Mi-24A Hind - Czechoslovak Air Force (Hasegawa 1/72)

[ujik]

I promised to show here after the helicopter Mi-24A, so here it is. Helicopter history The author is Darkfold http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php?action=profile;u=4243,  Karlik is the author of camouflage http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php?action=profile;u=4206

Helicopter History
Helicopter gunship Mil Mi-24A   Hind-B (Izdelije 245) buno A0567 was produced in soviet helicopter plant GAZ-116 in Arsenyev at 19.12.1972. Factory tests of chopper began ad 28.12.1972 when factory test crew – pilot май.Valerij D.Kostejev, operator слт.Jurij E. Tregub and engineer слт.Michail P. Glinka made specified ground tests and day after, 29.12.1972, 90 minutes maiden flight minutes was made. From 29.12.1972 until 2.2.1973 were made next sixteen test flights with the same crew and after end of factory tests and assuming of chopper by Military Air Forces of USSR (assuming test flight was made at 2.3.1973 by pilot пполк.Andrej K.Zlobin , operator кап.Pjotr P. Savickij and engineer слт.Ivan A. Korsakov) was chopper transferred to 280.OVP (helicopeter regiment) on Kiev. Here was attached to first squadron as "Red 17" with crew pilot слт.Jurij Z.Denisov, operator слт.Vladimir E. Zhiilinovskij and engineer лт.Alexej I.Popovich with chief of ground crew рон.Valentinem D.Grechko.In years 1973-1976 was chopper adopted by five crews:

Pilot слт.Jurij Z.Denisov, operator слт.Vladimir E. Zhilinovskij and engineer лт.Alexej I.Popovich (5.2.1973 – 18.11.1974)
Pilot кап.Artom V. Kenig, operator лт.Gennadij E. Zykov and engineer слт.Ruslan O. Somov (18.11.1974-30.1.1975)
Pilot кап.Viktor J. Parnes, operator слт.Josif F. Komarov and engineer лт.Markus Z. Tomilin (30.1.1975-3.3.1975)
Pilot слт.Bogdan I. Cheremishinov, operator слт.Stepan A. Merencov and engineer лт.Oleg E. Gelb (3.3.1975-8.9.1975)
Last crew, кап.Ivan V.Matuljevich, operator лт.Semjon S.Teljukov and engineer лт.Andrej B.Kologrivov adopted chopper at 8.9.1975.

Because in early of 1976 escalate animosity between USSR and Afghanistan (casus beli were tendencies of afghan president Daud to political indoctrination of islamists minorities in Turkmen Soviet Socialistic Republic, Uzbek Soviet Socialistic Republic and Tadzhik Soviet Socialistic Republic and their joining to Afghanistan)At 4.5.1976 was 280.OVP transferred to Mary AFB in Turkmen Soviet Socialistic Republic. First, it reacted as display of force but with escalation of crisis it starts combat operations against border bases of afghan army and supporting Specnaz commandos behind the enemy lines. First combat operation of 280.OVP was attack of six choppers (including "Red 17" with crew pilot кап.Ivan V.Matuljevich, operator лт.Semjon S.Teljukov and engineer лт.Andrej B.Kologrivov) against afghan army base in Almar. In phase from 1.10.1976 to 2.3.1977 chopper passed fourty-eight operations against enemy with most significant operations against afghan airstrip in Maiama (13.10.1976) and regional command post of afghan army in Fejzabad (1.12.1976).Out of spite of successful carrer, for "Red 17" came fatal operation on 2.3.1977 when it operate as support of Specnaz commando northwest from Almar.

Commando was transported to action on 28.2.1977 and its mission goal was attack of route used by afghan army for support of their diversionary and intelligence units in Turkmen Soviet Socialistic Republic.Goal was successfully completed on 1.3.1977 and commando start transfer to landing zone where was planned their pick-up.This operation was attached to "Red 17" and кап. Matuljevichs crew.Chopper took-off from Mary, successfully found landing zone but during picking-up, enemy patrol enter in landing zone and open heavy fire fire against chopper and commando.Consequences were tragic. Enginner, слт. Andrej B.Kologrivov, who cover commando from his personal AKS-74 rifle was killed and his death body had to left on the landing zone, operator кап.Semjon S.Teljukov suffered minor injury from broken canopy which was fragmented by enemy bullet and from commando died two soldiers in landing zone and one later on the chopper for exsanguination after serious injury.Chopper suffer light damage of left engine and left side of fuselage.

Damaged chopper was by cargo plane An-22 transported back to factory in Arsenyev where was repaired and passed off the middle revision.Repairs were successfully completed on 19.6.1977 but because 280.OVP was rearmed by new Mi-24D choppers, "Red 17" was transferred to training squadron of 490.OVP in Klokovo AFB.Chopper served here only for one month because on 24.7.1977 was chosen with Mi-24A vuno A0631 ("Blue 03") and two other choppers Mi-24D (buno M330530 and M330638 – "Blue 12" and "Blue 20") for selling presentation in countries od Warszaw pact.Sure, intentions of USSR was rearming od Warszaw pact by modern gunships Mi-24D but older Mi-24A choppers were offered from economy reasons as particulary compensation of economy losses during rearming of chopper units from Mi-24A to Mi-24D. First presentation country was Czechoslovakia where choppers come on 19.7.1977 ("Red 17" was presented  by crew пполк.Gennadij A.Nebogatov, operator кап.Igor M.Flit and engineer кап.David S.Palchevskij).For purposes of presentation were choppers obtained by Czechoslovak national roundels from washable colours over former soviet red stars (it were painted on tail accordance with international  treaties of national markings) and on tail was painted fictional fuselage number completed from serial number in accordance of Czechoslovak traditions (application of this marking was necessary for confidential of fact that Czechoslovak Air Force still had not have modern gunships).Choppers were based on Prostějov AFB and presentation comprise presentation of flight qualities and weapon tests on Březina shooting range and after 12.8.1977 when was presentation group supplied by training chopper Mi-24DU, chosen Czechoslovak pilots can try Mi-24 in air. Presentation ended on 8.11.1977 and result was expected but unsatisfied – Czechoslovak Air Force will buy Mi-24D choppers.Next presentations were in Hungary (10.11.1977-17.4.1978) and East Germany (20.4.1978-1.8.1978) but result was the same only with only one squadron of Mi-24A which were ordered for East Germany Air Force as training choppers.Presentation choppers were returned back to 490.OVP in Klokovo AFB where "Red 17" fly as training chopper until 1.1.1985 when it was grounded and as part of war reserves of technique only with minimal repairs and regular flights was stored in Kolkovo AFB with perspective to scrapping.

But scrapping were not realized because on 26.4.1986 exploded nuclear power plant in Chernobyl.Following recovery of disaster solicited not only huge number of people but quantity of ground and air technic too with perspective of impossible next use.There was logical that first chosen technic was taken from war reserves with shortened lifetime.That's why Mi-24A choppers stored in 490.OVP was one of first chosen technics.On 26.4.1986 was by scientists found requirement for radiation reconnaissance around reactor and was resolved that modified Mi-24A did it.Improvised modifiacation, inclusive of removed weapons, weapons racks BDZ-57KrV and seats in cargo bay and installing of lead plates in cockpit and cargo bay and special, from cargo bay by enginner controlled hinge for measure and radiation reconnaissance equipment on left inner weapons rack."Red 17" was for its good condition first modified chopper from 490.OVP and in dusk of 27.4.1986 fly from Klokovo AFB to field airstrip in Pripyat with crew of pilot кап.Michajil M.Lebedjev, operator слт.Anatolij F.Borovsky and engineer нпор.Vjacheslav M.Morjev.After night in Zone was in early hours of 28.4.1986 chopper backward equipped by weapon racks BDZ-57KrV (improvised hinge was stored for time when will be delivered special measure equipment) and armed on left inner weapon rack by automatic dosimeter DP-3V in improvised case from PTB-480 fuel tank and with two other Mi-24A which came to Pripyat in morning send to radiation reconnaissance in nuclear plant area and in radioactive cloud over it. In this operations – sometimes varied by drops of lead ingots and sacks of sand and boracic acid (it were armed on weapon rack in packages of 250kg from brakechutes PT-21UK and dropped stabilized by small parachutes over reactor along with engineer aiming) – "Red 17" continue to 7.5.1986 when was material drops to reactor stopped and irradiated crew was send from zone.But "Red 17" continue in flights because scientist wanted informations from core of damaged reactor.Same day, 7.5.1986 were from chopper again removed weapon racks BDZ-57KrV and again was installed remote controlled hinge. On field airstrip was unreeled 300 meters long cable braided by electric cable with weight, simulated thermometer in one of the end.New crew - pilot полк.Nikolaj A.Volkozub, operator кап.Jurij N.Kuzmin and engineer кап.Fjodor S.Negnevitskij fly with "Red 17" to the other side of cable, joined it to the hinge, took-off and fly in area west from Pripyat where starts training to measure.Unfortunatelly, training was unsuccesfull because despite of precision flight, cable oscilated under chopper as huge pendulum and can't be stabilize.Problem was solved later by installation of metal ring weights on cable which stabilize it and reduced oscillations to acceptable size.

While crew has 8.5.1986 hard training with modified cable, to Pripyat was delivered expected thermometer and mounted on cable and flight over reactor was planned to 9.5.1986.Crew was during night equipped by complete anti-gas suits with protective lead plates and reinforce by two scientists – Javgenij P. Rjazancev (deputy director of Kurchatov institute for nuclear energy) and Alexandr S.Cikalo (chief of dosimeter schift of 4.block of Nuclear Power Plant Chernobyl) who  had served measure aparature of thermometer.Chopper took-off from Pripyat and directed by полк.Ljubomir V.Mimka from hotel "Polesí" (on this biggest building in Pripyat was established field control tower) and by полк.Fedor V.Chichkov from other Mi-24A which fly těo kilometers from reactor was Volkozubov's Mi-24A directed over reactor.After successful accomplish of mission was cable droped north of Pripyat and guarded as extremely radioactive.Next day, 10.5.1986 "Red 17" with same crew fly for reconnaissance of exhaust gas over reactor (slow fly-by with container on cable), 12.5.1986 was repeated thermometer mission (same on 15.5., 18.5., 21.5., 24.5., 27.5., 30.5. and 3.6.1986) and in same interspaces was made reconnaissance of exhaust gases. Radiatiation and chemical reconnaissance flights were stopped after installation of remote controlled ground measure aparatures and crew was send out from Zone.Heavily worned-ouf "Red 17" was planned for reconstruction to radiation sorbent sprayer but this plan was cancelled for Mi-26 choppers and the same day was "Red 17" definitely grounded, towed to technic graveyard near Pripyat and leaved there.

[ujik]

And comparing shapes with later versions of the Mi-24V

[Army of One]

OOOOOOOOHHHHHH sweet jesus n everything that is holy!!!!!! Awesome stuff.... ..I been waiting for the 'A' since last year.....well worth the wait.........!!!!! 

[beowulf]

11 out of 10 on the awesome scale   

[Honza Z]

Very nice 

[AXU]

What can I say? MAGNIFICENT !!!  
Sometimes you feel like you have to find another hobby or,try harder to have such results !

Alex

[John Howling Mouse]

Okay, very impressive and clean but what is driving me nuts is how did you do such a perfect job on the aerial lines in 1:72?   Please tell us your technique and materials used.

Wow. !

[GTX]

 

[Martin H]

I have said it before. These guys from The Czech republic play to win.....that Mil is certainly a winner.

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

These guys are seriously talented. 

Ian

[lancer]

Stunning!! It's good ot see an A model Hind again.

[Gondor]

Interesting back story to go with an incredible model

Gondor

[chrisonord]

An excellent build of one of my favourite choppers 
Cheers,
Chris.

[ujik]

To all thank you very much

[ujik]

Okay, very impressive and clean but what is driving me nuts is how did you do such a perfect job on the aerial lines in 1:72?   Please tell us your technique and materials used.

Wow. !

I didn't used any special procedure.On Surfacer 1000 i made preshading by black colour and over it I sprayed camouflage colours.I use light blue on lower surfaces and on the upper surfaces I first used brown colour for leaves and rest of surface I sprayed by sand colour (light brown).Borders of areas I spray with removed difusor.Next I made lightening of colours by light grey and repeated spray of areas by former colours.All is sprayed from hand by airbrush Iwata Eclipse HP-BS by Agama acrylic colour.Under decal I spray gloss lacquer, apply decals and conserve decals by gloss lacquer repeately.Next was complete kit sprayed by matt lacquer, by very diluted black colour I damped decals and apply wash by black watercolor.Repeated spray by matt lacquer and final spray by semi-matt lacquer.Smokes are sprayed by very diluted black colour.And that is all.