28 August 2014.

Some cool pictures

The plan is completing this and maybe even combine it in a diorama with some figures I've bought.
I'm really excited for this build because it's my first GB and also my first piece of flying piece of metal/plastik I'll be building.

I hope I'll do this model justice and it becomes a nice piece...

Updates will follow

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 1:09 am

Nice choice mate, will look out for this one

Post by **bobbewieter** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:24 pm

I started yesterday evening with the build

Only did a little bit though, it's my first interior/cockpit etc so I need to think about what I'm doing with glueing/priming/painting etc..

Here are 2 pics of the little progress I made:

The detail of the cockpit looks pretty good to me.

Updates will follow

Post by **snappercity** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:49 pm

Good start & watching with interest. I have the Dragon kit which is the same moulds.

Post by **sheppy** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:43 pm

Looks good so far.

Did you know that the rotor blades where so strong that if troops where trapped in a tall bamboo field they would bring the huey down slowly so as to trim the bamboo and make there own clearing.

Post by **bobbewieter** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:46 pm

I did some priming on some of the inside parts with vallejo grey primer (couldn't find any other grey primer

)

Post by **bobbewieter** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:47 pm

sheppy wrote:Looks good so far.

Did you know that the rotor blades where so strong that if troops where trapped in a tall bamboo field they would bring the huey down slowly so as to trim the bamboo and make there own clearing.

Cool fact Sheppy

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 10:52 pm

Nice looking bird for sure. Great detail in the cockpit at 1/35 scale
keep posting the progress!

Post by **bobbewieter** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 10:27 am

Just a little progress, I started painting the interior pieces...

That is a downside to this kit I think, the colour descriptions is a bit guessing with all the shades of grey

Tonight I'll be doing some more painting and some weathering I guess.

Grtz,
Bob

Post by **Nev** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 12:09 pm

Nice looking build mate

I've got a bottle of Vallejo sitting on my shelf Wish I had read this forum before buying.

Though it did a fair job on my P51 Cockpit.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:40 pm

Interior details are coming along nicely, your kit blows away the 1/72 nds
Keep plugging away at it and posting
I read the history you wrote above ; Interesting to me was the Canadian angle and how the Huey use was almost scrubbed due to engines made in Canada...god forbid

Post by **Russ72** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 10:40 pm

Nice start, love this aircraft. The sound it makes going overhead is something else.

Post by **eightfooticeman** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 5:42 pm

Very, very nice work you've done there.

Post by **bobbewieter** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 3:52 pm

Here are some video's to keep you guys entertained

For the guys who like this beast

[youtube]lKcyMlznNNk[/youtube]
[youtube]RKy4mzy0Ck4[/youtube]
[youtube]oCT-OpMupMA[/youtube]

Hope you guys enjoy!!

I'll probably be posting some pics of the build soon

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 5:12 pm

Nice start mate....there's some great details within that interior to work on!

Post by **martin57** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 7:20 pm

well done so far nice looking kit .

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 7:33 pm

Looking good so far mate

some great pics too. If you're interested, 'Chickenhawk' is a really good read, written by a Huey pilot in Vietnam.

Enjoy the rest of the build

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 7:40 pm

Cool videos, would love to have gone for a ride like that....would have pushed the dork in the suit out the door

Post by **bobbewieter** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 9:16 pm

Did some detail painting on the cockpit just now

now a little weathering and some drybrushing...

It's not a lot work done but it's some progress

Post by **Yevgeny** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 9:23 pm

Looks nice and tidy

Huey will have to be my first helicopter one day.

Post by **AlkaSeltzer** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 9:47 pm

Nice paint job! Your Huey is going to be bad azz!

Post by **bobbewieter** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 9:13 pm

I've put in the 'backseats' and applied a very light wash

Here are some pictures

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 9:36 pm

Nice and clean my friend, nice and clean
:heli:

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 1:33 am

That's looking really nice so far mate!

**Felis Barcinonensis YouTube Channel** · Post by **felisbarcinonensis** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:20 pm

looking goooood!

Post by **DBMiller** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 2:15 am

Lovely work on the interior!

Post by **bobbewieter** » Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:10 pm

I need to move my ass with this build... Because I will be going to Vietnam in December

haha coincidence?

Post by **bobbewieter** » Wed Oct 29, 2014 11:32 pm

Made some progress today

I could use some putty but don't have any :p gonna try if I can fix the seam with mr surfacer

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:08 am

Great work mate....you're getting close to the finishing line now. Looking forward to seeing some clothes go on her!

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 6:36 pm

Very impressive Kit and work so far!!!

Well done...

Post by **bobbewieter** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 10:36 pm

Ok I've put some primer on this beast

I hope I did a good job on the masking of the clear parts...

updates will follow soon

Post by **SyntaxModels** » Thu Nov 06, 2014 7:42 am

Looks like its coming along nicely mate! Huey's seem to be a popular choice in this build, understandably so. Keep it up!

Post by **bobbewieter** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 9:35 am

Some updates will follow this evening (had some problems with my internetconnection)

Now off to the library to work on my thesis

I'm getting worried

I still need to make the diorama and don't have a clue on what to do with it

Post by **bobbewieter** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 2:33 pm

Base coat is on

Now time for decals

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 4:30 pm

She is looking good

Keep going
:heli:

Post by **SyntaxModels** » Fri Nov 14, 2014 5:31 am

Looks like its getting closer mate! Can't wait!

Post by **bobbewieter** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:29 am

another updat on this build

I painted some details and painted some parts black to break the one green colour....

I think it's better, what do you guys think?

Also applied a clear coat

now it's time for the decals

Post by **Tiger131** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:55 am

looks a cracker

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 5:17 pm

Neat and clean

You have done a tremendous job on this kit that many others have bailed out on
Good on ya

Post by **JayCub** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:56 pm

Very clean and precise build with useful information, photographs and videos, an enjoyable build log
Tom

Post by **SyntaxModels** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 4:47 am

Looks a cracker model mate! The kit might not have been so flash (or had to much flash

) but you've made something great of it!

Post by **bobbewieter** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 1:43 pm

Thanks guys

Post by **bobbewieter** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 6:36 pm

I think I've lost my decal sheet

Pffff this sucks

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:24 pm

bobbewieter wrote:
I think I've lost my decal sheet

Pffff this sucks

Dont panic, do a careful cleanup, look under papers and boxes and whatnot and they will turn up
Happens to everyone

Post by **bobbewieter** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 8:19 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote:
bobbewieter wrote:
I think I've lost my decal sheet

Pffff this sucks

Dont panic, do a careful cleanup, look under papers and boxes and whatnot and they will turn up
Happens to everyone

ow I've done that twice...

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 8:25 pm

shite

did you put them somewhere "special" so they wouldn't get wreaked?
inside the instruction booklet?
check the garbage can? chucked out with the newspaper?

**Felis Barcinonensis YouTube Channel** · Post by **felisbarcinonensis** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 9:55 pm

This Huey is serious stuff! I mean, good job man. Don't despair the sheet will appear!

Post by **bobbewieter** » Thu Nov 27, 2014 9:47 pm

I have good news and bad news....

Good news: I found the decals!!!!

Bad news: the decals are such crap

I can't even use them

So now I need to find new decals but I'll probably won't get them in time

BOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOO

and I was enjoying this build so much...

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Nov 28, 2014 12:40 am

You don't need too much on there, have any kits of US planes or tanks you could steal/borrow decals from???

Post by **bobbewieter** » Fri Nov 28, 2014 2:19 pm

Nop, went to a modellershop today to look for new decals but couldn't find anything to match it

Bought some other stuff though... To make me feel better