Small Scale Military Headquarters

NEW from JSI....
1/18 UH-1B – Gun Ship
501st Aviation Battalion “Firebirds”

Pre- Assembled and Painted

Available late December 2015

The HU-1, was essentially a stretched (model 47) with room for 7 troops or three stretchers in it's cargo compartment behind the pilot. It was re-designated as the Utility Helicopter UH-1 in 1962 under a tri-service agreement. The HU-1A, initially procured by the Army in 1959 as a general utility helicopter, was the first model ordered in large numbers. Since 1959, the helicopter has evolved through 13 models, A thru V. It saw wide use in Vietnam following initial fielding in September 1962. The helicopter saw service with the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division, and the 57th Medical Detachment. The helicopter became the basis for the creation of the 1st Aviation Brigade in 1966.

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That's a good looking bird! Like it way more than the Hog I have. Makes it look so bland. The stars and bars and the big ARMY letters sent me into a flashback. So nostalgic of those Vietnam reports from the 60's and early 70's I'd watch intently on the evening news hoping to get a glimpse of a Phantom, F-105 or a Huey....in black and white of course.

Thanks for showing that and the background info!

No more gunships we need a slick.

I remember when I was younger seeing Hueys flying over the Island very often. The thing that
sticks out in my mind is, you would hear them long before you'd see 'em. Never knew which
direction they were coming from.

Nice looking chopper, any price given?

The Price is $119.95 at

http://www.aikensairplanes.com/uh-1b-gu ... rebirds-1/

For Vietnam, I think the "ARMY" should be in dark letters and no stars & bars insignia.

dragon53 wrote:For Vietnam, I think the "ARMY" should be in dark letters and no stars & bars insignia.

Yes, I think a lot changed after those early 1960's days including the camo on the planes around '66, dulled letters and tiny insignia. That scheme would have been very early on, pre-Nam. That's why it is so nostalgic. All the model kits changed in the mid 60's to update to Nam schemes. Old Aurora and Revell kits had the brighter 50's schemes for planes and copters alike until then. I'd try to find any picture or see any newsreel film to get updates on war schemes. Everything transformed with the Vietnam War. I remember seeing for the first time the familiar sight of the rows of B-52s parked at Wright-Patt were no longer all glistening silver. About 1/3 were in war paint. I was a teenager and pulled over by the guard shack and jumped out of the car to take a Polaroid. The guard approached me with his weapon off his shoulder and said simply "No pictures of the bombers". Didn't make sense but I didn't argue. They were in plain view by the highway. Whether the paint was applied there or somewhere else I never knew.

dragon53 wrote:For Vietnam, I think the "ARMY" should be in dark letters and no stars & bars insignia.

That's why I still like my Hogheads II for Nam and will pass on this one

YT wrote:No more gunships we need a slick.

Agreed

Do like the mini-gun and rockets though!

I don't have one and want one so may buy this. I think it looks pretty decent.

That looks fantastic! I love my "Hogshead" Huey from 2001, but really like the new rocket pods and gatling guns on this model - assuming those will be on the final production version. I'm down for it

Probably too much to hope for that we'll be gettting pilots with it---much less crew (I wish JSI would at least offer them separately)....but give much credit to JSI for not just doing a repaint, this is a very nice upgrade at a reasonable price...

dragon53 wrote:For Vietnam, I think the "ARMY" should be in dark letters and no stars & bars insignia.

Apparently there was a brief initial period of colorful markings. Everything started getting dulled down in mass around 65-66 from what I've gathered.
Early sixties: Caption for the photo said this was near Tan Son Nhut Air base.

The artwork is similar.

AXIS NIGHTMARE:

I have a Hobby Master UH-1 Hog with a similar colorful paint scheme from the same era. After around 1966, the colorful paint scheme was toned down resembling the 21st Century 1/18 Hog.

My fantasy UH-1 gunship would have the miniguns and rockets mounted on the pylons together with two M60 door guns.

If I'm not mistaken, there was also a Hog prototype with pylon-mounted miniguns/rockets, two M60 doorguns AND a nose-mounted grenade launcher.

More pics....

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So now the question is does it come with the nose-mounted grenade launcher or not? No grenade launcher seems to be the more accurate, based on the pictures posted above... Either way, I'd still get it for the side guns and neat paint.

Definately like it better that way:

This might shed some light on the high-visibility markings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe0wkk3 ... page#t=441

It's from a US Army instruction film which features a target practice run on Oahu. Apparently, it dates back to 1967 (and yes, it includes scantily clad women, too).

here is a UH1D long cab I modified using 2 hog heads when they were $39.99

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Come on Man!

Even with the rotor pointed forward it's not 3 1/2 feet long! Maybe 2 1/2?

Anyway this ad came to me on e-mail today....

So is this Huey starting to get in stock? Looking about at various retailers, they're still all showing it for a December 2015 preorder.

But it looks cool and I'm down for this model

Offering some 1/18 Vietnam Door Gunners for the new Huey.
Check it out in the B/S/T section of the board...
Thanks!
Razor

No one has mentioned anything about having gotten this helicopter yet, so I figured I would share my find... I picked up the new JSI 1/18 UH-1B Gunship at my local Hobbytown USA store yesterday (Friday). In short, this new repaint/minor retool is fantastic Below are some pictures!



Fully Assembled:


Starboard-Side Door Gunner: