BLACK HAWK PROJECT
INTRODUCTION
E ver since my first exposure to helicopters
growing up, I suppose I have always been a "rotorhead" (helicopter fan) at
heart. I always imagined being able to strap myself into a throbbing beast of
metal and glass, leap into the sky, and do combat or make heroic rescues despite
the most incredible odds. I was also an avid fan of Hasbro's G.I. Joe action
figures since childhood and had several "Joes" while growing up in the 1960's
and 1970's. One of my favorite roles for Joe (and vicariously for myself) was
that of a helicopter pilot. I would make "helicopters" for my Joes out of scrap
plastic, wood or cardboard boxes--nearly anything my fertile mind could dream
up. At one time I did actually have my own bright yellow Hasbro G.I. Joe
Adventure Team helicopter. It was one of my favorite toys and it provided my
fertile imagination with hours and hours of thrilling adventure. Unfortunately
however, like most of my childhood possessions, it has become nothing but a fond
and faded memory.
I
n later years, when I finally had the opportunity to experience the real-life
adventure of helicopter flight for myself, the appeal for these incredible,
gravity-defying machines grew even stronger. Too, I became reintroduced to the
fun of 1:6 scale figures as an adult when Hasbro released the modern Classic
Collection G.I. Joes. My modest collection of two grew considerably over the
past few years and I now command a 1:6 scale force of well over a hundred
troops. I have been quick to add numerous military vehicles to my Motor Pool,
including the venerable Jeep and the popular High Mobility Multipurpose Vehicle
(or Hummvee). Through it all, however, I recalled my childhood air adventures
and always pined for a true 1:6 scale utility helicopter to transport my troops
on their missions.
I
n February of 1999, I was thrilled with the announcement that Twenty-First
Century Toys would be releasing a 1:6 scale Hughes AH-6 "Little Bird" later in
the year. My hopes were quickly dashed when rumors of its discontinuation
surfaced, then bolstered again by assurances from the company that the
helicopter would indeed be produced. My appetite for the AH-6 was whetted
considerably by photos of it on display at G.I. Joe shows and I could not wait
for the aircraft to make it onto the store shelves. With an anticipated release
time of October or November however it was bound to be a long wait.
Click on the image to view the
full-size version:
The 21st Century "Little Bird" Helicopter
on display at
the Hasbro G.I. Joe D.C. Convention
Photo courtesy of Small Blue
Planet
B y the end of summer, my frustration had grown
to barely manageable proportions. Although I desperately wanted the AH-6 for my
1:6 scale command, "Little Bird" was a small Attack/Reconnaisance craft and I
still longed to have a true utility helicopter. I had seen a custom-made Bell
Huey UH-1 helicopter in a diorama at a G.I. Joe show, but the high cost of
having one built ($1,200-$2,000) was understandably prohibitive. Besides, the
venerable Huey airframe was getting a bit old and boring in my mind--I had
already fallen in love with her much younger replacement, the Sikorsky H-60
Black Hawk. As were many others who share my love for all things 1:6 scale, I
was in awe when Twenty-First Century Toys unveiled a Black Hawk they had
custom-built for their show displays. I lusted for weeks over the single far-off
photograph I had seen of the model.
Click on the image to view the
full-size version:
The 21st Century "Black Hawk" Helicopter on
display
at the 1999 San Diego Comic Convention
Photo courtesy of Stephen
Flores
F inally, I decided I could wait no more. I began
to think that if someone else could make a custom helicopter I should be able to
do the same thing. Without much thought about how I would actually carry out the
arduous task or any consideration of the consequences of such a project, I
willed myself to step forward and actually do it. With only a few days of my
two-week vacation left I swallowed hard, rolled up my sleeves and went to
work.
T his is
the story of "The Great Black Hawk Project" as told through my on-line
updates.
BLACK
HAWKS ANYONE?
UPDATE I
UPDATE II
UPDATE III
UPDATE IV
UPDATE V
UPDATE VI
UPDATE VII
UPDATE VIII
UPDATE IX
UPDATE X
UPDATE XI
UPDATE
XII-FINAL
JEFF'S
'HAWK PICS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS