Ricks' Ramblings

[Rick Lowe]

ESCI 1/72 UH-1C Huey Gunship *Real World*

I've always liked the Huey, especially the gunship versions, but there wasn't a model of the short body version readily available at the time: so I made my own.
It's an older conversion, dating from about the early 90s, so some details of the build have blurred over the mists of time; but here goes.

I started with an ESCI -D model.

The body was shortened, as well as the interior and the skids.
The engine casing is based on tubing from a pen body, with the rear bit from the kit part.
The flat rear interior wall was cobbled together from the one in the kit, cut up and jigsawed together.
I added some detailing to the pillars behind the front doors; lightening holes and a couple of first-aid pouches.
The front seats got plasticard armour and the rear is from the kit, as was the ammo box.
The rear doors were shortened.
I based the nose mounted grenade launcher on a 6mm airsoft BB, with extra bits added.
I also added the strengthening struts inside, behind the front nose bubbles.
I scratch built the exposed missile tubes and used the kit pylons, as I wanted something more in keeping for the time frame than the closed tubes in the kit.
I couldn't find any quad M-60 parts at the time, so I left any mgs off. I did find some later, so they'll go on the next one, as I think they look better than the miniguns everyone seems to be so fond of.
Not that miniguns aren't cool, too.
I shortened the main rotor blades and made them droop a bit.

Paint is Humbrol and I used markings from various sources, though I painted the teeth on the grenade launcher onto transfer sheet and applied them. Annoyingly, over time the ones on the boom have come off and will need replacing.

It took a while, but it even survived a 'flight test' from the cat... with a few repairs... and it got done.

The Squadron Signal Huey in Action book was invaluable in making the model.
**Edit: As was the Combat Aircraft book on the Huey & Huey Cobra.**

I now have two of the Italeri short-body versions, but I'm still pretty happy with this one.

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[NARSES2]

Looks good sir     

[McColm]

Impressive 

[Rick Lowe]

Thanks, guys. 

[Old Wombat]

I'm kind-of intrigued by the two greens. I'm assuming you had RW images of that scheme?

[kerick]

Very well done! In 1/72nd that's impressive! 
Gotta love the Huey. I remember watching the news when I was a kid waiting to see the choppers flying around in Vietnam. Too young then to realize what was really going on.

[Rick Lowe]

I'm kind-of intrigued by the two greens. I'm assuming you had RW images of that scheme?

Yes; IIRC it was in the centre colour spread of the Squadron Signal 'In Action'. Goes with the door insignia (I got a bit Rivet Counter-y with it (well, it is a Huey...)     )

Very well done! In 1/72nd that's impressive! 

Thanks. 

[Rick Lowe]

1/76 Leopard MBT Export version **What If**

During the 1960s the West German firm of Krauss-Maffei was seeking to augment its arms sales on the international market.

A project to develop a low-cost export variant of the new Leopard Main Battle Tank was started, whereby a new-build hull based on the WW2 Panther Medium Tank was to have been put into limited production and fitted with the Power Train, Transmission, Running Gear and Turret from the Leopard.

The Panther hull was chosen because it would be cheaper to manufacture; and the armour protection and ballistic shape were deemed sufficiently survivable, by modern standards, for the projected low-intensity-conflict market.

The prototype used a vehicle taken from a military museum. The old hull was stripped, refurbished and fitted with the Leopard equipment and turret.
Unfortunately, the projected cost-savings were not as great as had been anticipated, as it was realized that fitting the new equipment into the old hull was not as straightforward as had been hoped.

Added to this, the aggressive marketing of the M47/48 Patton series of tanks saw prospective markets dry up, so the project was terminated.

The idea of a cheap export Panzer was later revisited as the German/Argentinian TAM tank, which was based on the Marder Infantry Combat Vehicle.

The model depicts the sole prototype.

The main idea came from one of Claymore's builds, over on BtS; though I used the Leopard turret instead of a T-55 one.

Made from an Airfix Panther, with engine deck and modified turret from an Airfix Leopard 1
Running gear from a ROCO Minitanks Leopard, with strips added where it would show, for a wider track (and to hide the fact the roadwheels aren't attached to the hull and just 'float' there).
New trackguards were also added.

Paint is Humbrol, markings from the Airfix Leopard.

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[scooter]

 

[NARSES2]

An interesting looking vehicle   

[Steel Penguin]

interesting concept,  and a nice looking build ,   

[PR19_Kit]

The Panther hull was chosen because it would be cheaper to manufacture............................

......................and they already had the drawings to hand anyway, even if they were a little worn. 

[Wardukw]

Love the Leopard mate ,,thats right up my alley 

[scooter]

I just hoped they replaced the engine and drivetrain with something more...reliable and private friendly

[Old Wombat]

I just hoped they replaced the engine and drivetrain with something more...reliable and private friendly

Has to be different, the Leopard is rear-drive, not front-drive like the Panther. which means the engine & drive-train are all aft of the firewall.

Gives you more room in the hull, too!