UH-1 'Huey' and AH-1 'Cobra' (Bell and Augusta built aircraft) all versions

[Weaver]

Question folks:

I'm building the Special Hobby Huey Cobra at the moment, and it has lots of optional parts, but no explanation of what they are and what applies to which version! The thing I'm particularly wondering about at the moment is the rotor mast. Two different versions are provided:

1. Shorter mast with a flat plate base that seals off the hole in the top of the fuselage.

2. Longer mast with a "frying pan" base that leave the hole in the top of the fuselage recessed.

What's the difference between them and which is earlier or later?

[Dizzyfugu]

I think the closed one (#1) belongs to the single-engine versions, be it early or late (e. g. on the 'nam G versions, but also on the much later Fs).
AFAIK the two engine versions have an open top side, from which the rotor mast sprouts, but I am not certain if that matches #2?

[Weaver]

I think the closed one (#1) belongs to the single-engine versions, be it early or late (e. g. on the 'nam G versions, but also on the much later Fs).
AFAIK the two engine versions have an open top side, from which the rotor mast sprouts, but I am not certain if that matches #2?

All the options in this kit are single-engined AH-1Gs, so I think the differences are "early production" and "late production" rather than different sub-types.

[ChernayaAkula]

I think it may have been an aerodynamic covering that was later abandoned because the aerodynamic advantages didn't weigh out the disadvantages in maintenance.

EDIT: Straight from the horse's mouth: Floyd Werner (former Cobra pilot) said on ARC that the aerodynamic covers were quickly removed in the field after they found out that they didn't actually help the aerodynamics. He said about 99% of the Cobras didn't have it.

[Weaver]

I think it may have been an aerodynamic covering that was later abandoned because the aerodynamic advantages didn't weigh out the disadvantages in maintenance.

EDIT: Straight from the horse's mouth: Floyd Werner (former Cobra pilot) said on ARC that the aerodynamic covers were quickly removed in the field after they found out that they didn't actually help the aerodynamics. He said about 99% of the Cobras didn't have it.

Excellent - thank you.  (and please thank Floyd for me since I don't have a log-on there)

Since mine is a mid 1970s export to Argentina, it won't have the cover.

[Captain Canada]

Hmmm....you learn something new everyday ! Now what about the handed tail rotors ? I had no idea until I bought the kits !

[Weaver]

Hmmm....you learn something new everyday ! Now what about the handed tail rotors ? I had no idea until I bought the kits !

Left side on very early ones, right side thereafter.

[strilekawk]

while reading this thread I came across one post asking about a navalized Huey. The US Navy had two squadrons of them during the 1980's. HAL-4 and HAL-5 both flew the HH-1K which was an UH-1E that had a corrosion resistant airframe, upgraded engines, rotor, avionic,s points for fast ropes and a rescue hoist that retracted over the cabin on the right hand side. The bird was armed with the M21 system the mounted two M134 GAU-2B/A miniguns, two M60 GPMGs installed on what are known as Kline Mounts and two seven shot 2.75 inch [70mm] FFAR rocket pods ( don't ask me the destinations as I'm too darn old to remember).

I served in HAL-5 as an AO3 and worked on the Kilo for about two years not only on the weapons but with other systems as well, all members were cross trained and our cook was fully qualified to do an engine change, you don't want to know what our medic was able to do.

Right now I have an old Monogram Rescue Huey that in 48 scale that has the proper roof and hoist but lacks the M21 system and the larger 540 rotor blades. Getting the weapon mounts will be easy, they can be robbed from a Huey Hog kit, it's the M134 thats going to be fun to find.

[Gondor]

Try this strilekawk https://store.spruebrothers.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=1%2F48+M134&Submit=Search

Gondor

[NARSES2]

you don't want to know what our medic was able to do.

Yes we do 

Seriously it's always good to hear from people with hands on experience of the kit we use on our models 

[strilekawk]

you don't want to know what our medic was able to do.

Yes we do 

Seriously it's always good to hear from people with hands on experience of the kit we use on our models 

Our corpsman (Doc) was also a door gunner and cook, if he got bored he could drum up business on his own.

Out of all the units I served in the best times were in the Huey and HH-60H squadrons. They were small and a family, I still see those guys as much as possible.

[NARSES2]

Our corpsman (Doc) was also a door gunner and cook, if he got bored he could drum up business on his own.

Right, so if the mg doesn't get you, the stew will ? 

[ysi_maniac]

What if early attack helicopter

[NARSES2]

The Me 109 based one looks just right 

[Weaver]

Well here's one I've not seen before. A "platformized" Huey with pilots either side of the engine and a gun turret with podded gunner for a 105mm howitzer.

The guy who posted it said it was a "recoilless gun", but the article imples a howitzer, so were discussing that at the moment.
EDIT: It seems the gun may have been a variant of the XM204 low-recoil 105mm howitzer. There was a scheme to mount two of these on a Chinook, with the otpino of firing from the air or the ground: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0750150.pdf



Article: https://www.army.mil/article/281353/it_wasnt_just_napalm_a_tale_of_the_huey_and_cobra_in_vietnam

Posted on Twitter ("X" ) by @MassiasThanos (who is well worth a follow) here: https://x.com/MassiasThanos/status/1857438336652120162