1/48 Monogram FUH-1C Huey

Gallery Article by Keith Diamond on Jan 9 2010

Silly Week 2010

 

FUH- what??? Fighter Utility Helicopter.

With the budget shrinking every year, it was decided that the USAF's newest aircraft will need to satisfy both the fighter requirement and the lift requirement.  To save even more money, it was decided it would be more cost effective to use a boneyard airframe, instead of new build airframes.  Old UH-1Cs were chosen for this role.  Air to air refueling capability was added, along with a new, cheap radar to be used in its fighter role, all while maintaining its utility capability.  Thus the FUH-1C was born.

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The kit is the Monogram UH-1C Huey Hog.  I robbed the rocket pods and a few small parts from it a long time ago, so I had to think of something to do with it.  Then the crazy idea of adding -120s and -9s popped in my head.  I knew I wanted a black helicopter, and decided to use some leftover Twobobs F-117 decals.  The scheme was inspired by Airwolf and AC-130s.

The "radar" is a spare part from the Monogram P-38 kit.  The missile rails were leftovers from Hasegawa F-16 kits, and they attach to spare bomb racks from the Testors F-18.  The refueling probe is cleaned up sprue, that was later put in my dremel and turned.  AIM-120s were from the Italeri F-16 kit, and the AIM-9s were from the Testors F-18.  Its hard to see, but on the bench in the rear of the cabin is a copy of Playboy with Kendra Wilkinson on the cover.

Hope you guys enjoy it!

Keith Diamond

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Photos and text © by Keith Diamond