OH-58A rotor colors?

[Kalle M]

As a sort of inbetween-project I have started building Italeris OH-58A, in 1/72. It's actually quite a nice little model, with finely raised panel lines, fit seem to be good as well.

I am planning on building mine as one of the versions from the box, a bird of the 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry, US Army. But I am wondering which are the correct colors for the main rotor, as well as the tail rotor. Italeri doesn't say anything about it, and since all the reference photos I've found are taken from below, pointed at the sky (for obvious reasons...) it's kind of hard to tell which colors they are. My guess would be matt black or olive drab, possibly with yellow blade tips. (And if so, how big are these yellow tips?) The tail rotor seems to be either olive drag or white-and-red-striped.

I would really appreciate it if anyone could tell me which colors are used. I don't need the FS numbers, just "black with about 10 cm (that's 3,9" for you heathens ) medium yellow blade tips" would be of great help.

 

[Witchdoctor40]

The main and tail rotor blades are flat black on all the alpha and Charlie models that I flew. In the early to mid-80s there were some units that had red and white stripe or bands on the tail rotor. But I never saw or flew these aircraft. Not exactly tactical in my opinion.
There are numerous sites and photos if you type in "army oh58a". Let me know if you need other info. I live near Fort Novosel, formerly Fort Rucker, and could go to the Army Aviation museum.

Bob Shaffer
Army Maintenance Test Pilot
Witchdoctor40

 

[BarleyBop]

3,9" for you heathens

3,9" ?
... if you really want us heathens to understand,
it is 3.9" ! : )

 

[Jakko]

If you want to be really pedantic, it's 3.9″, with ″ instead of "

 

[Kalle M]

If you want to be really pedantic, it's 3.9″, with ″ instead of "

Yeah, sorry about that... It's usually us people here in the Northern countries who are the heathens. I'll be sure to use the correct punctuations and characters the next time.

 

[Kalle M]

The main and tail rotor blades are flat black on all the alpha and Charlie models that I flew. In the early to mid-80s there were some units that had red and white stripe or bands on the tail rotor. But I never saw or flew these aircraft. Not exactly tactical in my opinion.
There are numerous sites and photos if you type in "army oh58a". Let me know if you need other info. I live near Fort Novosel, formerly Fort Rucker, and could go to the Army Aviation museum.

Bob Shaffer
Army Maintenance Test Pilot
Witchdoctor40

Thank you! I had just painted the tips of the main rotor blades pink (in preparation for painting them yellow), but I'll just skip the yellow, and paint them and the tail rotor blades flat black then. I agree that red and white striped tail rotor blades doesn't seem very tactical.

And I might take you up on that offer of more info on Army Aviation! But you'll have to forgive me for making mistakes. The kit didn't have seatbelts, which I added and made tan/sand. And I really don't want to repaint them, if that would be wrong. I also really want to add the hydra rocket pods that came with the kit. To be honest I've only seen them being carried by "D" models, but I think they would look pretty good.

 

[Witchdoctor40]

Hey it is your aircraft so do it the way you want. That is one of the fun parts of the hobby. In your scenario the aircraft is a test bed for weapon systems. The Army is determining what to put on the entire OH58A fleet.
I had the privilege of flying the TH55, OH58A/C/D, TH67, TH72, 406CS - Saudi Arabia combat scout, and UH60A/L. So I should be able to help with those aircraft. The other Army aircraft I can probably get info and pictures from the museum.