SH-60B

by Rich Dann

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Here is my Cobra 1/48 SH-60B. Wow! All I can say is that these folks really did their homework.

Building this kit is not easy, but not too bad if you exercise a bit of planning and restraint. I worked on mine for while and then set it aside for about a year. Now its done and I like the results.

Interestingly, you can build this kit from the outside....in! All the interior parts can go through the cockpit opening.

I'd have to say the trickiest part of the entire kit is getting the nose section and windshield installed.

Having close to 1400 hours in the "Bravo" I have a good feel for the aircraft. All the interior parts were well cast and accurate in shape. I certainly hope that Cobra ends up releasing the interior parts for their B/F Hawks as an aftermarket set for the upcoming Italeri kit.

The -60s I flew were painted in a three-tone gray, with Dark Ghost Gray, Light Ghost Gray and Light Gray. You can see the demarcation in the attached photos.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

When it came to the choice of markings, there was no question as to which aircraft I would do. I did "Oceanlord 22", BuNo 162991, one of two Bravos we had on USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) during DESERT STORM. This was the aircraft with my name painted on the sides. Fortunately, it is one of the decal options with the kit. There are several images of this aircraft in My Squadron/Signal Blackhawk Walk Around. Interestingly, this was the first Bravo to receive the FLIR/Hellfire upgrade a few years back.

My crews found two mines during the war and the symbols are painted on the electronics doors.

Overall, I liked this kit. A modeling challenge, but certainly well within my skills.

 

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2003 by Rich Dann
Page Created 05 May, 2003
Last Updated 25 March, 2004

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