JSI Aircraft 60028
Bell UH-1B Huey Display Model
US Army 174th AHC Sharks, Vietnam | |
| 1:18 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Bell UH-1B Huey | | 35.25" | | 29.25" |
The 174th AHC "Sharks", arrived in Vietnam with the fronts of their Hueys painted the factory subdued olive green and black. The only distinguishing marks were the white "triangular fin" painted on the vertical stabilizer at the end of the tail boom. Early in 1966 the unit officially asked for and received permission from the famous Flying Tigers of WWII to adapt their P-40 Warhawk's sharks-mouth paint scheme to the Shark's helicopters. Permission was received in June 1966, and every Shark from then on until the unit stood down at the end of 1971 proudly bared those famous teeth into combat. While numerous USAF jets and some AH-1G Cobra helicopters used the shark's mouth in Vietnam, the 174th Sharks were the only UH-1 Huey gunships in the entire war to sport the shark's teeth, and the only unit to get "official permission" from the Flying Tigers to do so.
During service in the Vietnam War, the UH-1 was used for various purposes and various terms for each task abounded. UH-1s tasked with a ground attack or armed escort role were outfitted with rocket launchers, grenade launchers, and machine guns. As early as 1962, UH-1s were modified locally by the companies themselves, who fabricated their own mounting systems. These gunship UH-1s were commonly referred to as Frogs or Hogs if they carried rockets.
Designed to meet a US Army requirement for a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and general utility helicopter, the UH-1 Huey was first flown on October 20, 1956. Nicknamed "Huey" because of its original "HU-1" designation, this aircraft became famous during the Vietnam War, where 7,000 of them served in a variety of roles, from MEDEVAC and search and rescue to troop transport, air assault and ground attack. As a troop transporter, the Huey revolutionized warfare, giving the Army the ability to strategically position troops in various locations that were otherwise difficult to reach in the heavy jungle environment. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The JSI Aircraft range presents highly-detailed, ready-made plastic models of military aircraft in 1:18 scale. Their large size allows for a large number of articulated features while their plastic construction helps keeps their weight down to a reasonable level.
JS International display airplanes feature:
- Molded plastic construction with some snap-fit assembly required.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Opening canopies, revealing detailed cockpit interiors.
- Selected moveable control surfaces.
- Functional extending/retracting landing gear with rolling wheels.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
DISCLAIMER - Please Read
Please keep in mind that large scale plastic models are not scaled-up versions of their smaller diecast cousins. They are pre-assembled from a large number of components and production compromises are often made to keep them within reach of the casual collector's budget. Factory painting, glueing and alignment discrepencies are often visible upon close inspection. The models arrive paritially deconstructed and do require time to un-package and assemble prior to display. Assembly mostly consists of pushing together snap-fitting parts, although a little attention with a sharp hobby knife and/or superglue is sometimes required to achieve the best fit.
In summary, with a little effort, these models can make fantastic, attention-grabbing showpieces from a reasonable viewing distance. Up close however, their more toy-like qualities will become apparent. We regret that we are unable to accept returns on these items for minor fit and finish issues.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
