The
first Australian S-70A-9 was delivered to the ADF on the 31st of
December 1987. At the time, 9 Sqn RAAF were the operators of the Blackhawk. The
last was delivered on the 30th of Jan 1991. A25-208 was handed to the
ADF on the 25th of Jan 1990. Eventually all of the airframes were
transferred to the Army and 5th Aviation Regiment operates them all.
A Sqn, 5th Av. Regt. flew UH-1H’s for a while, which released these
Blackhawks to 171st Aviation Sqn, who support ADF Special Operations.
Eventually, all of the ADF’s Hueys and Blackhawks will be replaced with the
MRH-90. Hard to believe the ADF’s Blackhawks have been in service for over 20
years!!
The
kit I used was Revell’s MH-60L Blackhawk kit. It has fantastic detail and
looks like a Blackhawk, but that’s where the fun stopped. It was absolutely
woeful to put together, as is shown in the progress photos. (At this point I
must apologise for the photos. At the time I had a very basic camera and not
much photographic talent!!) The main reason I shut the cabin doors was due to
huge gaps between the floor, ceiling and cabin. I don’t know how Revell could
pride themselves on this level of finish. I persevered though and finally turned
out something respectable. I used Meteor Productions resin instrument panel, it
looked quite nice and fitted really well. I put a chalk wash on the cabin floor
to imitate dust and fixed the struts under the seats with stretched sprue. The
two fire extinguishers were from Cobra Company. Various antenna were made from
Evergreen card and little bits of sprue.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The
paints I used were Humbrol. FS 30219, 34127 & 37038 were used on the
outside. I put down a layer of Long Life (local version of Future), then
decals. I used the kit decals on the inside of the cockpit doors. The
majority of the external decals came for Aussie Decals Blackhawk and Kiowa
sheet, number A48034. The decals for the cabin doors, both inside and
outside were made by Steve Evans. Another coat of Long Life, then I used a
sharp pencil to outline the external panels and the whole lot was finished
with off with Dullcote. I chose to model mine just after
East Timor, that’s why there’s no name on the hydraulics bay, or Sqn insignia on
the tail.
All
in all, the finished product looks pretty good. There was a lot of blood, sweat
and tears to get it to the finish line though. This kit definitely needs a lot
of patience and putty to finish it off. I would like to thank David Harvey,
David Edwards and Jason Smart for their photo references, as well as plenty of
people from the boards at A.M.I. (Sorry guys, I forgotten your names!)
Inspiration also came from the ADF Media Room, as well as various photos found
on the internet.
Andrew George
Click on
images below to see larger images
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